“Misha, I went to the doctor and had a full examination. It’s bad. If I don’t start treatment immediately, I won’t have long to live. I need money for a complicated operation, chemotherapy, and medication. Where are we supposed to get it?”
“Don’t worry, darling. Everything will be all right, I’m sure of it! I’m here with you. We’ll think of something!”
“I need to tell Mom. I’m worried about her heart—she’ll get terribly upset. But I can’t keep silent either. She’ll figure it out sooner or later. I need to prepare her somehow.”
Anya could not believe this was happening to her. She was still young, not even forty. She should have had many years ahead of her, and now they had discovered this disease.
How fortunate that she was not alone. Misha was by her side, along with his son, Lyoshka, who had become like her own child. God had never given her children, and her first husband had left her because of it. She also had her mother, her sister, and her nephew. Somehow, she would get through this, and they would all support her.
Misha had raised his son alone. His wife filed for divorce and disappeared when Lyoshka turned two. They had never heard anything about her since.
Anya had met Misha in a park. She was walking her dog, while he was playing with his son. They started talking and soon began dating. Anya felt peaceful and happy with him, and she gladly agreed to marry him.
At first, they lived in the apartment Anya had inherited from her grandmother. Later, they sold it and bought a larger apartment because the old one was too cramped for the three of them. They had made so many plans, but now everything had been turned upside down.
Without putting it off, Anya bought a cake and went to visit her mother.
“Mom, please don’t panic, but I have to tell you something. They found cancer. If I don’t start treatment, then… Well, you understand. Now Mikhail and I have to figure out where to find so much money.”
“Oh, Anya, how could this happen? Where did the cancer come from? Nothing ever hurt. You were always so strong and healthy, unlike Svetochka. I dragged her from one hospital to another throughout her childhood. What a terrible tragedy…”
This was exactly what Anya had feared—her mother’s reaction, the hysterics, and the lamenting. But there was nothing she could do. It was better to tell her the truth immediately.
“And I won’t be able to help you with anything,” her mother continued. “I gave all the money I had to Sveta’s son for a new car. I decided to spoil my grandson. He had dreamed about it for such a long time. You don’t have children, so now I help Sveta and her son. He’s my only grandson, you understand.
“I do have a bank deposit, but I can’t withdraw it because I’ll lose the interest. It’s quite a large amount, and it would be such a shame. Before your father died, he told me to put that money in the bank so I would have extra income in retirement—a passive income.”
“I wasn’t asking you for anything. I only wanted to tell you.”
Mikhail sold his car. That money was enough for the beginning of the treatment. Anya was admitted to the hospital, where she underwent surgery. The next stage of treatment lay ahead, and her life depended on it.
“Oh, my daughter, you don’t look well at all! What are the doctors saying? Is there any chance you’ll recover?”
“Only time will tell, Mom. I hope the result will be good. I’m an optimist, after all. I always believe in the best. Sveta hasn’t visited me at all. I suppose she’s too busy?”
“She and her husband flew to Thailand for a vacation. But she constantly asks about you and sends her regards.”
“Well, I suppose I should be grateful for that. As soon as she found out about my illness, she suddenly changed. She called a couple of times, and that was it. But never mind, if she doesn’t have time…”
Anya felt hurt by her older sister’s behavior. There was no support from her at all. Even a few kind words would have been enough.
“Misha, the doctor said I need certain medications, but they’re extremely expensive. There are cheaper alternatives, but they’re much less effective, and there’s no guarantee they’ll help. What are we going to do? I can’t imagine where we could get that much money.”
“Anya, don’t worry. I’ll find the money! I’m your husband, don’t forget that! Lyoshka misses you terribly and is waiting for you to come home. We’re both waiting for you, and we both love you!”
Warmth filled Anya’s heart. How lucky she was to have them.
Then Anya remembered what her mother had said about the bank deposit and decided to ask her for money.
“Mom, I desperately need money. There’s a very effective medication, but I can’t afford it. There’s a strong chance it could help me. Could you lend us the money? Misha and I would repay you later.”
“Listen to you—‘lend you the money.’ Who lends money to their own daughter? I would simply give it to you. But, my dear, let’s be honest. Your chances of recovery are very small. I spoke to your doctor, and I know the whole situation. What guarantee is there that you’ll spend the money and the medication will actually help?”
“I understand, Mom. I don’t need anything.”
When her mother left the hospital room, tears burst from Anya’s eyes. So much for having a loving mother.
“Darling, I found the money! Thank goodness for my parents! When I told them everything, they immediately offered to help. They sold their country house to some acquaintances and gave us all the money for your treatment!
“They had offered to help before, but I kept refusing. This time, I decided to accept it. They genuinely love you and believe you’ll recover!”
Anya’s heart ached with gratitude toward these people. Technically, they were strangers to her, yet they were doing everything they could to help.
The treatment began. Anya’s condition suddenly worsened.
“My daughter, I’ve come to have a difficult conversation with you. Please hear me out and try to understand me correctly. Just as I feared, the treatment isn’t working. I’ve studied a great deal of information on the subject.
“Unfortunately, you don’t have much time left, no matter what the doctors say or how much they try to comfort you. It’s profitable for them to keep treating you. That way, they can take more money from you.
“So, I’ve been thinking. After you’re gone, the apartment will pass to Mikhail because the two of you bought it together. But most of the money came from you—from the sale of your grandmother’s apartment. Mikhail contributed only a small amount.
“So what does that mean? A complete stranger will take everything for himself? That isn’t fair. But you have Kostya, your nephew—your own blood. And an apartment certainly wouldn’t hurt him.
“Maybe you could sign the apartment over to him now? That way, there won’t be any unpleasant surprises later.”
Anya listened to her mother in disbelief. Who was this woman? Could her own mother truly be capable of such a thing? She had given birth to Anya and raised her, and now it seemed as though she was practically waiting for her daughter to die.
“Blood family, you say? Where were all of you when I needed help? You were worried about losing your precious interest and missing out on your profit.
“My beloved sister was sunbathing in Thailand. She couldn’t even find the time to support me during the most difficult moment of my life. Why should she bother? I already had one foot in the grave, didn’t I?
“But apparently, you can still get something out of me while I’m alive. You can grab the apartment for Kostya.
“Misha’s parents didn’t hesitate for a second. They sold their country house and gave us every penny for my treatment without expecting anything in return. So tell me, who is truly my family here? Please leave, Mom.”
Her mother sighed heavily and walked out of the room. What had she said that was so wrong?
Over time, Anya began to recover. The medication worked. Misha was so overwhelmed with happiness that he was ready to carry his wife in his arms.
Anya signed the apartment over to her husband so that her relatives would not be able to challenge his ownership if anything happened to her. She informed her mother about her decision.
“Well, thank you very much, my dear daughter. A strange man means more to you than your own family! Sveta will be shocked!”
But Anya no longer cared what those people thought. She was happy, and she was still alive.
That was what truly mattered.