Camilla and Max had been dating for a year. Camilla wanted to move in with the guy, but he was in no hurry.
– You won’t be able to live, your mom, dad, and brother are at home. And my parents are strict, – Max answered.
The parents were really demanding. They immediately told the boy – until you graduate from college, find a job, don’t even dream of marriage. But Max wanted to be with Camilla, as he claimed.
Tomorrow was an important day – Camilla and Max’s anniversary. Camilla was determined and stood in an antique shop, choosing a gift. Gloves, compasses, books… all beckoned, but she needed something else. She wanted a ring.
– We can engrave it to your order, – the saleswoman offered
So Camilla did, bought a ring and ordered the engraving “C+M”.
The next day all the friends gathered in a cafe. They were waiting for the heroes of the occasion. Max gave Camilla a bunch of balloons, a rose and a lantern, which they were to launch into the air. Camilla went up to the guy, got down on one knee and did what she had been waiting for a long time:
– “What are you doing, get up quickly. Don’t disgrace me.
– I’ll get up if you give me an answer.
Max picked the girl up and led her outside.
– You’ve gone completely crazy. Did you wait for the moment to embarrass me in front of my friends? Don’t you understand, I’m not going to get married now. I’m not even working yet. What have you decided for me?
And with that, Camilla and Max broke up.
Sixteen years had passed. Camilla married a good man who understood her completely, there were no quarrels. They lived well, traveled on weekends to the forest, to the mountains, to the river.
Once Camilla ordered a refrigerator. Her husband was at work and had to hire loaders. The men were extremely rude, mat after mat as they climbed the stairs. One of the movers went back to the car, and the other one stayed to install the refrigerator. He turned around and Camilla went numb. A swollen man stood in front of her, his teeth were knocked out, his clothes were dirty.
– Max, is that you?
-Oh, Camilla, you’ve settled in well. You live here quietly. And I married twice, two daughters from two marriages. I sold my apartment and divided it between my wives. Here I work as a loader, enough for bread. Perhaps, I should not have refused you then, now I would live well.
– And I think how good it is that everything turned out this way. I would not like to have such happiness.
