Life is short. Mallorca, 2023.

One sunny day in October there was a strong wind from the sea. It destroyed everything in its path and I needed a brick to keep my physical balance and ground my feet so I could walk along the coast hour after hour.

I sat down on the fence to rest a little and look at the sea, to be in my solitude but with the sea. I closed my eyes and felt its greatness and power, filling every cell of my body with its energy of transformation and metamorphosis. Someone came close to me and asked in a man's voice if I would mind if he sat next to me.

I opened my eyes and nodded my head.

His brown eyes radiated light, and his smile naturally emanated joy. He put on his dark Prada glasses, crossed his arms over his stomach, and asked:

- Where did you come from?

The "refugee complex" suddenly turned on and I didn't know what to answer or what the words "Where did you come from?" specifically meant. "Does it mean where I come from, or where I came here from? Is he interested in my nationality? Where do I live now? I can be from one country and come/live in another..." Thought after thought spun into another thought, and my pause was too long, so he repeated his question.

- Where did you come from? What country do you live in?

- I live temporarily in Germany. But it has been temporary for almost two years. I came from Ukraine. I am Ukrainian. Do you understand me?

He nodded his head. And he fell silent again and dissolved in his smile and the rays of the sun.

I looked at him carefully and tried to make a portrait of him. The skin is dark, so he is local. The face has strong wrinkles, most likely from the powerful winds from the sea. He is 70-75 years old. Judging by his posture, pronunciation, and tone of communication, he must have once been the CEO of a big corporation. A smile on his face and light in his eyes speak of his inner peace, and ability to rejoice and enjoy life. His slowness in everything and at the same time confidence that he is in no hurry characterize his inner equilibrium. But it wasn't always like that... Some inner knowledge told me that he mastered this talent, this gift, relatively recently, when he became free from business duties. Prada glasses, Ralph Lauren polo, Dior sneakers - even if I don't want to notice these brands, they immediately stand out and seem to scream for themselves. Exactly a former CEO, a kind of wealthy confident, and carefree European pensioner.

- Yes, tourists do not quickly get used to our winds. I understand you.

He interrupted my inner monologue game.

I slowly turned my head and looked at him again, from the side of the glasses I could see that his eyes were closed.

"How is it possible? Did he feel, how I shrunk even more inside my essence under the influence of a new wave of wind???"

-You are very beautiful. But very sad. Why are you sad?

I looked at him again. His eyes were still closed. The same smile on his face. He seemed to be sunbathing. I suddenly realized that I was dressed, or rather packed, like in the North Pole - a sweatshirt, a blue turtleneck jacket made of eco-leather, and on top a yellow parka from the rain and wind, a large shawl wrapped several times around my throat and slightly covered my chin, on my head yellow cap, glasses on the face to cover the face from the wind.

- Yes, beautiful. I can see it even through all your clothes which cover almost everything.

And he again dissolved in that soft smile.

It seemed to me that he was reading my thoughts and slowly answering the questions that arose in my head.

- So why are you so sad? So young and so sad.... You still have your whole life ahead. But you know, it can end at any moment and even now at this very moment.

Tears and a smile appeared on my face as if the ice inside me had finally melted.

He felt my smile and smiled even more.

- Well, surely you have to go already?!? Yes?!?!

I had to go. I stood up and wanted to thank him for the conversation, but he interrupted me.

- Go, but take your time slowly. Enjoy life as it is. And remember, it will end quickly, don't waste it. And smile more - it suits you very well.

Due to an infinite number of difficult circumstances in my life, I again forgot to smile and rejoice. But everything around us has the real magic that manifests itself through nature, architecture, animals, and people.... And every person who happens in our life even sporadically, and as it seems at first sight without reason, makes certain adjustments in our life, because in the global plan from the point of view of the universe, there is nothing without reason, everything has its particular reason....

December 13, 2023.