It was a pleasant winter evening. Light and fluffy snow fell to the ground, enveloping the city in a white blanket. The New Year was inexorably approaching, and people, in anticipation of the holiday, were running around the shops, buying food and gifts for loved ones. Andrey stood at the window, looking at this New Year’s bustle, and was a little jealous. He loved to give gifts and loved to receive them. But the catch was that he had no one to give gifts to, and no one would give him anything.
Andrey turned away from the window with a sigh and thought about Nastya. About the girl he’s been in love with since 10th grade. He hasn’t seen her for three years. She knew perfectly well about his feelings and, during the last meeting, she herself confessed her love to Andrei. If all this happened in a fairy tale, then Andrei would stay with Nastya, and they would live happily ever after. But life is not a fairy tale. Andrei then left because he knew that he was one of those people who had no future, and he was afraid to drag her into the swamp in which he himself was hopelessly floundering. He left so as not to spoil her life, thinking that he would soon forget about her. Andrey was wrong. He never could forget her.
Andrey moved away from the window and approached the wall, which he called the Wall of Memory. Various photographs hung on this wall. They were all from when he was in school. From the time when he had a family, when he was not yet lonely. At one time, Andrey was not lazy and cut out his image from all the photographs. He believed that he was not worthy to stand with such good people.
Moving away from the Memory Wall, Andrey looked around the entire room. There was a terrible mess there. Layers of dust piled on top of each other. Aloe, the only plant in the room, withered a month ago. The spiders considered themselves full-fledged residents of this apartment and hung their webs in all corners. And there were empty beer bottles everywhere, glass proof of how far Andrey had fallen.
Leaving the room, Andrei looked at the toilet. The door was open, light was shining from it, illuminating the noose, which was soon destined to close around Andrei’s neck like a deadly snake. She had been hanging there for some time, but today she had to take a life.At times it seemed to Andrei that she was alive and watching him, waiting for her moment.
Andrei’s desire to die consisted of many factors. He lost many loved ones, because of this he began to become an alcoholic and deteriorate, because of these binges he lost all self-respect, he began to think that it was better to die than to continue to slide. But the main reason was fear. He experienced a lot of pain and was afraid that it would be even worse in the future. And for this reason Andrey decided to finish everything in an instant.
Andrey looked at his watch. Three hours left until the New Year. He wanted to commit suicide at the exact moment when the clock struck twelve. Not knowing how to kill time, Andrey went online to read something interesting. I came across a funny news story about how someone in a Santa Claus costume killed a snake that attacked him in someone’s house. Having read this news to the end, Andrei decided to take a walk for the last time before his death, to get some fresh air.
After getting dressed, he went outside and thought about where to go. Then he spat on it and headed wherever his eyes were looking. All the people who crossed his path looked quite happy. Andrey smiled tiredly at them all. He could not be called a philanthropist, but today he sincerely wished happiness to all of them. Some person on the street was broadcasting to others that on this day every person would receive help and support, perhaps even from where they were not expecting it. Andrey thought: “What nonsense? I have nowhere to wait for help. Nobody will help me. Yes, even if there was someone who could help, it doesn’t matter to me, I don’t deserve any help. I must accept my fate with dignity and go to the next world.".
Andrey was torn from his depressive thoughts by a wild animal roar coming from the alleys. The roar was attractive and could not be called terrible, since there seemed to be kindness in it. Andrey looked around in surprise. People walked as if nothing had happened, none of them seemed to hear anything. He shrugged and was about to leave, but then the roar came again. And this time it sounded in such a way that Andrei immediately understood: this is the Call. And that’s his name. To be sure, he stood there a little longer. The roar sounded for the third time, sounding even more attractive than both previous times. Andrei hesitated a little, wondering whether to go there or not, but then he thought that it couldn’t get any worse, and headed into the depths of the alleys. What he saw blew his mind. There was a wooden sleigh standing there, and one got the feeling that this certain tree had decided to grow in the shape of a sleigh. Green foliage grew from these sleighs. A huge polar bear was harnessed to the sleigh. From one glance at this bear it became clear that this is not a tame animal and he walks in harness of his own free will. In the sleigh sat a tall, stately grandfather with a long gray beard in a blue fur coat and the same hat. Wisdom shone in his blue, ice-cold eyes. His whole appearance was full of strength, powerful, indomitable, but at the same time kind. Looking at all this splendor, Andrei became intimidated. He had never seen anything like it in his life. The old man sitting on the sleigh looked cheerfully at Andrey and said:
– Well, hello, Andrey.
“Hello,” he answered, stunned, and then asked. -Who are you?? And how do you know me??
