Summary:

Galina has warned him it wouldn’t always be that way, that love isn’t a miracle drug. Ilya would nod his way through the lecture. Yes, he’s still sad sometimes when Shane is right there, but it’s easy to forget when Shane smiles at him, holds his hand just because, tells him I love you, drops to his knees. Distractions, Galina would shake her head, disapproving and understanding at the same time. But Ilya really thought it’s enough, wanted to believe so badly that for him love does fix everything. He knows the crashes after seeing Shane are always the worst. So empty and meaningless, sadness a knife splitting him open until the void threatens to consume him, its ugly head baring teeth. Ilya’s luck has run out. Or: Ilya has a bad depressive episode when he's at the cottage with Shane.