One evening, as Elena was leaving the hospital, she noticed a group of suspicious men loitering near her car. She tried to walk past them, but they blocked her path.
"Hey, pretty lady, where do you think you're going?" one of them sneered.
Fear gripped her, but she stood her ground. "Please, let me go."
Before they could react, a familiar voice rang out. "Step away from her!"
It was Sergei, his police badge gleaming under the streetlights. The men hesitated, then fled into the night. Sergei rushed to Elena's side, his face etched with concern.
"Are you alright?" he asked, gripping her shoulders.
"Yes, thanks to you," she replied, her voice trembling.
"I'm sorry, Elena. I should have been there for you sooner."
The close call brought Sergei and Elena closer. Sergei began to realize how much he needed her in his life. He couldn't deny the deep connection they shared, and he knew he had to make things right.
One evening, as they sat on a bench in Gorky Park, he turned to her, his expression serious.
"Elena, I've been a fool," he admitted. "I thought my heart belonged to someone else, but the truth is, it belongs to you."
Elena's eyes widened in surprise. "Sergei, are you sure?"
"Yes," he said, taking her hand. "I can't imagine my life without you. You've been my calm in the storm, and I want to be with you."