The old man looked at Andrey with disappointment and said:
“I appear here so spectacularly in all my glory, and you don’t even know who I am.”? Here the youth have gone! This didn’t happen before. However, in ancient times there were more miracles, maybe that’s why it was easier to believe in them. Okay, let’s not talk about it. Well, Andrey, try to guess who might show up on New Year’s Eve in a blue fur coat and in a sleigh with a bear in harness?
– Santa Claus or what?? – Andrey, who had come to his senses, answered sarcastically.
“If you remove this unnecessary sarcasm from your voice and say it again, it will be absolutely perfect,” the old man answered dryly.
– But you don’t exist? You’re just a fairy tale for children.
“Now I have become a fairy tale for children,” the grandfather answered bitterly, “but before everything was different.”. Creatures, now considered fabulous, inhabited the earth along with people. And one thing distinguished them all. They were all created good. Even those whom you now portray as monsters in films and books were actually not like that. People, according to the Creator’s plan, were also supposed to be as kind as everyone else, however, He made a mistake in the calculations somewhere, and, as a result, with each generation there was more and more darkness in people. The Creator cursed for a long time because of this, looked for the culprits, suspected Satan, who swore that he was not to blame. As a result, many fairy-tale creatures were exterminated or expelled. I’m one of the few left.
— And when you spoke about the Creator, you meant God? – asked Arthur, who was listening with interest.
– Yes, exactly about him.
– So he exists?
– At least it existed. One of the reasons for the disappearance of miracles was that He disappeared somewhere. Previously, everyone could talk to him, consult with him, and then one day everyone woke up and realized that they did not feel his presence. He was like a father to us. People didn’t care, but we took his absence hard, many couldn’t stand it. It’s hard to convey how we felt. Did you feel a similar feeling when your mom died, only it was several times harder for us?. It was especially hard for Satan. For him, the meaning of existence was to arrange some kind of dirty trick for the Creator. He was always something of a restless, spoiled little boy. He was a merry fellow, a jokester, the life of the party, and, after the Creator disappeared, he stopped crawling out of his ice fortress. Sitting there, sipping wine all alone and waiting in the hope that someday God will return. I feel sorry for him.
Andrey shook his head. What he now learned did not fit in with his previous understanding of the structure of the world.
—You said that everyone dealt with the disappearance of God differently. How did you cope?
– I? – Santa Claus hesitated, – well, how can I say… You know, I believe that He simply left this world for the reason that He was disappointed in all of us. And maybe if we all become better people, we carry the light, someday it will return. That’s why when He disappeared, I became who I am now. He began to do good, save people, give gifts, bring light and hope. I always tried to do this, no matter whether there is a war going on now or in peacetime. I tried to help everyone I could because I wanted to give hope to everyone, no matter how lost or lost they were.
— You helped people during wars too?
– Yes, as far as possible. He treated people, neutralized all sorts of mines when he could. Still, the technique is not mine. I’m most proud of delivering letters. Postmen often died, and during the war, news from home, from those you care about, is very important. So I found lost letters and delivered them where needed. You should have seen these happy faces of people who received at least a little light and hope.
Santa Claus fell silent, immersed in memories. Andrey was also silent for a while, digesting the information received. Then the inner rationalist won and he asked:
– Why should I believe you?? Maybe it’s all a joke. Or are you just my hallucination?.
– And you shouldn’t believe me. I’m not going to convince you of anything. If you believe, stay; if you don’t believe, move on and get into the noose,” answered Santa Claus indifferently.
Andrey thought about it. On the one hand, it would be quite logical to up and leave now, leaving this strange old man alone with his bear. But the grandfather’s eyes, in which the wisdom of thousands of years lived shone, for some unknown reason inspired trust. And he decided to stay.
– If you exist, then that means Santa Claus also exists? – Andrey asked, not knowing how to break the prolonged silence.
“He drank himself to death long ago and hanged himself,” answered Santa Claus without emotion.Then he looked at Andrei with interest and, with obvious hope in his voice, asked, “So you still believe in me.”?
“Yes, I believe,” Andrey answered with a little hesitation.
“That’s great,” Santa Claus almost jumped on his sleigh, “that means it’s time to talk about why I’m here.”.
– And why are you here?? – Andrey asked warily, looking at Moroz’s face glowing with happiness.
– I know what your problem is. I know what you want to do. And I want to save you from this. I don’t have much time and energy left, but I can still create a miracle.
– What makes you think that I need help?? – Andrei said coldly.
– Do you know what your problem is?? — kind Grandfather Frost answered the question with a question.
