“A woman’s independence and courage do not lie in instant readiness for intimacy, for intimacy, but in the ability to open her heart to a person, without fear that he might hurt.”V. Tolkunova When an artist of genuine talent, enormous soul and genuine kindness leaves us, this is a tragedy. On the one hand, it seems as if everything he gave to the world is leaving with him. But, on the other hand, he remains in human hearts and human memory, in his creativity, full of light and love; remains in the ideals that he conveyed from the stage to the viewer, and while all this is alive, he is also alive. This book is a unique autobiography of Valentina Tolkunova, told by her shortly before her death. At the end of the journey, already knowing that she is hopelessly ill, the great singer shares her personal understanding of the world and her life in art, truly opening up and rethinking all that is most intimate.