My last but one friend in Moscow and the favourite of them all has left the country yesterday.

Initially we got acquainted through his wife, with whom, in her turn, I got acquainted through V. It's often like this with me, I happen to make better friends with men. :)

I'm genuinely happy for him and his family. He's a physicist, and it would be a real shame to waste the talent and all the hard work.

Still. Each time one of them leaves, it takes a huge chunk out of the hope I still might have.