– Of course I know.
– The fact of the matter is that you don’t know anything! – Moroz exclaimed, actively gesturing with his hands, “You’re still too young, you’re not even five hundred years old, how do you know anything?”? You have long ago decided to end your life, and at the moment when you decided this, you also decided that now you can do nothing, you can absolutely not care about your future. Therefore, you lived for your own pleasure, driving yourself into an even deeper hole than the one in which you were. However, when the appointed time began to approach, doubts began to arise in you: do you really want to die?. You started to realize that life isn’t so bad after all. However, you continue to go to the end for the reason that if you back down now, it turns out that before that you were wrong all along. And you really don’t want to admit the fact that you were wrong. That’s why you continue to be stubborn and put on a good face when you play poorly. But that’s just one of the reasons. The second is that you understand how difficult it will now be for you to secure your future, and that it will be much easier to just leave. Even the pain that you are so afraid of, you could overcome if you wanted. That’s it! That’s the whole truth! You consider yourself a complex, tragic figure, but in reality you are just a weakling and a coward who does not want to admit his mistakes. You’re lucky that I found you.
– But no! – Andrey exclaimed, deeply hurt by this.
– And here it is! – Santa Claus exclaimed with the same intonation. – So, I still have a little strength left for the last miracle. And so I can fulfill any of your wishes. Just wish it, and tomorrow the director of some large company will call you with a job offer. Come on, make a wish, I’m waiting.
Andrey thought about it. On the one hand, he now had a great chance to turn his life upside down. But on the other hand… Still, Santa Claus was right, Andrey really didn’t want to be wrong. To abandon his plans now would mean admitting that he had been an idiot for the previous two years. And besides… He was very tired. Tired of everything that surrounded him. He just wanted a little peace. If Andrey chooses life now, it will mean that there will be a lot of fuss ahead, which sits in his liver. And if he dies… Who knows what will happen there. Maybe it will be better there?
-What will happen there after death?? – Andrey asked Santa Claus.
– I don’t know. Nobody knows except the dead. Even God. Satan once tried to commit suicide by hanging himself, swallowing poison, cutting his throat, piercing himself with three spears and setting himself on fire, and he did all this at the same time. Then he swore wildly, trying to get off the rope and pull out the spears. And finally I puked. It was a funny story. Well, you’ve made a choice?
Andrey thought. Yes, he made a choice.
– I made my decision. Please listen to him and put up with him. I decided to go all the way. I’ll end my life after all. You can call me a coward, a weakling, it doesn’t matter to me. But still I have one dying wish. There is one girl, Nastya, I have been in love with her for a long time. So, please, make her happy so that she doesn’t repeat my mistakes.
Santa Claus’s reaction surprised him. He expected angry screams, but he simply sat down tiredly on the sleigh. It seemed as if strength and power had disappeared from his appearance; now in front of Andrei sat an ordinary old man, of which there are many, in unusual clothes. The changes even affected the bear. Strength and confidence disappeared from his eyes, only sadness appeared in their place.
-Are you sure about this?? – Santa Claus asked quietly.
“Yes,” Andrey answered, with difficulty forcing his suddenly clumsy tongue to move.
– For what? Why are you doing this? I can help you, I can save you. So why? — Santa Claus looked into Andrey’s face, and it was clear that this answer was very important to him.
– You just understand, that’s how it’s supposed to be. So you will fulfill my wish?
– Yes, I will do it. Whatever it costs me.
Having said this, the previously energetic Santa Claus hardly got up from the sleigh, walked up to Andrey, hugged him in a fatherly way, and then sat back on the sleigh, said something in an unknown language, after which the bear, roaring as if saying goodbye, smoothly galloped forward and up.
Andrey watched their diminishing silhouette and went home. “Soon this will all be over,” he thought wearily.
Having entered the apartment, he headed towards the toilet. Every step was difficult for him, his heart was pounding like crazy, as if trying to wear himself out so that later he wouldn’t be offended by dying. “It’s strange, but I thought I wasn’t afraid of death,” thought Andrei. Finally reaching the toilet, he stood on a pre-prepared stool, put a noose around his neck, and belatedly thought that he would need to write a suicide letter. And then he jumped off the stool. The moment he jumped off, he heard the sound of breaking glass. At the same moment, a small dagger flew into the toilet and cut the rope, which was already about to tighten. Andrei landed awkwardly, stood up sharply, breathing heavily, and looked into the corridor. Santa Claus, who was standing and watching this, calmly said:
– Come with me if you want to live.
– Go to hell, I already said that I don’t want to live! Fuck you got stuck?! – shouted the enraged Andrei.
