Sergei.

He was a kid in one of my classes at university. One afternoon, as the clock hit 1:50 and everyone scrambled to pack up their binders, I heard him mutter something to himself under his breath.

"Come on, just do it."

His eyes moved up and gazed at a girl who was about to pass by right in front of him.

Her name was Emily.

She was a smoke show. Long blond hair, fat ass. She was in really good shape, short and thick.

I could see in his eyes that he wanted to say something to her, but he needed to hurry.

Just two more steps and she.....

Was gone.

Just like that, the window had passed.

I approached Sergei.

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A New Friend

We both spoke Russian so naturally we got along well.

The interesting thing about Sergei was that he came from a family of killers. His father was a high ranking position in the army, and all his brothers had served or were planning to do so.

"I want to join the Russian special forces after college." he said to me one afternoon.

"I don't doubt it bro, just remember what I said, if you sneak up on me again I'm going to punch you in the balls." I responded

Sergei was 5'7, thin, 160 lbs. He could bench press 325. He was fast. He was strategic.

He was the only person who I never saw coming...

When we would meet he would always approach me from behind, no matter how hard I looked for him before. He would always blind side me.

He was a fucking assassin.

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The Problem

Eventually he confided in me his severe social anxiety. He was deathly terrified to talk to a girl...

At the time I was peaking in my game. Having found the manuals years before, I took it upon myself to help him.

We would meet daily after class to talk about it.

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I told him what to say.

I told him how to walk.

I told him how to close.

I would let him choose a girl for me to approach and return with her number in hand, hoping it would encourage him.

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None of it seemed to work...

With all the knowledge, he couldn't break the initial seal of getting his feet moving.

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The Cafe

Fast forward two months. It is a gloomy and rainy day. As the rain falls, the kids all scurry to class clutching their back packs. It's the last day of the semester.

Sergei and I sit in the school cafe talking strategy.

Still no progress. Not a single approach complete...

It seems that all of the efforts are in vain. Sergei has since revealed he is a virgin and is ashamed.

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As he talks to me, there is a blond in the cafe line shuffling her ass side to side, as if dancing to a tune in her mind.

I look closer and I realize that it's.... Emily.

She glances over in our direction.

A split second long glance.

Anyone not looking would have missed it.

I have the realization that she didn't look at me... she looked at Sergei. She just gave him an opening!

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I tap his leg and tell him the news. I instruct him to approach.

Upon realizing who it is, a fire grows in his eyes.

He stands. He starts to walk!

He is making his way over to her.

"One foot in front of the other bro...You got this. " I think to myself.

He makes it half way, only five steps remain between him and her.

Four!

Three!

TWO!!

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Suddenly,

He cuts hard right.

He B-Lines it for the sugar station.

"FUCK!" I yell out as the people next to me give me a strange look.

Emily grabs her coffee and walks out, not realizing at all what just went down.

Sergei returns and sits next to me quietly with his head bowed in shame. I put my hand on his shoulder without saying a word, and give him a firm but understanding clench.

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Fast Forward

I loosely stayed in touch with Sergei over the years after we graduated.

He ended up joining the special forces just like he wanted.

One summer, I was visiting some family in Belarus and met with him in person once again.

He still hadn't made an approach at that time, but I realized it was no longer the time to bring it up.

We had a great time in the city and I left back to the United States.

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The Call

One year later, I get a call on Facebook.

It is Sergei's father.

He tells me that Sergei was killed in battle.

There will be a funeral.

It will be closed casket.

The call was short.

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Summary

As I found out later, it turns out Sergei was on a reconnaissance mission with a group of 3 men.

They encountered heavy military resistance.

One of Sergei's comrades was shot several times while passing through an exposed area.

Under minimal supporting fire, Sergei walked through a barrage of AK-47 bullets to move his friend to safety.

He was shot 5 times, but saved his friends life.

He died from blood loss after reinforcements arrived, but the other 3 soldiers survived.

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The story ends here gentlemen. There is no happy ending. Allow Sergei's sacrifice to teach us a lesson, life isn't fair and no one is going to live life for you.

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Every time I approach, I approach in honor of Sergei. In honor of a brave man.

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So next time fear grasps your heart and you feel like you can't move, remember this man. Remember his story.

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Remember that this approach might be the last opportunity that you ever have.

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