"Belated Pizza"

Русский текст	Английский подстрочный	Современный американский английский
Я бежал, летел как птица. За плечами термокороб с остывающей пиццей. На телефоне — таймер обратного отсчёта: пять минут до просрочки... Не успею — прощай премия. Не будет премии - мама останется на сегодня без лекарств.	I ran, flew like a bird. On my shoulders was a thermobox with cooling pizza. On the phone there was a countdown timer: five minutes to expiration... If I don't make it in time, goodbye bonus. No bonus means mom will be without medicine today.	I sprinted down the street, flying like a bird. Over my shoulder hung a thermobox holding cooling pizza. My phone displayed a countdown timer: five minutes until late delivery... Miss this deadline, lose my bonus. Lose that bonus, Mom goes without her meds for the day.
"Ещё чуть-чуть… Пару кварталов…" — думал я, перепрыгивая через лужи. Октябрьский дождь бил лицо ледяными каплями.	"Just a little more... A couple of blocks..." I thought as I jumped over puddles. October rain hit my face with icy drops.	"Almost there... Just two more blocks..." I muttered, leaping over puddles. The October rain lashed at my face with ice-cold droplets.
Звук удара и слабый крик. Я обернулся. На другой стороне улицы женщина упала у перехода. Пожилая, в платке, с тростью. Она пыталась подняться, ноги подгибались, рука не слушалась, скользила по трости. Осеннее пальто окунулось в лужу.	The sound of impact and a faint cry. I turned around. On the other side of the street, a woman fell near the crossing. Elderly, wearing a scarf, leaning on a cane. She tried to get up, but her legs were weakening, her hand wasn't obeying, slipping along the stick. Her autumn coat dipped into a puddle.	A thud followed by a faint cry echoed behind me. I spun around. Across the street, an elderly lady had collapsed next to the crosswalk. Scarf wrapped tightly around her head, she clutched feebly at her walking stick. Struggling to rise, her trembling limbs gave way beneath her. Autumn's dampness seeped through her coat as it drenched itself in a nearby puddle.
— Чёрт... — прошептал я, замедляя шаг. Машины мчались по дороге, как всегда, кто-то раздраженно сигналил, а кто-то объезжал «препятствие». "Ты видишь меня? Ты чувствуешь боль? Я знаю, что ты хочешь встать, но не можешь. Твои глаза полны страха и надежды. И я больше не могу бежать в прежнем направлении."	"Damn..." I whispered, slowing down. Cars raced down the road as usual, someone honked irritably, while others drove around the 'obstacle'. "Do you see me? Do you feel pain? I know you want to stand up, but can't. Your eyes are full of fear and hope. And I cannot run anymore in the same direction."	"Shit," I cursed under my breath, breaking stride. Cars sped past us, some honking impatiently, others swerving around what they saw only as an obstacle. "Can you see me? Can you feel your pain? I know you're trying so hard to get back up again. But I won't leave you here alone."
Я бросился через дорогу. Промокшая куртка, стёртые подошвы кроссовок скользили по асфальту — неважно. — Вы в порядке? — спрашиваю, опускаясь рядом с ней на колено. Она смотрит на меня, пытаясь через силу улыбнуться: — Нога… кажется, что-то случилось… и на трость не могу опереться – больно.	I rushed across the road. Wet jacket, worn-out sneaker soles sliding on the asphalt — didn't matter. — Are you okay? — I asked, kneeling beside her. She looked at me, forcing herself to smile: — Leg... something seems to have happened... and I can't lean on the stick — it's painful.	I dashed across the street. Soaked jacket, scuffed shoes slipping against wet pavement—didn't matter. "Are you alright?" I knelt beside her, asking urgently. Her gaze met mine, straining for a smile. "My leg...something’s wrong...can't use my cane—it hurts too much."
— Давайте я помогу вам встать. Только не двигайтесь резко, хорошо? Она кивает. Дыхание частое, прерывистое, сквозь боль. Я беру её холодную руку и перебрасываю себе через плечо, поддерживая за талию, помогаю подняться. Мешается термокороб.	— Let me help you get up. Only do not move abruptly, all right? She nods. Breathing heavily, intermittently, through the pain. I take her cold hand and throw it over my shoulder, supporting her waist, helping her to stand up. Thermal box gets in the way.	"Let me help you up. Please don’t try moving suddenly, okay?" She nodded weakly. Each labored breath betrayed her pain. Taking her chilled hand gently, I hoisted it onto my shoulder, steadying her hips with one arm, guiding her upright. That damn thermal box kept getting in the way.
