– I promise. I told you, I won't talk to him. Never!

– I think I'm watching some kind of melodrama» Martin whispered to Maria. She elbowed him in the side, but everyone laughed.

– Well, now that it's settled, prepare for the entrance exams. When will they be? – asked my father, not letting my hands out of his.

I was embarrassed: what if I told him that, without their consent and permission, I had already passed the exams and got admitted? Wouldn't he get angry?

«Even if he gets angry, he still won't break his word. God grant everyone to fulfil their promises like that!» – I thought and after asking for a moment of waiting, I left the living room and returned to my family with a letter from the university printed on the printer.

– What is it? – Mum asked in bewilderment as I held out the piece of paper to her.

– The thing is, I've already got in» I said firmly. – I didn't wait for you to decide and took the exams online.

My father glanced at the letter with a disgruntled look.

– 'Well, I see you didn't waste any time. Congratulations. Still, I am happy about your first independent victory» he said, handing me the letter, which Maria immediately took. – But I ask you, next time, before you do something so rash, wait for our permission.

– All right, all right! Then I'll go pack my things! – I was so happy, I was ready to fly to London that very day.

– Wait a minute, sister, the things aren't going anywhere. We haven't solved the most important question. – Martin looked at his father. – So who's going to look after our little tomguy?

I waited with anticipation and a joyful longing in my chest for my father's reply and looked into his eyes.

He was looking at me with a smile, too.

– I think she should try living alone, unsupervised. Maybe then she'll realise the value of family and parental control in this world» he said with a smile.

– Dad, you make it sound like I don't love you! – I exclaimed, throwing myself around his neck.

– But you are so eager to leave us! – Maria said, coming up to me and hugging me. – Congratulations! But don't flirt too much!

– I think flirting is your thing! – I laughed.

– Here it goes! A youthful maximalism! And I thought you would keep her at home until marriage» said Mscislav cheerfully to his father, and gave me the letter from the university, which had already fallen into his hands.

– I wish I could, but you see for yourself: this chick wants to spread its wings and fly away» replied his father. – But I still have a question.

I tensed up.

– Where will you live?

– Ugh… How you scared me! – I exclaimed with relief. – I've already been allocated a university flat.

– You have a whole flat all to yourself? You won't get lost in it? – jokingly asked Mscislav.

– I don't know how it's done… And anyway, you've already studied there, so you'd tell me! – I parried his joke.

– I am happy to tell you, but I think Maria or Mariszka will give you better advice.

In the evening, sitting in my bright and cosy room, I still couldn't believe that I had achieved what I wanted: I would go to England! I'll fly away from Poland! I'll fly away from my family! And there would be a new, grown-up, independent life!

«Thank you, Cedric. You helped me to become myself» I thought gratefully, suddenly remembering him.

2

That same evening I called Mariszka in Prague to share my happy news with her, but instead of congratulating me, she strongly insisted that I give up this «madness». Her voice disturbed me: there was bitterness and some tragedy in it.

– Mariszka, what's wrong with your voice? – I asked, deciding that her resistance to my trip had something to do with the sadness in her beautiful voice.

– The thing is… Though I don't think you need to know about other one's problems» she replied.

– Something with Markus? – I suggested. – Was it really that serious?

I didn't know anything about love relationships, but I knew about them from books and films.

– No, no! Markus and I are fine. It's not our relationship that's the problem.

– Then what is it?

– I'll call you later. Tomorrow… No, next week, but promise me you won't go anywhere!

– I've made up my mind, and to be honest, I didn't think you'd mind! Even Martin agreed! – I said grudgingly.

– Misha! – Mariszka sighed heavily. – The path you've chosen is scary and difficult. Besides, no one in the family is even thinking of going with you! You think it's so easy to live alone in human society and successfully hide? You can't do it!