When still at the Morgue I learned from Zhuko that Dr. Mardna got the early release.
«What a joy! To him and his family, to everyone who knows him!» I exclaimed. I sincerely rejoiced... for him. But in him I was losing the only person with whom I could find understanding.
In the evening, straight after work I in a breath rushed up the stairs and naturally found him in the physiotherapy room and, of course, with Mira Alexandrovna.
«Doctor, what a joy! What a good luck!» I said quickly coming to the desk. But the tears rolled down from my eyes perhaps because of happiness... Mardna stood up, went round the desk, took out his handkerchief, wiped my tears, put the handkerchief into my pocket. Then he embraced me shoulders and kissed me on the forehead.
The first... The last... The only caress.