All Amazing Babies

When Vladimir learned that he was about to become the father of twins, a strange feeling of disorientation overwhelmed him. Before Svetlana’s pregnancy, he had truly dreamed of having children; together they made plans for the future and prepared for a new phase of life.

But as soon as his wife went to the maternity hospital—granting him an unexpected freedom—Vladimir suddenly realized: perhaps this was a mistake.

He spent the first day of solitude in gloomy idleness, but the next day he decided to visit his favorite café—he simply could not stand cooking himself. There, amid the aromas of fresh baked goods and coffee, a fateful meeting occurred.

He saw HER—Marina, the woman of his dreams. This realization came suddenly, as soon as she stepped over the threshold of the establishment. She scanned the room, smiled radiantly, and gracefully sat at an empty table.

Vladimir’s heart began to race. They started talking, and by the evening Marina found herself in his home. And by morning, Vladimir began to wonder: was his feeling for Svetlana genuine? Was it right to become a parent?

A phone call disrupted their tranquil morning. Marina frowned in annoyance:

— Who’s calling so early? I haven’t slept at all…

Vladimir looked at the screen—it was a call from the maternity hospital. Reluctantly, he answered:

— I’m listening. Yes, I’m a father now. Two sons.

— Ugh, diapers, sleepless nights, no personal life! Why did you need this? — Marina snorted.

Vladimir shrugged:

— Honestly, I’m not even sure myself.

That evening, Svetlana called. Vladimir tried hard to sound joyful, but apparently not convincingly enough.

— My dear, is something wrong? You don’t seem happy…

— Of course I’m happy! It’s just that I’ve been offered an important position, and the kids… I’m afraid they’ll get in the way of my career. But don’t worry, I’ll figure something out! — he lied.

— Figure something out? What do you mean? — Svetlana asked anxiously.

Vladimir hurriedly said goodbye, realizing he had let something slip. Time was pressing—his wife and the children were to return home in a week. A plan was needed.

— Listen, I have my ancestral house back in the village! — the idea struck him. — It’s quite decent, though far from the city. I’ll take Svetlana and the kids there, say they need fresh air while I have to work. I’ll promise to visit. Will that work?

— Of course! — Marina perked up. — Your gullible wife will believe anything! And we’ll be able to be together without extra hassle?

— Well, maybe not completely together, but at least we won’t have to hide! — he assured her.

Vladimir prepared an impassioned speech. Svetlana, of course, was upset:

— Darling, I feel like you’re hiding something… How am I supposed to manage alone in the middle of nowhere with two kids?

— You’ll manage! I’ll visit often. You wouldn’t want me to have problems at my new job, would you?

Svetlana didn’t understand her husband, but she didn’t dare argue. She was afraid he would get upset—and then what would she do? Straight from the maternity hospital, they were heading into the unknown. The young mother quietly wept, suspecting that the matter wasn’t about his career but another woman. But how could she bring that up?

The car stopped in front of a semi-ruined house, almost hidden by wild vegetation. Svetlana gasped:

— Vladimir, you’re not going to leave us here, are you?!

— Leave? — he replied coldly. — Don’t be dramatic. Be thankful the house is spacious—there’s plenty of room. Don’t worry, I’ll leave you some money, and later we’ll arrange for benefits.

— So… you’re leaving us? — she asked in a trembling voice.

— Svetlana, understand, we acted hastily. With the kids…

Vladimir hurriedly carried his belongings into the house, deliberately avoiding looking his wife in the eyes, got into the car, and drove off without even saying goodbye. And Svetlana was left alone with her sorrow and two helpless babies. What now?

Meanwhile, Vladimir was tormented by pangs of conscience. After all, many men behave like this! He hadn’t kicked his family out onto the street; he had provided them with a house. His own, by the way! Svetlana would manage somehow.

Gently laying the crying infants on an old sofa, the young mother burst into tears. They would perish here without help! Wouldn’t her husband come to his senses? Wasn’t this some cruel joke? Perhaps he had just gotten angry? The little ones wailed, demanding attention, and Svetlana seemed frozen with the overwhelming misfortune.

— What are you all sitting around for? — a gruff male voice suddenly said from behind her. — It’s hot, and your kids need to be wrapped up!

Svetlana jumped, turning around. In the room, as if out of nowhere, an elderly man had appeared. He frowned, inspecting the babies.

— Who are you? — she asked in fright.

— I’m your neighbor. I heard your conversation with your husband. I decided to check on you…

— How dare you?! — she protested, but stopped under the stern gaze of the stranger.

— All right, you’re awake now. Feed the kids, get them in order. They can’t be left like this, — he said gravely. — And I’ll help a bit. We’re only here for a short time. Vladimir will be back soon…

— Aha, I’ve known men like Vladimir, — the neighbor smirked. — You take care of the kids, and not him.

Svetlana was about to retort, but then she noticed the chaos surrounding her. Frantically, she began to pick up things one after another, but quickly she sagged:

— Oh my God, how are we ever going to live like this?

The neighbor smiled reassuringly:

— Ah, there’s no time for despair! Let’s feed the little ones, take them outside for some fresh air, and quickly tidy up. You’ll see, life can still go on.

Before she knew it, Svetlana began to follow the instructions of the new acquaintance, who introduced himself as Mikhail. It turned out that he had been living in the village for two years already.

— And if you don’t mind me asking, why did you move here? — she inquired curiously, handling a rag.

Mikhail laughed:

— In short— I became disillusioned with society. The details, maybe another time. By the way, I used to work as a pediatrician.

— I see! — she said, genuinely surprised. — Now it makes sense why you handle my little ones so skillfully. I still have so much to learn.

By evening, the neglected house transformed, gleaming with cleanliness. Svetlana was pleasantly surprised, though very tired. Of course, Mikhail had done most of the work, but at that moment it seemed unimportant. The main thing was that she was no longer alone.

— Well then, now you can actually live here, — the neighbor said with satisfaction. — I’ll go home and bring something to snack on. Then we’ll decide what to do next.

Svetlana nodded gratefully, marveling at the turns of fate. It was incredible that a barely acquainted man had done for her in one day more than her own husband had during the entire pregnancy! And it seemed he wasn’t planning to stop there.

Twenty minutes later, Mikhail returned with a large bag of groceries. In the meantime, Svetlana had managed to feed and change the babies, laying them on a neatly spread sofa.

— Excellent! Now we’ll set the table, have some tea to celebrate the new home, — Mikhail cheerfully announced as he unpacked the packages. — Tomorrow I’ll arrange with Mrs. Petrovna; she has a little goat—there’ll be milk for you. I’ll also take a look in the attic: I believe there’s an old crib or cradle there. Hey, why the long faces? There’s no such thing as a hopeless situation!

He looked at Svetlana intently:

— By the way, what do you do for a living?

— I’m an elementary school teacher.

— Perfect! Work is already half the battle!

Before she knew it, Svetlana had settled into a routine. She understood that it was all thanks to Mikhail, and that realization warmed her heart.

A couple of days later, he drove her and the kids to the district center, introducing her as a distant relative who had come to help the children’s health. He helped her arrange all the paperwork, register the children, and obtain benefits—who would have thought such things were even possible in a village!

Six months passed by in the blink of an eye. The twins grew stronger, and Svetlana had become accustomed to her new life. One day, Mikhail came in, sat on a chair, and looked at her mysteriously.

— Svetochka, have you ever considered doing some tutoring on the side?

She laughed:

— What are you talking about! Tutoring in the middle of nowhere?

— Nonsense! — the neighbor said, raising a finger in admonition. — A village these days is no worse than a city. It’s just that the kids are busy with everything except studying. I know a few families who would gladly hire you for their unruly ones.

Svetlana agreed. The boys grew up peacefully, and Mikhail often walked with them when his tutoring sessions with her began. He even managed to get a double stroller—from Mrs. Petrovna, who had become like a second mother to Svetlana.

She knew full well that she had long been looking at Mikhail not just as a neighbor or a friend, but as a man. Yet she was very afraid that he might notice. After all, who would want a young woman with two children?

On her birthday, Mikhail and Mrs. Petrovna dropped by Svetlana’s place. They sat down for a heartfelt chat. Suddenly, the elderly woman squinted mischievously:

— I just can’t understand you two. You look at each other with love, sighing secretly. Maybe it’s time you got married?

— No! — Svetlana and Mikhail exclaimed in unison, blushing.

