Famous

The next day, I felt nervous and was worried.

I had two reasons to worry, the first for my book, and the second because of Leon. I just didn't know how to give gifts and how to behave.

But my excitement evaporated as I entered the publishing house.

When I entered the house, all the strangers whose number filled the entire living room, at the sight of me joyfully exclaimed, "Professor Skyemoone!"

I had no idea who all these people were or how they knew me.

But judging by their happy facial expressions, I realized that they were happy to see me.

"Professor Skyemoone! What an honor to meet you!" one young man in a red suit said, shaking my hand tightly.

He was followed by other people who also said they were glad to finally see me.

I tried to find Leon or Levi among the crowd. But they weren't there.

I was surrounded by strangers who came up to me and now presented themselves.

As I understand it, they were all writers, scientists, artists.

But this is the first time I've seen them.

"Professor, your book, it's just a masterpiece! And how did you manage to write such a simple but nevertheless wise book?" the woman who was holding a small dog asked.

"Yes, how did you come up with such an idea?"

"My congratulations Professor! Your book will definitely change this world!"

I wanted to ask how they knew me, but before I could ask them a question, when suddenly they made me sit on the sofa and started clapping their hands.

And no one was going to explain anything to me.

That's just one old man in a warm green sweater finally decided to tell me, "They're just excited about your book. These are your fans."

"So they've all read the Chain Reaction?"

"Yes. Levi didn't tell you?"

"Didn't tell what?"

"That your book is slowly starting to spread and people are starting to read it."

"He didn't tell me anything."

"Levy likes to arrange such surprises."

"And what do you think of the book?"

"Professor Skye! Why did you suddenly decide to write about dreams?"

"Yes! Professor, why this particular topic? Do you want to motivate people to follow their dreams?"

People stood and demanded from me to talk about my book.

I unbuttoned my jacket and clutched my briefcase in my hand.

"Professor, you are very beautiful!" someone shouted.

At the moment when I was completely lost and did not know what to do, Levi finally appeared and put his hand on my shoulder, said, "Be a little more cultured! You scared him!"

"Levi, what's going on here?"

He took me a little to the side, and as he approached my ear, he said, "I wanted to surprise you. Your book is becoming popular. Before I send your book around the world, I wanted to ask you if you're against it. So, I decided to have all these people read it. And as you can see, they all liked the book. Now I think success is guaranteed. Well, you don't mind if we publish more books, do you? You're going to be very popular."

"I don't mind. Thank you, Levi."

"Thank you so much. With you, my publishing house will also become famous. And I'm sorry for all those publishers who turned you down," he said, and smiled slyly.

"You just have a clean karma," a voice was heard behind. It was Leon.

I stepped aside a little and looked away. But still, I couldn't help but notice that he was wearing a dark red jacket, and black pants today. Also, I noticed that his neck was adorned with a burgundy scarf that gave him an aristocratic look.

"Professor tell us, so what was your goal when you wrote your book?"

Levi took my hand and led me towards the stairs.

I climbed a few steps higher and now, I could clearly see everyone.

A lot of people really gathered here.

And they all expected me to speak.

Well, I started, "The purpose of my book is to remind people of their own dreams. I just want everyone to start dreaming again and reach their goals. It is in dreams that our virtues are."

A guy with long wavy hair raised his hand and asked, "So you want a human to just follow his dream, forgetting about his responsibilities to society?"

"I don't think that if someone achieves his or her goals, it will somehow affect society. On the contrary, it will motivate everyone to do the same."

"If I follow your book, everyone is dissatisfied with their life. And that means we need to quit our jobs and start following our dreams? Isn't that too selfish. Then the whole world will be filled with egoists."

"Sometimes selfishness is not so bad. But I don't think that a person who goes his way of life and listens only to his heart is selfish. After all, everyone has the right to create the life that he or she wants to live."

The guy with the curly hair continued, "But then, my dream is to travel. So I have to go on a trip? But then there is complexity, some dreams, to realize them, you need a lot of money. Don't you think that's why people leave their goals behind because they don't have enough money?"

