In your mouth, my name sounds like it has never sounded before.
If you dont want to, you dont have to answer.
Yes it is. You and I are of the same nationality, and the fact that we met here today, at a German wedding, is fate.
In our city, meeting, as you put it, people of our nationality is not such a rare occurrence, the girl smiled. Its not for nothing that Mainz is called Jerusalem on the Rhine.
Let me disagree with you, Joseph continued, trying to defend his point of view. You still wont be able to convince me about the fate of our meeting. As for Jerusalem am Rhein, everyone interprets it differently. For example, local Jews say that the city has such an informal name because they settled in Mainz at the beginning of the tenth century and founded the largest Jewish community in Germany here, and the Germans believe that this name comes from the fact that the city was the main center of Christianization of the Germans.
Okay, I wont argue with you.
Thats smart of you, Josef joked awkwardly.
After a short pause he asked:
How long have you known Tilda?
I moved here when I was ten. Tilda lived in a neighboring house and helped me get used to the new city, to new people. Since that time we have been friends. How do you know Klaus? Are you working with him?
We studied at the university together.
Klaus said that you are a doctor, is that a fiction or true? the girl asked with interest.
Yes, I am a doctor, and I dare say, a very good one.
What kind of doctor are you? A surgeon like Klaus?
No, I chose a different specialization dentistry.
You must have a very interesting job! And I am a simple elementary school teacher.
There are no simple teachers, Joseph objected. This is a very important specialty, since it is teachers who shape the personalities of children.
Looking towards the table, where Paul, already red with rage, was sitting, the girl lowered her head and said quietly:
Sorry, but I have to go.
Is it because your boyfriend has returned? Josef asked gloomily, also looking at Paul.
I really need to go.
Please, lets at least finish the waltz. Ive never felt so good.
Looking at the angry Paul, the girl continued the dance. After some silence, Joseph said:
I hope that you will forgive my frankness, but you and him are absolutely not suitable for each other.
I also ask you to forgive me, but I dont want to discuss this, Leah answered, turning slightly pale.
Believe me, you are meant for someone else, the young man continued.
And for whom, if not a secret? she asked sarcastically.
You are meant for me, Josef said confidently. I knew it from the very second I saw you.
Please, dont throw around such words. I dont believe in all these stories about love at first sight, the girl said excitedly. On top of that, this is all unnecessary, since Im getting married soon.
Ill bet you a box of chocolates that if you give me a month, Ill prove that Im exactly the one you need.
Smiling faintly, Leah replied:
Unfortunately, you dont have a month. After this dance we will stop our communication.
Then youll have to work in extreme conditions, Josef joked. In that case, I will try to convince you during this dance. I hope that after my words you will come to your senses and not commit such a rash act.
Youre just wasting your time.
Leah, are you ready to argue or are you chickening out? Only as a decent person, I must warn you that at the university, among other things, I studied psychology.
Well, lets try, but its all in vain. Ive already said that I dont believe in miracles and Im getting married soon, the girl said seriously, deciding to accept the challenge.
Josef collected his thoughts and asked:
Answer me, and first of all yourself, do you want to spend your whole life next to an unloved person? Live with him, give birth to his children, meet him after work, go to bed and wake up next to him?!
Why are you saying this? Ive already decided everything, Leah said sadly.
But Joseph was not going to back down and continued:
I ask you not to do this. Give me a chance to prove that you deserve the best, that you can love and be loved
The girl became embarrassed and lowered her head. Josef squeezed her hand even tighter and whispered in her ear:
Leah, my words may seem strange to you, but I dont want to part with you. I would like this music to last forever.
Alas, Josef, as you probably know, everything has an end. Very soon the last chords will sound and we will say goodbye forever.
Joseph did not even think of giving up.
Leah, please answer me, doesnt the end of something mean the beginning of a new one? Doesnt the end of the day mean the beginning of the evening, and the end of the evening the beginning of the night? It is not at all necessary that everything ends for us with this dance. I would like it to serve as the beginning of the next stage of our acquaintance. You know what, after the dance I invite you to take a walk. Lets get away from everyone and walk through Mainz at night.
Looking again towards Paul, who was seething with anger, Leah replied:
Thank you for the invitation, but very soon Im going to leave, and without you. You can invite someone else for a night out: there are a lot of pretty girls here.
I dont need anyone but you, Joseph continued to persist. If you refuse, then I wont even look at the other girls at this celebration. With thoughts of you, I will wait until the end of the wedding, and then I will go home and draw, the doctor whispered.
Can you draw? Leah asked interestedly.
Yes, Josef nodded. At a young age, I attended art clubs and even took private lessons. I had a lot of sketches and sketches, but today, no matter how symbolic it may sound, I want to start my first serious work.
Since childhood, I dreamed of learning to draw, admitted Leah, but I never could. And what are you going to depict?
Your dream.
What? she asked again. Did you say dream?
Yes, I saw him last night. I was looking for an interesting story for a long time, and this dream touched me so much that I decided to dedicate my debut to it.
How interesting the girl breathed out.
In general, I rarely have dreams, especially colorful ones. And I decided to capture today on canvas.
And what kind of dream is this?
Oh, its a secret, and Im not going to share it with the girl who so cynically refused to walk with me through the city at night, Josef said, hoping to interest Leah.
Well, thats your right. As you wish.
When the last chords sounded, Josef made another desperate attempt:
Leah, maybe you will agree to meet me tomorrow evening? I will tell you about the dream and the process of working on the painting
No, sorry, I have to go. And the music has already ended.
I need to see you again, Josef asked. Please give me a chance.