Mrs. Petrovna gave a knowing snort:

— Well, well, I’m off. Thanks for the hospitality. You two sort it out yourselves—love is a young thing.

Barely after she closed the door, a tense silence fell. Finally, Mikhail cleared his throat:

— Svet, don’t think about that… I really like you. But I don’t want to disappoint you. My ex-wife always said I was a loser who’d never accomplish anything in life. It seems she was right—otherwise, I wouldn’t be living here. And you deserve a real, reliable man…

— What nonsense! — Svetlana retorted indignantly. — Your wife is simply an idiot! You’ve done more for me than anyone ever has. You solve any problem with ease, you care, you help. Never call yourself a loser!

She fell silent in embarrassment, then quietly added, looking at the table:

— And please, Misha, I could never let myself be a burden to you…

— A burden? What do you mean? — Mikhail asked, surprised.

— How can it be? I have two children!

Mikhail sprang up and began pacing nervously around the room. Then he stopped in front of Svetlana and spoke passionately:

— What are you talking about?! What burden? Your boys are closer to me than my own! I only imagined for a moment that you’d leave—and I got scared. I’ll miss you and them equally!

Listening to his heartfelt words, Svetlana realized: there were no more obstacles to their happiness. So why did they still hesitate?

Meanwhile, Marina had arrived in the village. Vladimir had explained in detail how to find the house but had been too afraid to go himself—afraid of facing the abandoned family.

To be honest, Marina even liked that she went alone. After all, she would put Svetlana in her place! Let her be kicked out of their home, and then they’d sell the rundown shack and renovate a city apartment.

Money was always in short supply in the family, even though Vladimir earned quite well. They often quarreled because, in his opinion, Marina spent too much on herself. And when he claimed that Svetlana managed finances much better, Marina nearly strangled him.

So, if they managed to sell the house for a higher price, all their problems would be solved. But first, they needed to evict Vladimir’s ex-wife.

Finding the right house turned out to be easy. However, what they saw shocked Marina: a tilted, decrepit building overgrown with weeds, nothing like the sturdy dwelling Vladimir had described. Who in their right mind would buy that wreck?! You’d barely scrape together a few pennies, if you managed to sell it at all!

Marina grabbed her phone:

— Hello, Vovka, why were you messing with my head? Everything here is overrun with weeds, the roof is about to collapse! Who needs such a shack?

— What do you mean? — Vladimir was taken aback. — Svetlana loves order. I thought she’d long since set everything up there…

— There’s no one there! — Marina shrieked. — The house is standing empty!

— Empty? Where are Svetlana and the boys?

— How should I know where your Svetlana is?! — Marina screeched, stamping her foot. — Why did I even come here… Wait, look, there she is—just as you mentioned! With the boys, you rascal. And some man with them. A new husband, apparently. Your dear wife isn’t lonely, then!

Svetlana, along with Mikhail and the children, passed by a stunned Marina and disappeared into a nearby well-maintained house.

— Hey, are you sure that’s the right address? They went into a different house, not that one, — Marina said dryly into the phone.

Vladimir gritted his teeth. Even Marina could hear that grinding sound.

— Exactly. Go home.

— What else! Was it a mistake for me to come to this backwater? I’ll go check, maybe I was wrong…

— Marina, — Vladimir sighed wearily. — Let’s go home.

And then he disconnected. It turned out that Svetlana was alive and well, the boys were growing up, and they had their own life. And he, on the other hand, was doomed to deal with Marina for the rest of his days. After all, she wouldn’t let go—unlike naive Svetlana. There was no way to escape. He had stirred the mess himself, now he had to clean it up.

Vladimir sighed and lit a cigarette, staring blankly out the window. And so ends the story. Although, no—not a story at all—for someone, a happy life was just beginning.

Vladimir gave a bitter smile and flicked the cigarette butt into the ashtray. Well, it was time to come back down to earth.

— Anna, I can’t comprehend what happened to him. He didn’t even pull me close,» Yuri said, running a hand over his temples as he stared at the closed door of his son’s room. «It’s as if… he’s a stranger.

«Enough,» Anna flinched, as if struck by sudden pain. «You speak as if this isn’t our Dania who returned. What absurd thoughts?»

Outside, the summer noon shimmered with sunlit glints, flooding the kitchen with a golden glow. Three weeks without their son felt like an eternity.

They had eagerly awaited his return from camp, imagining him bursting into the house—cheerful, tanned, brimming with new experiences. Anna had even baked his favorite chocolate cake. The aroma still lingered in the air, mingling with a heavy foreboding. Yet Daniil returned as a silent replica of himself.

Just a few hours earlier, they had been standing by the gate. Yuri leaned on the railing, while Anna shifted her weight from one foot to the other, gazing into the distance. When the bus stopped, she rushed forward, ready to enfold her son in an embrace. However, Daniil got off last, unhurriedly.

His hair was tousled—not from active play, but as if from lying down too long. His gaze was fixed on the ground.

«Danyechka!» Anna spread her arms wide, but her son only gave a brief nod.

He didn’t rush toward them. He didn’t light up with a smile. He didn’t even ask about his beloved aquarium fish, which he had missed so dearly. He simply walked past silently, carefully placed his backpack in the hall, and went upstairs.

Even the dog, joyfully bounding toward him with a wagging tail, failed to elicit any reaction.

«Maybe he’s simply exhausted,» Yuri remarked, though his voice trembled with worry.

Now, three hours later, Daniil still hadn’t come out of his room. He hadn’t tasted the cake, nor unpacked his belongings. He just lay there, turned away, his face directed at the wall.

Anna quietly ascended the creaking stairs. The wooden boards groaned beneath her feet, as always. Pushing the door open a crack, she saw her son—a fragile figure bundled in a blanket, despite the stuffiness of the room.

«Sweetie, maybe you’d like a snack?» she said, lowering herself to the edge of the bed. «I baked your favorite.»

Daniil barely shook his head, without turning around. Anna cautiously touched his shoulder—he flinched, as if from the contact of red-hot metal.

«Aren’t you feeling well? Should we call a doctor?»

«No.»

His voice cracked, like shattered glass. One word—and it held so much emptiness that it clenched Anna’s heart.

Even the dog, who had joyfully dashed toward him with a wagging tail, received no response.

«Probably he’s just overexerted himself,» Yuri said then, though a note of anxiety lingered in his tone.

Outside, evening settled over the village as gently as a fog. Dogs barked, and somewhere an accordion played—the ordinary sounds of their quiet street. But inside, the house was mute.

By nightfall, rain began to fall. Large drops pounded against the tin eaves. Anna sat in the kitchen, clutching a cup of coffee in her palms.

Fragments of thoughts swirled in her mind—perhaps he’d caught a cold? Maybe it was a case of first love and rejection? Or a conflict with the other kids? But her heart whispered that something far more dreadful had happened.

In the morning, when Yuri left on business, their neighbor, Valentina Petrovna—a gaunt, upright woman with a piercing gaze—knocked at the door.

«Anya, has your boy returned?» she asked as she entered the kitchen, leaning on her cane. «I saw how you greeted him.»

Anna nodded silently while pouring tea.

«And he…» Valentina hesitated, searching for the right words. «Did he have a good rest?»

«I don’t know,» Anna admitted honestly. «He barely speaks.»

Valentina pressed her lips together as if hesitating, then placed her wrinkled hand on Anna’s arm:

«Forgive an old lady’s bluntness, but your Dania… it’s as if he hasn’t returned as himself. Like he was replaced.»

Those words struck like a knife. What Anna had feared even to think, the neighbor now voiced aloud. And it became unbearably frightening.

«Maybe we should ask him directly?» suggested Yuri. «What happened at that cursed camp?»

Anna shook her head: «He withdraws even more when I try.»

That evening, Daniil came to dinner on his own. He sat at the table, mechanically bringing the spoon to his mouth. He flinched when Yuri dropped a fork—the clink of metal sounding like a gunshot.

«Sorry,» said Yuri, and something in his voice made the boy lift his eyes.

For the first time in days, Daniil truly looked at them. His pupils were dilated, as if he still saw something horrifying that wasn’t in the room. «There’s nothing to tell,» the words fell into silence like a stone in water. «No complaints allowed. They were angry. They laughed.»

Anna held her breath, afraid to scare away the rare moment of openness. Yuri slowly placed his hand on the table—closer to his son, yet without touching him.

«Who, Dan?» he asked quietly. «Who was angry?»

