When I changed my clothes, I left the house.
The weather was beautiful and my mood changed dramatically. Suddenly, I wanted to think only about the good and enjoy life.
"You always look great, and how do you do that?"
"I wonder where we're going?"
"I wonder too."
He laughed loudly and put on his sunglasses. "It's only been the second day we've known each other."
"If you've gathered people again and you want me to listen to them, you better stop the car."
"Don't worry. Where we're going, you're going to like it," he said, and put his hand on my shoulder. Not looking at the road at all, he continued to say, turning his face in my direction, "How long have you known and lived with my brother?"
"I've known him not so long ago. And we started living recently. After my book became popular."
"Alright. It's weird, though."
"What's weird?"
"You know, my brother never liked to talk to people. He was always so lonely. He didn't even talk to me. And now, I see that you are very close. Tell me, professor, are you just friends?"
Laughing loudly, he added, "Don't worry. Who you are, it's up to you."
"So weird, " I muttered looking out the window.
"What's weird?"
"Everything."
"We're almost here."
Looking at the road ahead, I already understood where we were going. And soon, when a tall building with many round windows appeared in front of us, Luca said, "Surprise. You wouldn't believe who wants to see you."
The next thing I knew, someone from the ministry wanted to talk to me. And then I got a little nervous.
But the excitement immediately passed as I stepped onto a soft carpet, which stretched along the long corridors.
Fresh air and coolness with the smell of roses, shrouded me from all sides.
Luca grabbed one rose and brought it closer to his lips.
"How much I love these flowers," he said as if to himself. "Professor, let's go."
A long corridor with multiple doors, perfectly smooth patterns on the carpet, and I remembered my dream in which I wandered through almost the same places.
It was as if no one was in the building. And only our steps broke the perfect silence.
As we walked forward, it seemed to me that it had been several hours.
Luca silently continued to walk until a high wooden door stopped him.
"Professor, please," he said softly and opened the door for me.
I entered the room where I immediately came across my book, which was lying on a large wooded table.
The room was spacious but empty.
One small sofa and a table.
The dark red carpet stretched in all directions. Round windows let a soft light into the room.
There was silence and some comfort.
"Professor, sit down, maybe you want something?"
"Do you work here?"
"Yes. Surprised? I'm full of surprises," he replied, and at that moment a woman in an elegant red trouser suit entered the room.
"Professor Skyemoone, hello," she said, and extended her hand to me.
A short haircut, red little earrings, a thin face, brown eyes, a smooth nose and strained lip lines, this was the first thing I noticed when this young woman looked seriously at me.
I knew who she was, I saw her on TV a few times. I will say one thing, this woman plays a very important role in the ministry.
"Luca, could you bring us a cup of tea and Professor, would you like something else? Maybe something sweet?" she asked, and sat down at her table with just my book.
"No. Maybe just water."
Luca smiled and left the room.
For a while, she was silent, and only then, I remembered her name.
Her name was Leila.
"You're probably wondering why you're here," she began to say.
"Perhaps yes."
"Then I'll get straight to the point, " she got up and came up to me. For a moment it seemed to me that she wanted to sit next to me, but she approached the round window.
We were on the top floor and so the view in front of her was just gorgeous.
The whole city, with all the houses, was seen from such a height.
"I read your book. A book that made so much noise and so much applause."
I was silently expecting a continuation.
Without looking at me she continued, "I liked your book. I'll be honest I've read it three times. And after reading, I started to notice how people started to change. People whom I know suddenly became very different. They suddenly changed jobs, left their homes, everything. And I realized that all this time I never knew anyone. I've been here for years. But as it turned out, I didn't know this country. I didn't know people. At first, I was mad at your book. I was sorry that you wrote such a book and all of a sudden everyone started following your words. I even thought, you did it on purpose. And that's what we all thought. But then I realized there's only truth in your book. You've written about dreams, and there's nothing wrong with that. Now I understand that."
She suddenly fell silent and then slowly turning in my direction continued, "Your book is wise, kind. But now, things are changing so fast. And it's changing in all industries. Economically, scientifically, morally. It scares me that people will change until everything is plunged into chaos. Professor, doesn't that scare you?"
"It's scary. But I don't think everyone will remember that book. It's just a temporary interest. It's going to be over soon."
"Do you really think so? Don't you notice that it's too serious? People understood themselves, they understood their lives, their souls and their hearts like never before. Do you think it's a simple interest?"
"People tend to love something. Like a song, a movie, a TV series. And the same goes for my book."
"I don't think it's the same thing," Luca silently entered the room and said.
Putting a glass of water in front of me and a cup of tea, he sat down next to me and unbuttoned his jacket.
"Do you want me to stop it all? Do you want me to write another book? Or what do you want from me?"
Without raising her eyes, she looked at the book. "Why did you call your book Chain Reaction?"
Luca looked at me with great delight.
I said, "I don't know. It's just that when I started writing this, it was these two words that came into my mind."
"Professor, this is not for nothing. You knew your book would create a chain reaction. One change will entail another. You knew that, didn't you?
"In general, I wrote this book from a philosophical point of view. I wrote about who is a human without a dream. It was purely research work. And besides, basically, I wrote this book for myself. Didn't you notice that?"
She was still holding my book in her hand and then suddenly said, "One perfect dream can wake up a broken person. One broken person can work miracles. And miracles will be added as long as dreams come true."
"You just remember everything from this book," Luca spotted and winked at her.
I was surprised how he could behave so calmly and freely with such a respectable woman.
Looks like Luca is able to charm anyone with his own charm.
"Miracles are happening. But do you think that's always going to be the case? Usually, miracles turn into something terrible," she said, and finally sat down on a chair.
Raising her eyes, she stared intently at me.
"I think the professor is as scared as you are," Luca said calmly eating chocolates.
"People quit their jobs. How do you think this is going to turn out? What happens if all the factories suddenly stop working?"
"I don't think it's going to get to this point," I replied, and now I felt a little anxious.
"I hope so too. Who knew things were going to change so quickly."
"You should know that I didn't want this."
"I understand you professor. We all understand you well. But you still have something to do."
"What is it?"
"People love you. They are ready to listen to you and rejoice in everything you say. You're a hero now. So, I think it's worth taking advantage of it. Professor Skyemoone, I'd like you to give a speech. Tell people a few words about dreams, goals, life and then add that it is just a book. And that they should calm down a bit."
"To give a speech?"
"Short speech. Just to reassure people," Luca added.
Leila smiled a little and closed the book.