“You want to live, you don’t want to, but you have to,” answered Santa Claus, after which he laughed wildly and through his laughter barely said, “God, what an idiot I was, why didn’t I immediately figure out how to kill two birds with one stone?”. That’s it, let’s go, we have things to do.
After these words, he grabbed Andrey by the collar and dragged him to the window. He tried to resist, but it was useless: the strength in the hands of this old man was truly bearish. Approaching the window, Santa Claus, without much ceremony, threw Andrei into the sleigh and climbed up behind him. Having given the order to the bear to take them to their destination, he turned and said:
– What a fool I was! I went to this beloved one of yours, and what do I see?? She’s head over heels in love with you, just like you are with her. She can’t be happy without you. If you die, she will soon end up just like you. Did you even think about her when you were about to hang yourself??
“No,” answered the ashamed Andrei.
– Fool’s answer! I should have thought. Now you have to live if you want her to be happy. And not just to live, but to live next to her, to share your life with her. Do you agree to this or are you still ready to kill yourself, and her along with you??
– Yes, I agree! – Andrey answered without hesitation.
– That’s great. Together you will get through all the difficulties. Together you will be happy even without me. Now, we’ll just correct your appearance. So, put on new fashionable clothes (snap your fingers), no need for a hat, just raise the air temperature around your head (snap your fingers), cut your hair (snap your fingers), shave (snap your fingers), remove the hangover look (snap your fingers). And the final chord (snap your fingers).
After the last click, Andrey had a bouquet of excellent lilies of the valley, Nastya’s favorite flowers, in his hands. Andrey looked at them, stunned, then at himself. Yeah, he hasn’t looked this good in a long time. While he was examining himself, the bear landed in front of some seven-story building.
– This is the house. First entrance, apartment 426, intercom code 1357. That’s it, go, good luck to you. Be happy.
Andrey hesitantly descended from the sleigh and turned around. One question tormented him.
– Listen, Grandfather, at one point you said that you didn’t have much time left. What does it mean?
“This means that I will die soon,” Santa Claus answered cheerfully. – Well, to be more precise, in three minutes and twenty-six seconds.
Andrey looked at him stunned.
“But…” he began.
– Quiet, don’t say anything. Just go. You are my last good deed, so make sure it is not in vain. Thank you for giving me another opportunity to feel useful. Now go.
– Fine. Thank you, Grandpa. “I will always remember you,” Andrey whispered. Santa Claus smiled cheerfully, whistled bravely and rushed up to meet his destiny. Andrey saw him off with a sad look, turned around, dialed the code on the intercom and entered. I entered the ordinary door of an unremarkable entrance. Entered the most important door in his new life.

Best comments

Thank you for this sad story (I actually laughed at Satan – your story is funny, thanks for that too). I’m not such a sophisticated reader as to find fault with every word, I just liked it, it turned out very nice.

Harry Potter is still https://glimmer-casino.co.uk/mobile-app/ far from such magic 😀

I can’t give any advice about the story, but in the text it obviously wouldn’t hurt to sometimes change the definition from “Andrey” to something general – “he”, “young man”, etc.d.

Working with C grade images. "Pleasant winter evening". I was hit on the head for this)). The point is, decide who the narrator is. If Andrey, then describe his emotions. If it’s Frost, then describe why he decided to help Andrey. If a “faceless observer” – then why did you think that the evening you described would be pleasant for the observer?.
I don’t think I’ll say much about suicide, all those I know (indirectly) have never created “Memory Walls” or similar nonsense. On the contrary, they tried to get rid of everything that was. They are not creators. "Why try?"and similar questions. In general, Andrey is a “poser”, so why save him??
Who is "Moroz"? Either he says that he is “many, many” years old and he knows everything, then he scolds himself for ill-considered actions.
Having stood the narrative on dialogues, you pay through them to reveal the characters. I myself recently analyzed my old works with the same error. So this is my conclusion. Is this a cinematic or screenplay narrative?. The hero can speak sarcastically, but inside he feels a spark. In the case of a movie, these experiences will be shown by an actor; descriptions and dialogues must be inserted into the text. Especially in short form, where there is not much time to develop the character.

Also, don’t write “nonsense” in tags. Otherwise, it turns out that you either made an assessment of yourself, then why should we read this?. Either you are describing the ravings of a madman, then Andrei must have either managed to hang himself and Santa Claus is his posthumous hallucination. Or Frost is his lifetime hallucination and in the end Andrei jumped out the window. But I don’t love arthouse enough to look for meaning in a bunch of… Just a bunch of anything.