«Sanych. And also Vera Nikolaevna,» the boy murmured, lowering his eyes to his plate. «They said I was a wimp. That kids like me spoil the troop.»

His voice was monotonous, like a worn-out record. Nausea overwhelmed Anna. «Those are the counselors?» she asked.

Daniil nodded. Outside the window, raindrops began streaming down once again.

«I didn’t want to go into the water that day. It was icy. Sanych called me a coward. Then he locked me in the storage room,» the words rushed out, as if a dam had burst. «It was dark there. And there were spiders. I knocked, but no one came.»

Yuri’s hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white, yet his voice remained calm: «How long were you there?» «I don’t know. It felt so long. Then Vera came and said it was necessary for me to become a man,» Daniil looked up, tears glistening in his eyes. «And then they took away my phone.»

«And they said that if I told you, they’d post a video of me crying. And everyone would laugh.»

A wave of fury overcame Anna. She rose, walked around the table, and knelt before her son.

«This will never happen again,» she said firmly, locking eyes with him. «Never. Do you hear me?»

That night, for the first time in days, Daniil burst into tears—loudly, hysterically, his wet face buried in his mother’s shoulder.

He spoke, choking between sobs: how they forced him to finish burnt porridge; how they terrorized him with loneliness—»nobody loves you, not even your mom willingly sent you there»; how Sanych made the whole troop stand at attention under the scorching sun if someone didn’t tidy up.

«I tried to hold on…» Daniil sniffled. «But I just couldn’t.»

«It’s not your fault,» Anna repeated softly. «Never your fault.»

The next morning, Anna and Yuri went to the camp while Daniil stayed with Valentina Petrovna. Before they left, he took a crumpled sheet from his backpack—a pencil sketch depicting huge, twisted faces of adults filled with rage and small, huddled figures of children under desks.

«I was drawing at night,» he whispered. «When I couldn’t sleep.»

The camp looked idyllic—lush with greenery, with neat buildings and bright posters. The director, a plump woman with a dulled gaze, recited memorized lines:

«We employ only professionals. Everyone has a pedagogical background. Perhaps your child is simply too emotional?»

«Emotional enough to return with bruises?» Yuri slammed photos on the table—photos showing dark stripes on Daniil’s thighs. «And he draws this?»

When the drawing was placed next to the photo, the director paled.

«I will personally get to the bottom of this,» she declared. «But children sometimes imagine things…»

«No!» Anna leaned forward sharply. In her, there was no trace of fear or uncertainty—only icy determination. «Listen. My son couldn’t meet my eyes for a week. He jumps at the sound of falling dishes. He cried all night, recounting how your ‘educators’ broke him. And now I ask: what are you going to do? Because if nothing is done—I’ll take further action.»

She didn’t shout; there was no need.

A ray of sunlight pierced the curtains in the psychologist’s office. Marina Viktorovna—a specialist with a warm voice and calm demeanor—handed Daniil a box of miniature figurines.

«Show me what it was like there,» she gently requested. «Not in words. Arrange them as you feel.»

This was their fourth session. The boy no longer shrank from harsh sounds. He could now maintain eye contact.

Slowly, as if overcoming invisible resistance, he chose a large figurine of a man and placed it in the center. Then he selected a small figurine of a child, setting it on its side in the corner.

«And now show me what home is like,» the psychologist said softly.

Daniil paused, then took three figurines—a man, a woman, a boy—and placed them close together, almost touching. And then—unexpectedly—he added a dog. His red Baron, whom Yuri had rescued from the street three years ago.

«They’re all together,» he explained. «And no one hurts anyone.»

At home, Anna recounted this moment to her husband. Yuri silently gazed out the window—there in the yard, Daniil cautiously tossed Baron’s ball. The dog dashed through the fallen leaves, stirring up golden whirlwinds.

«They called from the prosecutor’s office,» Yuri finally said. «Our report has been accepted. And three more—from other parents.»

Anna nodded. Two weeks had passed since their visit to the camp. Two weeks of calls, documents, and endless discussions. Sometimes she felt like she was drowning in it all, but every time she saw her son fall asleep peacefully, she knew it was all worth it.

A scandal erupted at the camp. The director initially maintained an air of superiority, but her confidence melted away day by day. It turned out first that «Sanych» (Alexander Petrovich) had previously been dismissed from school for bullying students.

Then a video surfaced—someone among the children had secretly recorded Vera Nikolaevna shouting at the boy: «You are nothing! Understand? Your parents don’t need you; that’s why they sent you here!»

«I thought it was just me,» Daniil confessed one evening while they watched cartoons. «That I was somehow wrong.»

«No, sweetheart,» Anna hugged him. «You are stronger than you think, because you managed to speak up.»

Marina Viktorovna explained that recovery is a long process—that trust is built over years but can be shattered in an instant. They all needed time.

Anna began keeping a diary, recording every small victory: «today he went out into the yard on his own,» «today he laughed,» «today he wasn’t frightened by a slamming door.»

By October, Daniil returned to school. Yuri saw him off—not as a chaperone, but simply by walking alongside him, silently saying, «I’m here if you need me.»

«You know,» Yuri later told Anna, «today Dan decided to go by himself.»

She smiled. Another victory.

At the end of the month, an official response arrived:

• Alexander Petrovich was dismissed with a lifetime ban from working with children;
• Vera Nikolaevna was held criminally accountable;
• The camp director was suspended from her position.

There were still lawsuits ahead, and possibly actual prison sentences.

«What do you think, will they really be punished?» Anna asked.

«I don’t know,» Yuri replied honestly. «But we did everything we could. And that already matters.»

In November, when the first snow blanketed the street, Daniil burst into the house, waving a notebook:

«Mom! I got an A in Russian!»

She watched as he took off his hat, shaking his chestnut hair—a familiar gesture, his own. The boy who was slowly returning to himself.

«That’s wonderful,» she hugged him. The jacket smelled of winter and sweet cotton candy. «You know what else? Yuri suggested we go to the museum—to that exhibit on knights you wanted to see.»

Daniil pondered, biting his lip as he always did when considering something serious.

«Can we take Baron?» he asked. «He’ll wait in the car. It won’t hurt.»

«Of course,» Anna smiled. «We’ll all go together.»

They knew that no matter what happened next, they would face it—as a family.

Ivan Viktorovich anxiously paced around the room, his voice trembling with tension:

— How do you understand this? She’s nowhere to be found? She just disappeared?

The nanny, feeling guilty, tried to explain:

— I don’t know how it happened. I was distracted for just a second… Then that dog, people started running away. I turned around to pick up Polechka, but she was already gone.

A slight shiver ran through Ivan’s body as he dialed a phone number:

— This is Dyachenko. My daughter just went missing in the park, literally ten minutes ago.

He leapt up and lingered only briefly near the frightened nanny:

— If even a hair falls from Polina’s head, I’ll put your phone where it belongs!

The nanny turned pale, thinking, “How did he know about the phone?” Of course, she had been a little caught up on social media, but only for ten minutes, no more.

Earlier, the master had already noticed her on that habit, but she always made sure not to pull out her phone in his presence. And now such a misfortune had occurred…

She had been working for this family for only three months and had felt throughout that time how hard it was to care for a child. Only her salary kept her going.

Ivan Viktorovich, along with his security team, rushed to the park, which was a ten-minute walk away. By that time, two police cars were already approaching the park. Only now did the nanny begin to realize the gravity of what had happened.

She was pale, and the more she thought about what could have happened to the five-year-old girl, the more frightened she became. Ivan’s loud voice even scattered a flock of birds. He shouted:

— Come here!

Olya approached hesitantly, standing there twisting a shoelace around her finger and afraid to look up.

— Tell me everything that happened.

Like a frightened rabbit, Olya began to explain quietly:

— We were here, I was sitting on a bench, and Polina was always in my sight, feeding the pigeons. Suddenly there was a noise: stray dogs had rushed in and started fighting with a big dog that a man was walking. Chaos broke out, people were trying to separate them. I wanted to take Polya so she wouldn’t get scared, looked around, and she was already gone.

Olya, scared and confused, kept looking around, while Ivan Viktorovich could barely contain his anger from unleashing it on her.

“How did I even hire her?” he wondered.

Then an eight- or nine-year-old boy, looking like an ordinary street urchin, approached them. Olya looked at him anxiously, and he said:

— She was on her phone. The girl was playing by herself. I saw it, I was playing nearby. And as soon as all this commotion started, Polina went over to where the dogs were, and that lady only noticed it afterward, — the boy said, wrinkling his nose. — Some guy stopped next to Polina, and they were talking about something. And your girl, she liked the dogs, so she went over to them. And then they barked, and then everything happened…

— Now she’s nowhere to be found… — Olya murmured, blinking in bewilderment.

