Old Love And Rust

I met her 20 years later, by chance, among the crowds of the capital. I looked at her doubtfully, but when she smiled we shook hands - a little awkward, awkward, protocol, but we did not hug. Nervously looking at his watch, he answered my dumb question "It's not enough time here, but for an old acquaintance ...". Old acquaintance! ... 1985. I have just left my home barracks, unable to speak, but only to answer in one word or swear, standing in front of the entrance of the institute and wondering where to catch - I do not know anyone, I have no accommodation, read the ads and look for a phone. And then she appeared - fluttering, cheerful and beautiful for her 18 years. It turned out that we were in the same course, it spread, it introduced me to my colleagues, I quickly settled down with a flat on a romantic ceiling and it started like in the movies - learning, parties, sessions and a great love. 5 years the healthiest couple at the institute. I was told by old dogs not to force myself so much, the girl with only one diploma will not stay, and she will not commit to anyone, that she is from a soybean and a family with ambitions, but who listens to you. Marriage was a natural end to this relationship. Yes but no. Marriages began in the fifth year, and my great love began to say that a diploma is nothing, one must develop, and there is time for marriage and children. I felt that her parents had intervened, but love is blind and deaf ... I went to the countryside and during my short trips to Sofia I sometimes managed to see her - when she could spend time in the pursuit of a career. She rose to the position of chief assistant, walked dizzyingly upwards, and once I heard from colleagues that she was married - she divorced her associate professor. I was already suffering, after a while I met my current wife, the children were born, I worked abroad, we furnished ourselves with a house and a car and we lived by the average standards. From time to time I remembered the old love and wondered how it developed. And so until the chance meeting - dear God, for an hour in the cafe did not stop: two failed marriages behind his back without children - but how, as always infested with mold, at least now an associate professor, not like some, etc. etc. I managed to say in one sentence about myself and my family, and she interrupted me, "You're good guilds in Provence, look at the nervous life we ​​live here," and the verbal waterfall came again. I sat, listened to her, and thought, "Was this my great love, this woman in a strict suit, camouflage makeup and contemptuous manners, pouring streams of words, nervously tapping and constantly shifting her gaze To rejoice or to regret, that our paths diverged? ” I witnessed acquaintances reunite with their old love, families break up, and children suffer from belated nonsense. And I didn't flinch at all, no, I didn't rejoice, I didn't feel sorry for her, I didn't sympathize with her - I just didn't flinch at all. And the old love didn't seem to catch rust ...