Moscow. The summer of 1999. Meeting the love of my life.

I had just finished four years of boarding school in England. Loneliness. Insecurities. Homesickness.

But it didn’t matter. I was back at home in Moscow for the summer vacation. I had finished one chapter of my life and had a few months before I’d begin a new one. It was a reset. I had an offer from Cambridge but wasn’t sure I got in. My offer was conditional on getting straight As for my A-levels. The grades would be released in August. Actually, I was sure I got in. My exams went very well. I was prepared.