She felt as if she had sunk into the ground, realizing that now she could not avoid trouble.

— This is all a lie, a complete lie! It wasn’t like that at all! — Olya tried to justify herself, but Ivan Viktorovich, without turning around, roared:

— Shut up!

He then turned his attention to the boy:

— What happened next?

— The girl got really scared, the dogs were very close… she started crying, and I tried to comfort her, — the boy explained.

— Where is she now? — Ivan asked, looking into the boy’s eyes with worry.

— There, — the boy pointed, — she fell asleep under a tree. She was crying and crying, and then she fell asleep. I covered her, and then you arrived.

Ivan Viktorovich, with his security and the police, hurried after the boy and found Polya sound asleep on a cardboard box.

— Polechka! My little one! — Ivan tenderly picked her up.

The little girl opened her eyes, startled at first, but then smiled broadly.

— Daddy, there were such huge dogs here, but Grishka protected me!

— My sunshine, I was so worried about you, — Ivan comforted her.

Polya was still looking around for someone and asked:

— And where’s Grishka?

Ivan quickly looked at his guards, but they just shrugged. The boy seemed to vanish into the ground, though he had just been standing there.

Ivan sighed deeply, thinking that it was time to consider more attentive and responsible staff.

With his daughter in his arms, he headed home, stopping near Olya, who still stood there, nervously fiddling with a shoelace on her clothing.

— You’re lucky. You have ten minutes to gather your things and leave my house. I hope I never see you again. I’ll pass on all the information about you to the agency where you work, — he said, his look leaving no room for argument.

Olya wanted to protest about the unpaid salary, but realizing the futility of her protest, she shuffled off to the house for her things.

Once home, Polya broke into full tears. The stress of what had happened had taken its toll: she wouldn’t stop asking:

— Daddy, why did Grishka leave?

— Was he really that good?

— When that mean dog barked at me, Grishka stood between us. He even barked at the dog and shouted loudly, pushing me over to the tree. I was so scared that I couldn’t move, I just cried. Then he gave me a doll, and I fell asleep, — Polya shared her feelings.

— Polyushka, I promise you, I will find him, my word, — Ivan said firmly, looking at his daughter.

She took out a doll from under her sweater:

— Daddy, watch over her while I sleep, okay? I’ll only rest a bit, and then I’ll take care of her myself.

Ivan looked at his daughter and understood that her condition was the result of what she had been through. Touching her forehead, he realized her temperature was normal. He wondered if he should invite a doctor. Leaving that thought for later, he gently covered his little one with a blanket and suddenly noticed the doll she handed him. Looking at it, he felt his blood drain from his face.

Masha had always been exceptionally unconventional. For example, she often drifted off in her dreams and fantasies. Everyone around called her a bit strange. However, Ivan saw in Masha a special sincerity and kindness that attracted him. At that moment, those qualities weren’t particularly important to him, but something about this girl captivated him. He decided that she must become a part of his life, even without the commitment of marriage.

Ivan courted Masha beautifully, and he could afford it. He had plenty of free time and no money problems, as his father still ran the family toy factory.

When Masha first invited him to her home, Ivan was literally stunned. He never suspected that she was involved in making toys — this discovery was a complete surprise to him. Moreover, the coincidence seemed almost mystical. It turned out that her family had been connected to this art for centuries: Masha’s great-grandmother used to sew dolls that only affluent people could afford. These toys were true works of art, and Masha’s inherited talent for drawing only complemented the family legacy.

With a gentle smile, the girl brought out a huge, antique album from the closet, worn by time yet carefully preserved. She made coffee, and they spent the whole night studying numerous drawings, notes, and sketches with measurements. Each page of the album revealed an astonishing world where the past intertwined with the present.

— Mash, you can’t imagine how priceless this album is, — Ivan exclaimed, jumping up. — It’s a true legacy of its creator! The dolls made according to these blueprints will be incredibly popular!

His head spun with a multitude of ideas that came one after another. Everything else was forgotten; he didn’t even remember why he had come in the first place. Masha watched his enthusiasm with a light smile. Then, as if coming back to reality from his thoughts, he said:

— Mash, I have to go. Don’t be angry, but I need to think everything through.

She barely kissed him, momentarily bringing him back to reality, but then gently nudged him toward the exit:

— First thoughts are the most honest.

Several months passed before Ivan met Masha again. During that time, he had drawn up a detailed business plan, which even his strict father approved. During one of their walks around the city, Ivan passionately told Masha about his plans. He not only wanted to create retro-style toys but also to restore vintage models using her album as a blueprint.

— Mash, I can’t express how grateful I am to you for this discovery! — he said, beaming with inspiration.

That evening, their meeting ended with a particularly intimate moment, which meant a great deal to Ivan. And in the morning, as he was about to leave, Masha handed him that very album:

— Grandma would be happy to know that her work is once again bringing joy and success.

— I can’t take it. It’s your memory! — he replied in surprise.

— I want her dolls to continue living, — she said quietly.

Time flew by, and Ivan became completely absorbed in his work. His factory began to flourish, but there was no longer any time for personal life. He practically forgot about Masha until he met Ira—a woman who became the mother of his daughter Polya.

The first presentation of the toys was successful, but the joy was short-lived. Three months later, Masha unexpectedly appeared in his office. She looked haggard and pale, and at that moment, Ivan was preparing for his upcoming wedding to Ira.

— Mashenka, how nice to see you! — he said, though his voice sounded a bit strained.

Ivan quickly went to the cabinet where the first doll made in his factory was kept. Taking it in his hand, he said:

— Mash, this doll should be yours.

Masha accepted the toy and looked at him as if she wanted to say something. But at that moment the phone rang. It was Ira.

— Yes, dear, — he answered, distracted.

When the call ended, Masha had already disappeared. Ivan thought about chasing her, but decided it would be unnecessary.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Ira died during childbirth. Doctors explained that if she had lived more calmly and steadily, perhaps everything would have turned out differently. However, nothing could be changed now. Ivan loved his little Polya with all his heart.

And now, in his hands was that very first doll from the factory. He thought about the boy Grisha, who had saved his daughter, and about how the doll had come into his possession. Ivan realized that he had to find that boy.

He wandered through the park for a long time, hoping to encounter him, but to no avail. Suddenly, he saw a group of homeless people and approached them.

— Hello, do you know a boy named Grisha? How can I find him? — Ivan asked.

The homeless looked at him attentively. Ivan realized they were expecting something in return, and he handed over several banknotes. The eldest among them, clearly respected by the group, asked:

— Why do you need him? The kid is good, did something happen?

— No, — Ivan replied. — I want to thank him. He saved my daughter.

After a brief discussion, the elder said:

— Go to the end of the street, then you’ll enter a private sector. Go straight until you reach a building. Knock loudly, there’s always a drunk old woman; Grisha lives with her.

Ivan approached an old, dirt-covered house. It was hard for him to imagine that Masha could be here.

— Why have you come? — a familiar voice asked.

— Hi, Grisha. I’m here to see if you need anything and also ask about this doll, — Ivan said.

Grisha emerged from behind the fence and sat on a bench. Not far away stood a car with two guards who always accompanied Ivan.

— The doll? It’s not really mine. It’s my mom’s. She never parted with it.

— And what’s your mom’s name? — Ivan asked.

— Maria. She’s ill, can’t walk, and her grandma beats her, — Grisha explained. — Do you know my mom?

— Yes, it seems so. I gave her that doll, — Ivan admitted.

Grisha shook his head, disagreeing:

— It can’t be. Mom said the doll was a gift from my dad, but he’s been gone for a long time.

Ivan felt his hands begin to tremble, realizing how tangled everything was.

— Grishenka, where is your mom now? Can I speak with her?

— She’s inside, I told you — she doesn’t move. Grandma is angry today and isn’t letting anyone in, — the boy warned.

Ivan stood up decisively and signaled his guards. The car pulled closer, and the guards quickly exited. Grisha, as if mesmerized, kept his eyes on the adults. He pointed the way, and they entered the house, where they were immediately met by the smell of neglect, alcohol, and fried onions.

— Who are you? — a woman with obvious signs of alcoholism, visibly tipsy, asked them. People of a similar social status were seated at the table.