Она шепчет: — Спасибо, молодой человек… мне так неловко… — Ничего страшного. Сейчас вызовем скорую. В голове мечутся мысли: — Премия. Лекарства. Мама. Маме я куплю лекарства завтра, я заработаю. Но если я сейчас уйду, эта женщина может умереть. Одинокая. Без помощи. Как тот мужчина два года назад, зимой…	She whispers: — Thank you, young man... I'm so embarrassed... — It's nothing serious. We'll call an ambulance now. Thoughts racing in my mind: — Bonus. Medicine. Mother. I'll buy mother's medication tomorrow, I'll earn money. But if I leave now, this woman might die. Alone. Without help. Like that man two years ago, in winter...	She murmured softly. "Thank you, sir...I'm sorry...so awkward..." "It's no problem. We're calling an ambulance right away." But inside, my thoughts were frantic. "Bonus. Medication. Mom. I'll buy her pills tomorrow—I’ll find another job. But if I walk out now, she could die. Alone. Unnoticed. Just like that guy from two winters ago..."
Врачи приехали быстро. Я остаюсь с ней. Она говорит им, что я был первым, кто пришёл на помощь. Они благодарят меня. Я говорю, что хочу поехать с ней. Говорю, что останусь с ней, пока ей не окажут помощь. Она сжимает мою руку: — Вы… Ты хороший мальчик… как тебя зовут?	The doctors arrived quickly. I stay with her. She tells them that I was the first person who came to help. They thank me. I say that I want to go with her. Say that I'll stay with her until she's given assistance. She squeezes my hand: — You... You're such a good boy... what's your name?	The paramedics arrived swiftly. I stayed close, never leaving her side. As they tended to her, she told them I'd been the first one there to help. They thanked me profusely. When I insisted on accompanying her, saying I'd remain till she'd received proper care, she grasped my hand firmly. "You...you're such a kind soul...what's your name?"
— Максим. — Очень приятно, Максим. Я — Елизавета Александровна. Едем в больницу.	— Maxim. — Nice to meet you, Maxim. I am Yelizaveta Aleksandrovna. We drive to the hospital.	—"Maxim." —"Nice meeting you, Maxim. I'm Elizabeth Alexandrovna." Off we went to the hospital.
В приемном покое больницы врач, высокий мужчина лет сорока, осматривает её ногу. Он осматривает внимательно и отстранённо, сухо говорит: — Елизавета Александровна Короленко, у вас перелом лодыжки. Нужно наложить гипс, и нужны три недели наблюдения. Сейчас начнём. — Это серьёзно? — спрашиваю я. — Нет, не очень, если всё будет сделано правильно. Но ей долго будет нельзя ходить. И кто-то должен помогать ей дома. И вот список лекарств, купите ей костыли, и ещё, вот схема приема лекарств.	In the emergency room of the hospital, a tall doctor about forty years old examines her leg. He looks attentively and detached, speaking dryly: — Yelizaveta Aleksandrovna Korolenko, you've got an ankle fracture. Need to put plaster cast, three weeks observation needed. Starting now. — Is it serious? — I ask. — No, not very, if everything is done correctly. But she'll need long-term rest. Someone must assist her at home. Here's a list of medications, purchase crutches for her, here's also instructions for taking medicines.	Inside the ER, a middle-aged physician bent intently over her leg, his tone clinical yet distant. "Ms. Korolenko, you've fractured your ankle. We need to apply a cast immediately, and you'll require three weeks' monitoring." "Is it bad?" I queried anxiously. "Not really, provided everything goes according to plan. You'll need prolonged bedrest though. Plus, someone needs to help look after you at home. Here’s a prescription for medication, plus you'll need crutches. Instructions for dosage included."
Елизавета Александровна вздыхает: — Дети живут за границей… я одна. — Я могу приходить к вам помочь, если хотите, — говорю я. — Правда? — её голос дрогнул. — Мне было бы очень приятно. – она неловко пожимает мне руку.	Yelizaveta Aleksandrovna sighs: — Children live abroad... I'm alone. — I can come visit you and help if you'd like, — I tell her. — Really? — her voice faltered. — It would be very nice. — she awkwardly shakes my hand.	Elizabeth sighed deeply. "My children live overseas...I'm all alone." "I'd love to stop by and help you, if that's okay," I offered warmly. "Really?" Her voice cracked slightly. "That'd mean so much to me." She reached tentatively for my hand, gripping it gingerly.
Через два дня я стою у её двери с сумкой продуктов. Звоню. Открывает она — на костылях, но улыбается. — Заходи, Максим. Хочу угостить тебя чаем. — Да вы сами ещё не оклемались… — Печенье испечь пока тяжело, но чай заварить смогу. Садись, рассказывай.	Two days later, I'm standing at her doorstep with a bag of groceries. Ringing the bell. She opens — on crutches, but smiling. — Come in, Maxim. Want to treat you to tea. — You yourself haven't fully recovered yet... — Baking cookies is still tough, but brewing tea is manageable. Sit down, let's chat.	Two days later, I stood outside her apartment door clutching a grocery bag. After ringing the buzzer, she appeared—crutches propped under each arm, a gentle smile playing upon her lips. "Come in, Maxim! Let's share a cup of tea together." "You're not even fully healed yourself yet..." "Baking cookies is beyond me these days, but making tea isn't. Take a seat, dear. Tell me how things are going."
