5

— No!—I said decisively, standing with Ayla at a flower—painted women's dress shop.

— And why? I bought what I'm wearing right here yesterday.— Ayla twirled around, showing me her brown-green velvet dress.

— It looks expensive.I appreciated it.— But this is not for me. —

— There are a lot of dresses. The range is simply cosmic. Well, you don't want Vaclav to resist! You want to go on a date with the director, don't you?—Ayla laughed.

— Hey, keep it down!—I nudged her with my shoulder.

Even though I was burning with the desire to escape, I followed my friend.

My brain was ready to explode like a TNT bomb from the mixture of plumes of different spirits that reigned here.

I'm not that kind of person, I don't like perfume...

— Maybe this?—Ayla pointed to a lilac dress with bows.

— I'd rather stick needles in my eyes!—I said indignantly.— There are too many colors!—

We went further between the rows.

The bright colors made my eyes blink.

Suddenly, one of the outfits caught my attention.

The top of the thin, almost airy dress was pink and turned into metallic gray. The transition was a weightless, thinnest haze, not every eye will notice such a transition ...

the coloring of the dress reminded me of the sky of Mars.

I've read a lot about this planet. For some reason, she is the one I associate with home. With a warm and lovely house.

I could feel Ayla's impatience in the air as I changed clothes.

— Well?—I jerked the curtains open.

— Wow!—Ayla's eyes bulged.— You don't look like a soldier anymore, you look like a super beauty!—

— Well, you certainly flatter me about that.— I spun around in front of the mirror.— Yes, I think I'll buy it. And if there are, then some ballet flats that match the tone will not hurt, the main thing is not pink.—I said.

— Ballet flats? Ballet flats are the last century! Do you want to remove all the attractiveness with old shoes without heels?—Ayla asked, choosing her stiletto heels covered with spangled stars.

— Alas, there is no other way. I have flat feet. These youth heels are going to kill me.—

I took a pair of gray sandals from one of the shelves.

— Is there a size forty-one?—I asked the seller.

— The shelf below.— He replied.

Forty-one is my size, it shocks many people.

And now Ayla is staring at me.

— Have you really not been to the war? I see that your legs and back are scarred.— She said.

— Sometimes I go to hell, but it's not as interesting as everyone thinks. Sometimes you can hang out, but not for long. It's annoying to have demons everywhere...—I said softly, smiling.

— Demons??!—Ayla bulged, dropping her shoes.

Someone tapped on the glass of the display case with their fingertips.

I turned and smiled.

Shimansky! It's him...

— So which one of them do you like? Or both?—Ayla asked, glancing sideways at the smiling Philip.

— Philip is almost my friend now. He is a very handsome man, but he will always be just a friend. Like Salvatore...—

— Salvatore is pretty too. Creepy, but pretty...—

We left the store.

Philip stood leaning against the wall and looked at us.

— Hi, girls! Are you dressing up for some special occasion?—he asked.

Looking into Philip's eyes is like looking at the sky.

— Just like that, we're just walking. Would you like to join us?—I asked.— We were just thinking of going to a cafe.—

—If I can finally wait for Salvatore to look at himself in the mirror.