— Where is Maria?

— What do you want from my niece? Who are you, coming in without knocking and asking questions?

Grisha gestured for Ivan to follow the door, and he did. A guard held the woman back so she wouldn’t interfere.

On a stained bed lay Masha—more precisely, a woman, almost unrecognizably haggard and emaciated, yet still Masha. She slowly turned her head, looked Ivan in the eyes, and after a moment, smiled.

— You’re here… I knew you’d come, — she whispered.

The doctor examined her and simply shook his head:

— To let oneself go with just a simple fracture… Incredible. We’ll treat her. We’ll have to break to fix it. It won’t be quick or cheap, but it’s still possible to make things right.

Grisha sniffled softly:

— And what am I supposed to do? Grandma won’t let me go without mom.

— Now you’ll live with us — with me and Polya, — Ivan replied.

The boy looked at him hopefully:

— So, are you my real father?

Ivan sighed heavily:

— Honestly, I’m not sure. But something tells me that’s the case. Mom will definitely get better and be with us, — he said, encouragingly patting the boy on the head.

— That would be nice…

— Well then, let’s go; your sister is waiting for you.

Grisha beamed widely:

— I think I already know her!

You will become the brightest star, the most talented of all. They will surely notice you, and your name will appear on all the posters.»

Sophia cried, burying her face in the blanket that covered her father. His hand, weak but still warm, slid through her hair.

«Don’t cry, my girl, please. You can’t fool fate. Better listen to me,» he whispered.

Sophia raised her tear-streaked face. Her father spoke barely audibly, as though each word cost him effort:

«Just don’t interrupt me. I have no strength left… Once, there were two of us—Mikhail and I, Grigory. We were inseparable friends, even swore on blood that our friendship would last forever. And then your mother appeared. We both loved her. Do you understand? When love comes between people, friendship often takes a back seat. Your mother chose me, and Mikhail couldn’t accept it.»

«But he is a wonderful man. If it gets too hard for you, you can turn to him. He won’t leave you. He owns the ‘Breeze’ restaurant now. Remember that, Sophia. Maybe one day, it will save you. There’s more, but if he wants to, he’ll tell you himself…»

«Remember: I love you with all my heart, I believe in you, and I know—you’ll make it.»

Sophia hugged her father tightly, and suddenly, his body tensed, then went limp.

«Dad! Dad!» Her scream echoed through the room.

She was pulled away from the bed. The doctors were running back and forth, and Sophia watched the scene as if from a distance. One thought spun in her head: «I am alone. I am all alone in this world.»

The next day, after the funeral, when the guests had left, her stepmother gave her a cold look.

«Tomorrow, go find a job. I’m not going to feed you.»

«But I’m studying…»

«Studying!?» her stepmother mocked. «You won’t be fed with songs. If you don’t find work, you’ll be out on the street. Got it?»

«But this is my home!»

The stepmother jumped up, her eyes flashing.

«What? Your home? Ha! This is my home. I am your father’s lawful wife. So shut up. And know this: I’m speaking kindly now. But I can speak differently.»

Sophia ran out of the room, slamming the door behind her. She cried all night, holding her father’s photo close. By morning, she had decided: her father had left enough money for her to finish her studies and try to fulfill his dream.

He had always wanted her to sing. From childhood, she had won competitions. Her teachers said it was hard to break through, but even if she didn’t succeed, her voice would always be able to feed her.

«Just imagine: anyone who hears your name—Sophia Grigorieva—will never forget it,» they told her.

She smiled. Yes, Dad had done his best. She wasn’t just Grigorieva, but also Grigoryevna.

In the morning, Sophia got ready and went to her classes. She tried to be quiet so she wouldn’t wake her stepmother. She would study. No matter the cost. Dad wanted it that way.

When she returned, she saw her stepmother on the porch. Sophia slowed her pace, hoping the woman would leave, but the stepmother stood, not taking her eyes off her.

«Well, did you find a job?»

«I was at school.»

Sophia tried to walk past, but the stepmother blocked her way.

«At school, huh? You want to be a singer?» She put her hands on her hips. «What singer are you? Your voice is like rusty hinges, no brains. You should be washing floors with your looks, not trying to get on stage. I warned you.»

The stepmother pulled out a suitcase and a bag.

«Here, take your things and get out. You’ll go sing in the subways, scare passersby. Maybe someone will give you something.»

Sophia looked at the suitcase with wide eyes, but the stepmother went into the house and slammed the door. Sophia heard the locks click. She grabbed her things and ran out of the yard.

«God, please let no one see this. Let Dad rest in peace, where he is now!»

Sophia trudged down the street, dragging the suitcase. There were no more tears, no more thoughts. She had no relatives. Her parents had both grown up as orphans. She didn’t know what to do.

It was getting dark. She stopped. Ahead was the «Breeze» restaurant. This was the place her father had told her about. There was no choice. She walked to the door. A young man greeted her.

«Good evening. Allow me, let me help with your things and take you to your table.»

«No, thank you. Can I see the owner of the restaurant? Mikhail?»

«Mikhail Yurievich?»

The young man looked at her doubtfully.

«I’ll check.»

A minute later, he returned with a tall, distinguished man about forty-five years old.

«Are you looking for me?»

Sophia nodded.

«I’m listening.»

«I… I’m the daughter of Elena and Grigory Grigorieva. My father said that if I ever need help, I can turn to you.»

«Elena and Grigory? Why can’t Grisha help his own daughter?»

«My father is no longer here. He passed away a few days ago.»

Mikhail flinched. Sophia couldn’t hold back her tears. The young man handed her tissues.

«Would you like some water?»

Mikhail seemed to snap out of it.

«Maxim, take her things to my office and bring some water.»

«Understood.»

Mikhail gently put his arm around Sophia’s shoulders.

«Please, calm down. I didn’t know.»

Once Sophia calmed down a bit, he set a chair in front of her and sat next to her.

«Tell me, what happened? Why are you with a suitcase?»

«My father had been sick for a long time. After my mother’s death, things got worse. A woman named Zhanna appeared at our house. She pretended to support my father, but I saw she didn’t love him. Nobody believed me because I was little. A year and a half later, she moved in with us. That’s when my father first went to the hospital.»

«The doctors said his heart was worn out like an old man’s. Zhanna brought him food and stayed at the house. When he was discharged, he didn’t kick her out. They later got married.»

«I hoped things would get better, but… Dad worked a lot, even though the doctors told him not to. He always said that his ‘star’ deserved a good future. He believed I would become a star.»

«Before he died, he told me about your friendship and said that if I needed help, I could turn to you.»

Sophia looked up.

«He said you were like brothers, but then mom came.»

Mikhail smiled sadly.

«Your mom didn’t want to be the reason for our quarrel. She hesitated for a long time, even tried to leave to not ruin our friendship. But it was too late. Grisha stopped her.»

«Sophia, even though we haven’t spoken for many years, Grigory and Elena will always be family to me. You can count on me like a father. Do you want to build a career?»

«No, I just want to live a normal life, work… And if I can, finish my studies.»

Mikhail Yurievich thought for a moment, then asked:

«What if I offer you to live with me? Would you agree? I have a big house in the center. If not, I can get you a hotel for a few days until we find something suitable.»

«Can I stay with you? I don’t want to be alone…»

Sophia sniffled, and Mikhail gently added:

«Of course. I’m all for it. I live alone, unless you count my fat lazy cat, who ignores me because he thinks I’m useless.»

Sophia smiled faintly.

«How do you know what he thinks?»

«When I come home, he’s already fed, clean, and groomed—the housekeeper loves him. And when I try to pet him or call him, he gives me a disdainful flick of the tail and walks away.»

Mikhail looked seriously at the girl.

«I understand how hard it is for you right now, but believe me, Grigory was right. I’ll do everything I can to help you.»

«Were you really that close? Why did you stop talking?»

«We were friends. But life sometimes muddles everything up so that it’s unclear who’s right and who’s wrong. Maybe I’ll tell you this story later.»

A few days later, Sophia had calmed down somewhat. Mikhail invited her to a cafe.

«Let’s go, we’ll talk, think about what to do next.»

«Could we not go to a cafe? Maybe your restaurant? I’ve never been there.»

«Of course. Let’s go.»

Mikhail insisted that Sophia continue her studies.

«But how will I live? You’re not obliged to support me. I wanted to find a job.»

«Wait.»

Before he could finish, the young man who had met Sophia earlier rushed to him.