And I said, "If a person has serious intentions, he or she will go, follow his or her goal. And the one who walks on his own path, will definitely have an opportunity. It just needs perseverance and a dream. Money is just an excuse. Many people, having nothing, have achieved everything."

"So the main thing is to just keep going until you reach your goal? And it doesn't matter if you have the money or not?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Don't you think it's too late for some to start living like the heart commands them?"

"I don't like it when a person uses his age. I know that the topic of dreams and goals is too outdated. But nevertheless, a person needs the ability to dream. My book is more like a book that just motivates, but my goal was just to remind people that they once had dreams," I said, and then suddenly everyone started clapping again.

Surrounded by so many people, I wanted to get out of here, I felt tired, but nevertheless it was nice to see their faces.

Finally, with only a few minutes left until the New Year, everyone left me alone and I went up to Leon.

"Let's go out on the balcony," I said and pointed to the second floor.

Here, there was just the coziest balcony in the world. Right from the library of the second floor, you could admire the sky sitting on soft chairs.

The balcony was quite spacious and, as it seemed to me, even romantic.

I went out on the balcony and the cold wind enveloped me from all sides.

But still I didn't feel cold.

Leon was standing next to me. His gaze was directed at the sky which was covered with clouds.

«You want to tell me something,» he said as if reading my thoughts.

"Yes. I'm going away for three months. Under the teacher exchange program."

"Is that far away?"

"On the other side of the globe."

He was silent.

When everyone started screaming with happiness and whistling, I realized that the New Year had already come.

So I took out the box and said ineptly, "Happy New Year, Leon."

He seriously picked up his gift and immediately unwrapped it.

It was obvious that he was curious.

When he opened the box and the planets with the stars began to rotate, he smiled.

"When I saw it, I thought you'd like it."

"I like it," he said softly.

And then it was time for me to confess, "Perhaps if it wasn't for you, my book wouldn't have been published. If I hadn't seen you that day, I'd probably still be the old man who thought he was an island. You have brought a lot of good, unusual into my life."

I knew he wouldn't let me finish my speech, and all of a sudden, he hugged me.

There was more snow in the air. Now, it was a real snowfall. Snowflakes whirled and fell on his sunny hair.

Somewhere in the distance there was a firework.

Feeling like he was squeezing my back, I hugged him in response.

And then he abruptly walked away from me and said, "Let's go. I've got something for you."

While everyone was busy with the holiday, we quietly and discreetly snuck through the crowd, and headed towards the exit.

I put on my hat and left the house.

Leon was going somewhere, and I was following him.

As we were far from the city, there were only snow-covered steppes around us.

Heading somewhere, Leon suddenly disappeared in the dark.

But I kept going.

The wind was getting stronger and getting colder. I covered my neck with my collar and the moment I wanted to shout his name, I finally saw him.

Standing among the trees that formed a small forest, Leon somehow lit a single lamppost and I saw a chair on which lay the violin.

"Sit down here," he told me, and taking the violin, he stepped aside.

Never in my life have I sat on an ordinary chair in the middle of a forest.

The light was falling directly on his face and shoulders.

And then, he straightened his hand with a bow, and suddenly, began to play.

The melody that came from the violin was very beautiful.

At first he played quietly, but over time, the melody grew louder.

Never before in my life, have I heard such beauty.

And I realized that he had composed this masterpiece himself.

The notes just flew out from under his fingers and sat on the white branches of trees.

He was playing, and I was sitting holding my breath and for a moment, it seemed to me that my heart stopped beating.

I sat surrounded by tall trees and the snow fell smoothly to the ground, there was darkness around us. And I've never seen anything more beautiful in my life than what was before my eyes.

His eyes were closed, his facial expression was serious, and I just couldn't wake up from that sweet dream.

But who knew that this was my new reality.

When he stopped, I was still holding my breath. Everything around me was plunged into silence.

And then, he said softly, "Happy New Year, Professor."