— Я сегодня снова работал курьером. Без премии, конечно. — Я прочитала о вашем приложении для доставки в интернете, — говорит она, глядя в окно. — «Заказ не доставлен вовремя». У тебя из-за меня то же самое получилось? — Да. Но я бы сделал это снова.	— Today I've worked as a courier again. Of course, without any bonuses. — I read about your delivery app online, — she says, looking out the window. — “Order not delivered on time”. Did the same happen because of me? — Yes. But I’d do it again.	—"Today I was working as a deliveryman again. No bonus this time, naturally." —"I've seen reviews of your delivery service online," she mused, gazing pensively out the window. "Says 'Delivery delayed.' Was that due to me?" —"Yes. But I'd do it again."
— Знаешь, Максим, я тоже была молодой. Работала медсестрой. Видела много людей, которые делали выбор между выгодой и человечностью. Человечность почти всегда побеждает. Хоть и не сразу.	— You know, Maxim, I used to be young myself. Worked as a nurse. Saw many people choosing between profit and humanity. Humanity almost always wins. Even if not instantly.	—"You know, Maxim, once I was young too. Nurse, that's what I did. Witnessing countless lives choose either self-gain or human kindness. In the end, kindness usually prevails. Maybe not right then, but eventually."
Она протягивает мне чашку горячего чая. — Вот. Возьмите. И вот это тоже возьмите. — Она кладёт на стол конверт. — Я заплачу вам за помощь. Больше, чем вы теряете из-за меня. Я не ожидал этого. Мне становится тепло. Не от чая, а от её слов.	She hands me a mug of hot tea. — Here. Take it. And take this too. — She puts an envelope on the table. — I'll pay you for your help. More than you're losing because of me. I didn’t expect this. I feel warmth. Not from the tea, but from her words.	She handed me a steaming mug of tea. "Here, drink this. Oh, and please accept this as well." Placing an envelope atop the table. "This is payment for your help. More than what you're missing out on because of me." It caught me off guard. Instantly, a wave of warmth spread within—not from the tea, but her thoughtful gesture.
— Елизавета Александровна… Я не могу… Получится, что я вам помогал из-за денег. — Можешь. Это не благотворительность и не оплата - это благодарность.	— Yelizaveta Aleksandrovna... I can't... Otherwise it'll seem like I helped you just for money. — You can. This isn’t charity nor compensation — it's gratitude.	—"Mrs. Alexandrivna...I can't possibly accept this. Then it feels like I only helped you for money." —"No, think of it differently. This isn't charity, or even payment. It's simply my heartfelt appreciation."
С того дня мы стали друг для друга почти семьей. Не кровной, но настоящей. Иногда прихожу просто так — посидеть, поговорить.... Послушать её истории. Она рассказывает мне своей жизни, о своем сыне, который теперь живет в Израиле, о том, как любит печь пироги. А я рассказываю ей о маме. О её болезни. О том, как сложно быть курьером в огромном городе, где все бегут и никто не смотрит по сторонам.	Since that day we've become almost family to each other. Not blood-related, but real. Sometimes I drop by just to sit, talk... Listen to her stories. She tells me about her life, her son living in Israel now, how much she loves baking pies. And I tell her about my mother. About her illness. How difficult it is being a courier in a big city where everyone rushes and nobody pays attention.	From that moment forward, we became nearly family—no blood ties binding us, yet closer than most families ever grow. Some visits were unplanned, mere opportunities to sit quietly together, sharing stories. She'd recount tales of her life, her son now settled in Israel, her joy in baking homemade pies. While I shared details of my own struggles—my mother's chronic illness, the relentless pace of life as a delivery driver in this bustling city, where passersby rush blindly ahead, oblivious to those in need.
Мы прощаемся: — Беги, Максим, — говорит она. — Но не забывай останавливаться. Особенно когда кто-то рядом нуждается в помощи. И я останавливаюсь. Каждый раз, когда нужно. Потому что иногда такая остановка решает всё.	We part ways: — Run, Maxim, — she says. — But don't forget to stop. Especially when someone nearby needs help. And I stop. Every time I need to. Because sometimes stopping makes all the difference.	As our paths diverge, she offers final advice. "Run, Maxim. But remember to pause. Particularly when there's someone needing aid nearby." So I halt whenever necessary. For often, pausing proves pivotal in changing outcomes.