«Mikhail Yurievich, we have an emergency!»

«What happened?»

«In half an hour, there’s an anniversary. The contract specifies live performance. The problem is…»

«Artem won’t show up again?»

Mikhail grabbed his head.

«What’s the story? Again?»

«Yes.»

«Okay, let’s start calling everyone who has performed here before.»

«We’ve already called everyone. If we don’t meet the conditions, we’ll have to pay a penalty.»

«Alright, Maxim. Forget the penalty, but the reputation…»

Sophia gently touched his hand.

«Uncle Mikhail, I can sing.»

«What? Are you sure?»

«Yes. Don’t worry, I’ll manage.»

He stared at her for a long time.

«Sophia, this isn’t necessary. Besides, you’ve never sung in a restaurant before. It’s noisy here, and the atmosphere is completely different.»

«It’ll be fine. I promise.»

When Sophia began to sing, complete silence fell over the room. Mikhail sat at the table all evening. During the last song, he quietly said:

«Elena… I promise, our daughter will become a star.»

Years ago, Mikhail had behaved poorly toward Elena. He had been too persistent, and she got scared. When she found out she was pregnant, she decided to leave. Grigory stopped her and learned the truth.

The friends had a big fight. Mikhail realized his mistake but didn’t want to admit it. Later, he apologized, but it was too late. Grigory asked him never to contact them again. Now, Mikhail decided that Sophia didn’t need to know this story. It would only hurt her.

Zhanna and her new husband arrived at the restaurant.

«Finally!» the man sighed.

Zhanna liked showing off her «superiority.» They didn’t have much money, but she chose this restaurant to impress her friends. They were already sitting at the table when she entered, proudly signaling the waiter.

«What entertainment do you have? Is anyone going to sing?»

The waiter smiled.

«You’re in luck. For a couple of days, we have Sophia the star. She’s from here, and she’ll be performing tonight.»

The friends gasped:

«Unbelievable! No way!»

Zhanna had also heard about her, but pretended not to know.

«Ah, I didn’t know she was from our town.»

«Yes, she studied here and started out. Perhaps you remember Grigory Grigorieva?»

Zhanna paled.

«Grigory Grigorieva?»

Her husband looked at her in surprise.

«Wasn’t your last name Grigorieva?»

Zhanna turned to him.

«Coincidence. As always, you don’t get it. And you picked the wrong restaurant. Everything is wrong…»

She looked around and pointed at something.

«These burgundy curtains are awful.»

Her husband widened his eyes.

«How could I know you choose restaurants by the curtains? And why are burgundy bad if you have the same ones in your bedroom?»

Zhanna angrily pushed the chair back and sat with her back to the stage.

«My God, what a husband I have! All husbands are normal, and mine only ruins holidays.»

The room went silent. Almost immediately, a young female voice began to sing a sad melody. Zhanna crumpled a napkin and threw it on the table.

«Well, what now? Are we going to spend the whole evening listening to this singer?»

Her husband sighed and stood up.

«Girls, I’m sorry. I’ll come back later to drive you home.»

Zhanna watched him leave with a bewildered look and sighed heavily.

«Now I’ll have to sit like a statue. Not turning, not dancing…

– Gena, are you sure you’ve thought everything through?

– Mom…

– I know what I’m talking about. She’s with you only for the money, isn’t she?

Gennady sighed heavily.

– Mom, I understand your concerns, but they are completely unfounded. Arguing with you is pointless; you won’t change your mind anyway. Think what you want. We’re not planning anything grandiose.

– Gena, stop it. I’m sure she’s just using you. You know it very well yourself. This girl…

– Mom, please, let’s not continue. Lena and I have known each other for more than five years, and we have prepared for this step for a long time.

– I just want to remind you: you are a desirable groom. Any woman would go for you. Don’t you realize our situation?

Gennady closed his eyes as if shielding himself from fatigue.

– Mom, tell me honestly: what’s more important to you—our status or my happiness?

Anna Nikolaevna looked helplessly at her husband.

– Sasha, why are you silent?

Alexander, putting down the newspaper, smiled slightly.

– Anya, you know, you have one peculiarity: you only address me when you hit a dead end. All the rest of the time, for 27 years now, you make all the decisions on your own. And if something goes wrong, you always blame me.

Anna Nikolaevna squinted.

– Done? Now let’s talk seriously.

– Gena is an adult, fully capable of making decisions. I don’t understand why we should interfere with his choice. In my opinion, Lena is a fine girl.

– Fine, my foot! In our time, no one survives without money.

– By the way, weren’t you not always wealthy yourself, have you forgotten?

Anna Nikolaevna was clearly beginning to lose her composure.

– Sasha, you’re irresponsible! Our son is about to ruin his life!

– Calm down. Nothing terrible is happening. He’ll continue his treatment, and maybe his wife will even have a positive influence. What are you so dissatisfied about? I don’t understand.

Anna Nikolaevna abruptly left the room, and Gennady struggled to get up from his chair.

– Thanks, Dad.

– How do you feel?

– Fine, don’t worry.

When their son turned 17, something strange happened to him. The doctors could never determine the exact diagnosis. One hypothesis followed another—treatment helped only partially. One famous professor once said:

– It seems as if your son has lost the ability to fight off illnesses. If this had happened a hundred years ago, I would have called it a curse. But now… all we can do is shrug our shoulders and watch.

Alexander knew that money wasn’t everything, yet he spent huge sums on treatment in the best clinics. However, one day Gennady asked:

– Please, let me get a little rest. I’ve forgotten what our home looks like, and I can’t even remember the last time I slept in my own bed.

Unexpectedly, the mother—who until then had insisted on every possible treatment method—supported her son:

– Sasha, maybe it really is time to let Gena rest? Let’s follow the doctors’ recommendations.

Alexander waved his hand. He would have argued if he had seen even the slightest improvement. But there was none. However, at home, Gena felt better: his appetite returned, and he even gained a little weight.

Since then, he went to the clinic for check-ups twice a year, and then returned home with new doctors’ instructions.

Gena still managed to graduate from university thanks to his father’s financial support. He was a capable student, but regular absences due to illness did not win him popularity among the teachers.

He and Lena met during their student years. Their friendship lasted several years, until recently when Lena confessed her feelings to him. That gave Gena strength, as if wings had sprouted behind his back.

As he had anticipated, the wedding turned out to be much grander than he expected. His mother organized such a celebration that it seemed the whole town had been invited. Lena tried to keep a smile on her face all evening, ignoring the tense atmosphere.

The relationship between Lena’s mother, Galina Ivanovna, and Anna Nikolaevna never got off to a good start. The latter believed that Galina, having neither status nor money, should be grateful for such a marriage. However, Galina preferred to keep her distance from the groom’s parents.

The climax of the evening was the gift-giving. When Lena’s mother announced that the young couple was being presented with a small house inherited from her grandfather and located in a reserved area, Anna Nikolaevna couldn’t hold back:

– My goodness, how can you present that dilapidated shack on the edge of nowhere as a valuable gift? – Anna Nikolaevna protested.

Gena looked at his mother reproachfully: – Mom, enough.

– Enough of what, Gena? Now nothing can be fixed!

After Galina Ivanovna left, Anna immediately turned to her husband: – Did you see her? Not only does she do nothing herself, but she also acts all high and mighty, as if she were a queen!

A few days after the wedding, Gena announced to his parents: – Lena and I have decided to move into the house that Galina Ivanovna gave us.

Anna Nikolaevna nearly lost her senses: – Are you out of your mind?! It’s all her influence! She wants to hide you in the middle of nowhere so that you’ll deteriorate faster and she can take the inheritance!

Alexander frowned: – Anya, what are you talking about? Have you completely lost it?

Anna exploded: – I’m speaking absolutely sensibly! He needs constant medical supervision, and he’s planning to go to the middle of nowhere! I won’t allow it!

– We already have the tickets, – Gena answered calmly.

– Fine, – Anna said coldly. – If that’s the case, don’t come to me for help anymore. Let your new family take care of you.

– Gena, don’t be mad at Mom; you know her character, – Alexander said conciliatorily. – She’ll come to her senses. If you need anything, call me, and I’ll help.

– Thanks, Dad.

– But still, why exactly there? In this respect, she’s right—that place is a real dump.

Gena smiled: – Maybe you won’t believe it, but there are healing springs there. Lena and her mother are sure that this place will help me get better. Honestly, I don’t really believe it myself, but why not try?

