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I dialled Mariszka's number again, praying that she would answer the phone.

– Yes, Misha? Is something wrong? – I heard her voice.

– Yes, something's wrong! I'm begging you, I'm begging you! Don't call your parents! – I pleaded desperately.

– Oh, that's what you mean… I'm glad you called again, because Markus heard our conversation and told me to stay out of your life, so it wouldn't be like…» She cleared her throat loudly, clearly not finishing something.

– Your habit of not finishing things is a little annoying» I said, intrigued by her words.

– It's nothing. I wanted to tell you this before you run off on your own. Just please be careful, and don't ever come into contact with people, ever, apart from your studies. Don't make any mortal friends, and in general, don't socialise with them, because mortals are the real evil.

«I wonder why Mariszka disliked people so much» – I wondered, because she used to say that people were food, but not evil.

– In that case, too, I can reassure you: I'm not going to do that! Not since-» I almost said: «Cedric advised me» but I corrected myself, «ever since Martin told me about the incident in Chicago, I haven't had the slightest desire to talk to them. And I'm prepared to be thought of as an arrogant fool or a bore.

Mariszka laughed.

– If you want that you definitely no one to communicate with you, be hysterical: to the nerds are attracted to the same kind, and hysterical ones hate their kind, – she said.

It was like a huge stone fell from my soul. And I was so moved that I put my right hand to my rib cage. Of course, it's a bad habit to express my emotions so directly, but I couldn't help it, so my hand went to my rib cage when I felt tenderness, or saw cute animals, or watched heart-wrenching films, or listened to the same music.

– Well, I've always been good at being hysterical» I grinned. – Don't worry about me, I know what I'm doing. Say hello to Cedric from me and tell him that I got into Oxford!

Mariszka didn't answer anything.

– Hey, are you still there? – I asked, not hearing her answer for a minute.

– Yeah, yeah. Just thinking. All right, go to your England, but watch me! And study hard!

– Well, I can't promise that, as this is the first university of my life,' I said. – But I'll do my best.

– And call me often! And now I'm sorry, but I have some urgent paperwork to do.

– Then I won't bother you. And thank you for understanding.

– But please, Misha, don't make us all regret it later.

– You won't regret it. And no one will regret it. And when I have free time, I'll fly to Prague to see you.

– Okay, we'll talk about it. Bye!

– Bye! Say hi to Cedric for me!

I switched off and quickly ran to Maria’s room to ask her to tell me about her life and her studies in Oxford.

The world was getting colourful again, and I was already dreaming of stopping by my university flat and meeting my roommates. Of course, I wasn't lying about not talking to people (well, trying to), but roommates are a different matter! You can't live in one flat and not talk to them or even say hello to them!

And the things? What kind of things do I need to take with me to live in this female anthill? I didn't know much about what a 'university flat' was and how it functioned: my knowledge of it came from youth films and TV series. What kind of clothes are worn in Oxford? How do students get to the university? Do they need a car or can they get there by bicycle? All these questions occupied me, giving me a thrill and a thrill: it would be a completely different life!

I knocked on Maria’s room and entered without permission. My sister was packing clothes in a large black suitcase: she and our brothers would soon be leaving for the place where they lived. Since they were a hundred years old, each of them had left their parents' home and had travelled many times from place to place. Maria was now living in Ottawa, Martin in Croatia, and Mscislav was in his third year of an expedition to the Himalayas with his vampire friends who had kindly agreed to wait for his return from our sister Mariszka's wedding. And now that that wedding was over and I was allowed to go to England, Mariszka and the brothers were preparing to leave.

It took my breath away to think that I would be leaving this house and our parents with them.

– A sweet little bird who wants to leave her nest! – Maria said cheerfully when she saw me. – I heard your conversation with Mariszka.

– At first she was categorically against my admission! – I also cheerfully exclaimed.

– Don't worry, Mariszka has always been tedious.

– Well, maybe she's overprotective of me. And about the bird: you yourself were the same! – I parried, coming to my sister's bed, with legs climbed on it.

– Why do you need that dress in Ottawa? – I asked, seeing something black in lace. – I took the piece of satin, which I thought barely covered anything, and twirled it around in my hands.

– This is not a dress, but a negligee! – Maria said with a laugh, took the satin from me and threw it into my suitcase. – But it's too early for you to wear such things, so don't get excited.

– And I'm not going to! – I snorted back.

– I was just about to ask you: how did you manage to get into Oxford without leaving Poland? – My sister asked, sitting down next to me.

I looked at her and couldn't believe that she was almost two hundred years older than me, when to others we were the same age.

– It wasn't easy. You know you have to come to the interview in person, and I was afraid that my offer to do it over Skype would be rejected. But I took precaution and sent them a certificate that I have a severe form of bronchitis and for health reasons…

– Where did you get it from, you wretch? – Maria laughed.

– I forged it, of course! But I did not lie so much: I am forbidden to go outside our garden, if I am not with my parents or one of you. Well, I'll tell you more: I was interviewed on Skype, they asked me questions, sometimes stupid and illogical, but I answered them all, and it was not easy for me… I was so excited that I forgot many English words! But they praised me for my interesting answers and said that my English was very funny: correct, but with a Polish accent. I sent my documents online, and now I just need to transfer the money for my studies, but Martin said he would take care of it!

– Clever girl. And what college did you get into?

– St John's College, philosophy department.

Maria propped her chin up with her palm and sighed.

– I went there once… But that was fifty years ago» she said, closing her eyes dreamily. – Oh, what parties were organised there!

– Fifty years ago? But Mscislav advised me…» I began in surprise, not understanding my brother's logic.

– He did the right thing! Yes, I studied at St. John's fifty years ago, but only three years ago I graduated from another college – All Saints'. By the way, your sister was a big name there!