HISTORY OF THE TENTH. Says Michael:

- I met Nastya in *** sk, where I came to work. She was my neighbor: she lived through the house from me. I paid attention to her even before our first conversation: she stood out strongly on the “common background” background with her appearance - brooding, fragile, touchingly defenseless ...

“Female Telegraph” very soon informed me about the reasons for her thoughtfulness: Nastya had an unfaithful husband whom she adored to distraction. He openly cheated on her, having no conscience, but she was "silly", according to some, "blissful" according to others, those who are not so critical, and "holy" according to others, which constituted a small minority. Nastya had such a reputation because no one, including her husband, had ever heard a bad word from her; she was eager to help everyone without thinking about herself — and most enjoyed it, and the minority worshiped her, shedding crocodile tears over her unhappy fate.

Nastya was very rich. This, in fact, was the vile intrigue of this story: her husband did not want to divorce her, because during his adventures of Nastin, his father would have left him naked. However, it was even said that they had sung with dad ... Nastya didn’t want to hear about divorce, and by all means tried to “save the family”, which, according to the majority, she never had. They had no children either, and the female telegraph whispered that she and Grisha had never had sex.

In this sad story, I could not understand one thing: Nastya was very beautiful. What does this prodigal dog still need? Nastya was tall, large, but at the same time she seemed fragile and thin — either because of the chiseled proportions of the figure and face, or because of her appearance — delicate, thin, a little painful, but very friendly and smiling. Nastya was 33 years old, but she looked like a girl - with a barely noticeable, maybe a time stamp on her face - she did not have wrinkles, but her skin dried out a bit ... however, it was necessary to do this, and medical cosmetics would remove all dryness, turning Nastya into an 18-year-old girl in the prime of youth and beauty. But Nastya didn’t take care of herself ... No, she wasn’t a slob - she was beautifully dressed, she was beautifully and beautifully painted, but the cult of her own beauty was alien to her.

The most amazing thing that happened in Nastya is her smile. She was not something that was hyper-sexual or sensual — no, she was just very sincere, warm, like a sunny day — and very childish. Nastya smiled like peasant children in old paintings, and looked something like them: big green eyes, long blond curls of such a hue as if they were burnt out in the sun — they remained that way in winter too; lush breasts that Nastya hid under closed styles - but she was so temptingly bursting with fabric ... And most importantly - Nastya was so touching, clean, naive ... it seemed that she had lived the last 15 years of her life in a lethargic dream, and staying a gentle child.

I began to think about her. In the beginning - no more than a phenomenon that is remembered against the general background; then - more, more passionate, more emotional; and finally - she occupied all my thoughts, began to dream about me, penetrated my erotic fantasies ... I was surprised and annoyed to state an absolutely impossible thing: I, a hardened individualist and cynic, who I considered myself, fell in love with a married woman which was not even familiar.

The latter circumstance, however, was fixable, but I could not get my courage. I wondered a thousand times: well, I will get acquainted with her, well, make friends - and then what? After all, she is madly in love with her dog; and even if I manage to seduce her - what will I achieve, except for the extra tears on the face of this so unhappy beauty?

But the case once turned everything in an unexpected direction.

***

Once a rumor spread through the street that Nastya was crazy with grief.Naturally, I became interested in this news - and found out that Nastya allegedly “saw something” when she was walking alone in the forest. I did not get a clear answer to my questions about what it was: some said that Nastya saw God, others - the devil, and others - as if she spoke with ghosts ... But, apart from these versions, I heard more specific information which immediately alerted me: allegedly the husband, in agreement with her father, wants to keep Nastya in a mental hospital in order to get her hands on her condition. I immediately realized that it was quite likely - and I was greatly alarmed.

Just a day or two, I accidentally met Nastya in a square on a bench - away from home. She cried. She looked such that I could not stand it and sat down with her:

- Can I help you? Something happened?

We were still strangers. She smiled gratefully, trusting soul - but something in her smile was hunted, hopeless ... She complained to me that we had known each other all her life:

- They do not believe me ... They believe that I have lost my mind. You also will not believe me ...

- Why do you think so? What happened to you?

I really wanted to hug her, and I could hardly restrain myself.

- I ... I don't know. No one believes me.

- Tell me. I can't watch you cry.

- Yes? I am probably very ugly when I cry ... Oh well. See, I saw something. In the sky, and then on earth. I really saw it! ..

- What did you saw?

- I do not know! ... I do not know what it is ...

- Try to describe it. So, as you would describe, for example, a picture or film.

- Describe? Well ... I was walking in the woods ... I often walk alone in the woods, you do not think, I just love to be alone - and suddenly I saw a light. From the sky. It was not the sun, and not a spotlight ... it was an inhuman light. Bright, white and blue, dazzling light. He seemed to have pierced me through. I screamed ...

“Have you seen anything other than light?” Something else?

- Yes ... I saw the figures. They ... they were also unlike humans. Like shadows in this stream of light, such dull shadows ... They moved, approached me ... Do you believe me?

“I believe,” I said, really believing her. I said this not because “I was seizing the moment” - I really felt that Nastya was completely normal. I read about something like that once - it seems about contacts with aliens ...

- These figures come close to you?

- No ... I saw them from afar, like now - that house over there. They ... they were different from people. Big heads ... God! ... I was so scared. And no one believes me ...

- I believe you. Take it easy.

- Do you really believe? - she incredulously startled. There was such a childlike hope in her gaze that it hurt my heart.

- True, I believe. Of course I believe. Do you know what I think? I read about the same cases; many people saw the same thing as you. You are most likely to meet aliens. Aliens from another planet. See how simple it is? These were ordinary people - only from another planet. That's all.

- Yes? - Nastya inimitably smiled through tears. - Aliens? So simple?

- I think yes. More than that - I know people who are seriously interested in what you saw. Scientists, ufologists ... - In fact, I did not know a single ufologist, but I was going to seriously find them for Nastya from the end of the world. - Tell me ... You said - someone thinks that you are crazy. Who is it?

- Yes all! All to whom I told it. I have already stopped telling ... You are the first to believe me. And my husband - he ... - and Nastya again burst into tears. - Excuse me...

- What is your husband - do not believe you? ...