– You’re such a skeptic. Sometimes what cannot be explained turns out to be the most effective. I wish you good luck.

When they arrived at the house, Gena looked around in surprise at the overgrown yard: – It’s all wildly overgrown here!

Lena smiled: – Of course, no one has lived here for many years. But don’t worry, a little work and it’ll be as good as new.

She opened the door, and they stepped inside. To Gena’s surprise, the house turned out to be quite cozy, and there was hardly any dust. He was so exhausted from the journey that he barely sat on the sofa before he instantly fell asleep.

At first, Lena took care of the cleaning, while Gena helped as much as his strength allowed. To his astonishment, he began to feel better—more energy, and his appetite became voracious. A week later, he completely devoured his dinner and even surprised himself: – I can’t understand how it happened, but everything went in!

Lena gave a sly smile: – I told you, miracles happen in these places.

Gena looked at her curiously: – Why are you so sure?

– When I was a child, I used to come here often and saw many strange and amazing things.

– Of course, and all the local guys were chasing after you!

– Stop it, – Lena laughed. – By the way, tomorrow a surprise awaits you!

Despite all his attempts to coax Lena into revealing what the surprise was, Gena never found out. They went to sleep, happy and full of hope, embracing each other.

— Sasha, I don’t understand how you can be so indifferent! It’s been half a year since that girl took our son away, and you haven’t lifted a finger! — Anna Nikolaevna grumbled.

Alexander tore himself away from his papers: — And what do you propose? To call in riot police and forcibly bring him home? Don’t forget, he’s married now and living his own life.

Anna stamped her foot: — Nonsense! A month ago, he was supposed to be admitted to the hospital, but all he does is assure me that everything is fine and immediately hangs up the phone. How can he be alright without treatment?!

Alexander realized that behind this torrent of words lay the mother’s anxiety. Setting aside his documents, he gently suggested: — If you’re so worried, let’s go visit them. Let’s see how they are settling in.

Anna thought for a moment, then smiled: — That’s a great idea.

— Then get ready. I’ll call Gena, and tomorrow morning we leave.

They reached the village only by evening.

— My God, what a wreck! — Anna Nikolaevna sighed.

Alexander smiled: — I like it. Fresh air, no trash… Oh, look, a hare!

Anna watched in amazement as a hare dashed in front of the car: — It’s like a nature reserve! I wouldn’t be surprised if bears roamed the streets here.

— Looks like we’re here, — Alexander noted.

At that moment, the house’s gate swung open, and Gena appeared on the doorstep. Anna froze, and Alexander nearly lost his speech. Standing before them was a robust, healthy young man, completely different from the previously pale youth.

— Mom, Dad, I missed you so much! — Gena exclaimed joyfully.

They embraced for a long time, and Anna couldn’t hold back her tears: — Gena, how you’ve grown!

— It’s all thanks to Lena. And also—to the bees. You wouldn’t believe how interesting it is!

Lena stepped onto the porch, smiling shyly. She too hugged the husband’s parents.

— Thank you, dear, — Anna Nikolaevna said through tears. — You did what even the best doctors couldn’t do.

After mutual greetings and embraces, they finally unloaded the car and handed over all the gifts they had brought. Lena, smiling warmly, invited everyone to the table. Anna Nikolaevna inspected the dishes with interest, as if they had transported her back to her childhood: everything looked incredibly appetizing and homely. Meanwhile, Gena took out a bottle:

— Dad, here’s some mead. Real, homemade.

Alexander laughed: — You act just like true hosts! You have everything right here!

Everyone tasted the mead, except Lena.

Noticing this, Anna Nikolaevna asked with a hint of irritation: — What, still offended? You won’t even drink for our sake?

Lena blushed and replied sheepishly: — I can’t.

Anna looked at her son in surprise: — Is she sick?

Gena smiled broadly: — We’re going to have a baby. So, Mom, get ready to become a grandmother!

These words unleashed a flood of emotions in Anna Nikolaevna. Tears streamed down her face; she alternated between hugging her son and Lena, and then bursting into tears of joy again. At one point, completely unexpectedly for everyone, she decisively declared:

– That’s it, I’m staying here for a couple of weeks. I need to buy a few things and help you settle in. Sasha, haven’t you been promising me a new car for a long time? Well, buy it! And a big one, so I can bring everything the granddaughter will need before she—or he—arrives. We’ll definitely take Lena back to the city—let her give birth in a good clinic.

She continued giving directions, but those around couldn’t help but laugh. Anna Nikolaevna blushed slightly:

– Well, I just want the best!

Lena approached her and hugged her: – I’ll listen to you. Gena knows nothing about these matters, and I’m a bit scared.

Anna gently embraced her: — Don’t be afraid, I’m always here for you.

Under the warm side of this shaggy giant, who became a kind caretaker for them…

It so happened that Nikolai Sergeyevich lived alone in a large house on the outskirts of the district center with two small children in his arms. All household responsibilities fell on his shoulders. Nikolai worked as the chief engineer at the district car depot, sometimes having to travel on business trips for spare parts, equipment, and cars. If it were not for the help of old Pakhomovna—a kind and responsive woman—he would have had to either quit his well-paying job or send the children to an orphanage.

Nikolai’s younger daughter, Nina, could hear but did not speak. Doctors recommended waiting until she was six years old and, if the girl did not start speaking, to enroll her in a special institution. Nina did not want to be without her brother Sasha, who was a year older and understood his mute sister very well. For this reason, the children did not attend kindergarten.

Not only her brother understood little Nina. In the yard, in his kennel, lived a large shaggy dog named Sultan—a formidable guard whose barking made the window panes ring. Sultan recognized only his master and Pakhomovna, not allowing too much familiarity, as befits a guard chain dog. Everyone else, who was behind the wooden fence or appeared in the yard, were enemies.

However, Sultan adored the children; they could climb into his kennel, ride on his back holding onto his long thick fur, dress him in their father’s old jacket—in short, do whatever they pleased. The dog happily played with the children, supporting all their childish antics.

The father often watched as his daughter whispered something into the ear of her huge friend. Sultan listened attentively and responded with action, as if he heard a command or caress, “washing” Nina with his rough tongue amid the delighted children’s laughter. Deep down, Nikolai was convinced that they understood each other—the little mute girl and the big serious dog.

Pakhomovna was a very reliable person, but her old age ailments made themselves known. «You need a housekeeper, Nikolai Sergeyevich. I would be glad to help you with the household, but I no longer have the strength, my joints give me no peace. You can’t manage without a housekeeper,» sighed Pakhomovna, admonishingly.

During the November holidays, Nikolai was visited by a former colleague passing through. The friends sat at the laid table, talked, and in the evening Nikolai went to see his friend off at the station for the evening train. Killing time, they stopped by the station buffet. The waitress—a pleasant-looking middle-aged woman—smiled warmly at Nikolai while pouring beer. That’s how he met Galina.

Nikolai began to frequent the station buffet, escorting his friend in the evenings to the old wooden house where she had a small room. Galina told him that she was a lonely woman, having recently moved to their city from another region; her husband had died on the front, and they had no children.

Soon Nikolai invited his friend over for a visit. Galina came dressed up, with treats and toys, spent the whole day playing with the children, drawing and reading them fairy tales. Nina and Sasha took to this cheerful, energetic woman. The acquaintance with Sultan did not go well. The dog greeted every one of Galina’s movements with a deafening growl and did not accept the peace offering she brought. «Don’t worry, he’ll get used to it, he’s just very unsociable,» the owner reassured his frightened friend.

For the New Year holidays, Galina moved in with Nikolai for good, leaving her cramped room. They got married. Galina quit her job and became a housewife. She really liked her husband’s large house and immediately set about putting it in order. She moved the furniture, beat out the carpet, washed the windows.

Nikolai finally felt happy. The children were looked after, the house was in order, no need to worry anymore when leaving on business trips—what else does a person need for peace of mind? Galina, however, began to be annoyed by the other children who constantly demanded attention and took up almost all the free time she now had, thanks to her fortunate marriage. No more could she sit with girlfriends over a bottle of wine, meet men, go on barbecues, or spend evenings in restaurants.

Over time, forgetting her role as a caring mother, Galina began to vent her growing malice on the annoying and burdensome children. As punishment for loud conversations or laughter, she would lock the children in a pantry—a tiny dark closet—where they could only sit on the floor, not daring to move from fear. Aunt Galya forbade Sasha to tell their father about the punishments, threatening the most severe punishment.

