⏱ ~4 min reading
Ulyana's older sister was named Olena. Olena was six years older—she was already in high school, had her own room, her own laptop, and her own circle of friends, which Ulyana didn't really care about. But Ulyana knew: when Olena's door was open, you could come in. When it was closed, you had to knock first.
That day Ulyana knocked.
— Yes?
— It's me. Can I?
— Come in.
Olena was sitting on the bed, wearing headphones, with a book. Ulyana stood by the door - not really knowing where to start.
— Sit down, swallow.
Ulyana sat on the edge of the bed. Olena put down her book and took off her headphones.
— What happened?
Ulyana was silent for a long time. She looked at her knees. Elena was in no hurry - she knew: when Ulyana was silent like this, it was better to wait.
"We have a new one," Ulyana finally said. "The second one is a week old. Her name is Solomiya. She sits alone. I want to... well... make friends with her. But I don't know how.".
"Why don't you know?"
— Because I come up and I don't know what to say. Some stupid questions pop into my head. "How are you?" is stupid. What if she says "bad"?
Elena nodded. Her face was serious—the kind you get when you're thinking about something important.
"You know," she said slowly, "I was new at school once too. Remember when we moved—I was about your age.".
— I don't really remember.
— Well. I was sitting alone at recess. And I wanted nothing more than for someone to come up to me. He just came up to me. He didn't ask, "How are you?" He didn't ask, "Where did you come from?" He just... was there.
— Just visited?
"I just visited. What do you think would help you?"
Ulyana thought. She imagined herself in Solomiya's place. She imagined a large class, strange faces, a hubbub in which you don't know who to turn to. Her chest felt cold.
"I wish someone would sit next to me. I didn't ask anything. I just sat down.".
— There you go. Now think.
— Can I sit next to you?
— You can.
— And when you're around, what can you say?
— You don't have to say anything. You can, for example, take out your book. Or a notebook. Or an apple. And be silent. And she will see that you are there. You don't demand anything. And she will speak herself when she wants to.
Ulyana thought.
"What if she doesn't talk?"
— Then tomorrow you'll sit next to her. And the day after tomorrow. And she'll get used to the fact that you're not scary. And then she'll talk. Or you'll talk — for example, ask: "What are you reading?" — if she's with a book. Or "You have a nice hat." Or "Do you like to draw?"«
— What if she says no?
Elena smiled.
"Then you'll say, 'I love you.' And that's it. It's not the end of the world.".
Ulyana was silent for a long time. She thought. Olena was in no hurry. She picked up the book again, but didn't start reading - she just held it in her hands.
— Little sister.
— Yes?
"And how do you know all these things?"
"Because I was you too once. And I also came to my mother to ask. And my mother said the same thing.".
— The same?
— Almost. Only not about a classmate, but about a neighbor named Yulia — do you remember Yulia? She's my best friend from sixth grade.
"And she only became your friend after you came along?"
— Yes. I sat down next to her on a bench in the yard. Silently. She was silent for two days. On the third day she said herself: «Do you want my cookies?» And that was it.
Ulyana smiled.
— What if Solomiya doesn't have any cookies?
— Someone always has something to share. Do you, for example?
— I have stickers. With unicorns.
"Well, here you go. You put one on the desk. Between you and her. That's it.".
Ulyana nodded. She stood up. She turned around at the door.
— Little sister.
— Yes?
— Thank you.
"Go, swallow. And you'll tell me tomorrow.".
The next day at school, Ulyana sat next to Solomiya during recess. She took out a notebook. Next to the notebook, she placed a sticker with a unicorn — a small, pink one with a shiny mane.
Solomiya looked. First at the sticker. Then at Ulyana.
— Is this for me?
— If you want.
Solomiya took it. She thanked him quietly. Then, even more quietly, she said:
"I have a whole album of unicorns at home. Do you want me to bring it tomorrow?"
Ulyana nodded. Her chest felt warm.
In the evening she ran to her sister's room. She knocked. The door was ajar.
— Deer! Deer!
— Come in.
— It worked!
Elena smiled—the kind of smile that meant she wasn't surprised at all. Not at all.
💡 Sometimes nearby is the answer.