Over time, the children learned to avoid punishments, trying not to catch Aunt Galya’s eye. They ran out into the yard and hid in Sultan’s kennel, feeling safe only under the protection of the formidable dog. The dog hated Galina, not allowing her even to approach him.

Galina complained to her husband. She asked to get rid of Sultan, but Nikolai wouldn’t even hear of it, advising his wife to simply stay away from the dog. The enraged woman couldn’t poison Sultan; she was afraid her husband would find out, besides, the dog flatly refused to eat the food she brought, raising his fur, growling, and baring his big teeth.

When the father went away on business trips, Aunt Galya had guests who stayed late into the night at the table, loaded with wine and snacks, dancing to the sounds of the radio and records. The children, hungry and tearful, ran away from home in advance and spent the night in Sultan’s kennel under the warm side of this shaggy giant, who became a kind caretaker for them. A tall, solid fence hid from neighbors’ eyes everything that happened behind it. Only Sultan’s barking at strangers or passers-by was heard—nobody was interested in that.

At the end of summer, the woods were full of mushrooms, nearly every weekend they gathered an incredible amount. During one of these trips, Galina went to an old abandoned quarry and, approaching the edge of the cliff, saw a rusty iron trailer below, abandoned long ago by workers.

The first night frosts began. Nikolai left early in the morning for another business trip. After seeing off her husband, Galina woke the children, washed them, dressed them up, and took them shopping. They bought sweets, toys.

They walked down the street with their new toys. Neighbors praised such a caring stepmother, and the children rejoiced at the attention of suddenly kind Aunt Galya. When they returned home, Galina unexpectedly locked them in the pantry. Sasha cried and begged for food and drink for himself and his sister. No one answered. Thus, the children sat until late evening.

When it got completely dark, Galina, after drinking for courage, took the lightly dressed children, ordering them to be silent, and went with them to the back alleys «to dad for mushrooms.» Nina had to be carried all the way. After crossing the deserted highway, passing a strip of roadside forest, they reached the quarry. In the trailer, the woman tied up the children and gagged Sasha. With difficulty, she slid the rusty bolt on the door and left for home.

Her drunken mind suggested further actions. Galina flung open the gate, the front door, dismantled the children’s beds, and scattered toys around the room. In the morning, when the frost did its job, she would sound the alarm, but now she could sleep peacefully.

Sultan howled loudly and prolongedly, and these sounds grated on her nerves, Galina habitually finished her vodka and fell asleep. The dog, exerting tremendous effort, moved the heavy kennel, the carabiner broke, and Sultan disappeared into the night darkness.

Stepan—an experienced driver, a former frontline scout, was driving his truck, returning from a trip, on a deserted night highway, tired, he was hurrying home to his family. Suddenly, a huge shaggy dog ran onto the road and lunged at his vehicle. By some miracle, it wasn’t hit. The dog barked and then dashed toward the forest. Returning back to the car. This repeated several times. The concerned driver, realizing something had happened, got out of the car and followed the dog and the woman.

Untying the frozen children, Stepan wrapped them in his jacket and ran to the car, the woman and dog were no longer nearby. He took the children to the police. Coming to his senses, Sasha told what had happened and gave the address. The children were sent to the hospital by ambulance. The local policeman and a detective drove to the address in Stepan’s car. Sultan was in the yard, but for the first time in his life, let people onto the porch. Stepan recognized the dog and pointed him out to the policemen. The dog, growling and barking, wanted to burst into the house, but they didn’t let him.

In the house, the police found the intoxicated Galina. She denied everything, but, completely tangled in her lies, under the pressure of the police officer, confessed to the committed crime. Neighbors began to gather, alarmed by the noise. «Please describe the woman who stopped you on the road and led you to the quarry along with the dog,» the policeman asked Stepan, taking down his testimony.

Stepan stood up, approached the portrait of a young woman, and said firmly: «Why describe her? It was her!» The neighbors gasped, and a grave silence fell. «Look closely. Are you sure?» «As sure as I see you before me now. I’m completely sure. It was her!» Stepan pointed at the portrait again.

Returning from the trip earlier than scheduled, Nikolai, learning from the policemen what had happened, turned pale and clutched his heart. Somewhat calming down, he told them that the woman in the portrait was his first wife, Olga, the mother of Sasha and Nina, who had drowned about three years ago when the children were very small.

As they led Galina away, begging Nikolai for forgiveness, Sultan burst out of the darkness and sank his teeth into the leg of the hateful woman, leaving her with a lasting reminder of himself and the children for the rest of her life. It was barely possible to pull the enraged dog away from the screaming criminal. Left alone, Nikolai could no longer hold back, he cried like a child, led Sultan into the house, hugged and kissed his snout, leaving salty drops on it. In the kitchen, he gave the dog a whole stick of sausage and, locking him in the house, ran to the hospital to his children.

Over time, in Olga’s hometown, next to her black marble monument, on the white snow bright with flames, lay a large bouquet of red roses

The mother left on Wednesday afternoon and told her daughter not to go outside. When Polinka went to bed, the stove was still warm, but by morning the house had cooled down.

There was no sign of her mother, so the girl climbed out from under the blanket, slipped her feet into her felt boots, and ran to the kitchen. Nothing had changed there.

A sooty pot stood on the table. In it—Polinka remembered—lay four potatoes, boiled in their skins. The girl had eaten two the night before going to bed. A nearly full bucket of water stood on the floor.

Polinka peeled two potatoes and had them for breakfast, dipping them in salt and washing them down with water. The cold draft from the cellar made her return to bed.

She lay under the blanket, listening to the sounds from the street. Polinka waited for the gate to slam shut and her mother to return. She would fire up the stove, and the house would warm up. Mom would cook potatoes and dump them on the table, and Polinka would roll them around, trying to cool them faster.

Last time, her mother brought two pies with cabbage, and Polinka ate them, washing them down with hot tea. Now, there were neither pies nor tea, and most importantly—it was already getting dark outside, but her mother still hadn’t returned.

Before it got completely dark, the girl sneaked into the kitchen and ate the remaining potatoes, scooped a mug of water, and placed it on a chair next to her bed. Then she wrapped herself in her old mother’s sweatshirt, pulled the hood over her head, and climbed back under the blanket.

It was dark outside, and cold in the house. Polinka, a little girl of six, lay in bed under an old quilted blanket, trying to warm up, and waited for her mother to return.

In the morning, nothing had changed, except it was even colder in the house and there was nothing to eat.

Polinka dragged five logs from the hallway—it took her two trips to do so. Then the girl pulled a stool to the stove, stood on it, and used the poker to open the damper. It didn’t work the first time, and flakes of soot and some debris fell on her.

Polinka had seen her mother fire up the stove many times and tried to do everything just the same. First, she placed two logs inside, then tore several sheets from an old newspaper, crumpled them, and stuck them between the logs, and on top she placed dry birch bark and another log. Then she lit the paper and birch bark. When the logs caught fire, she added two more and closed the door.

After that, Polinka washed about a dozen raw potatoes, placed them in a cast iron pot, filled it with water, and, standing on the stool, pushed it under the stove.

The girl was tired by the time she finished all this, but it seemed to her that the room had gotten warmer. Now she just had to wait for the stove to properly heat the house and cook the potatoes.

Once Polinka had a father, but she didn’t remember him. He had packed his things and moved to the city because her mother often visited her friends and, as grandma used to say, «drowned her sorrows.»

While grandma was alive, Polinka had a good life. The house was always clean, warm, and smelled of pies. Grandma often baked pies with cabbage, carrots, and berries.

She also cooked delicious millet porridge in a cast iron pot—she would place a plate in front of Polinka and next to it—a mug of baked milk.

Back then, there was a television in the house. Polinka watched cartoons, and grandma watched movies, which she referred to by the strange word «serials.»

Without grandma, life became quite bad. Mom would leave during the day and return at night when Polinka was already asleep. There was often no food at home, and the girl made do with boiled potatoes and bread.

Last spring, mom didn’t plant a garden, so this year there were even fewer potatoes. Polinka didn’t know what happened to the television. Mom had never left for as long as this time before.

The house was warm now, the potatoes were cooked. Polinka found a bottle of sunflower oil in the kitchen cupboard. There was only a tablespoon of oil left, but hot potatoes with oil tasted much better than cold ones without anything.

After brewing a cup of raspberry leaf tea, Polinka drank the hot tea and felt warm. She took off her mother’s sweatshirt, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep.

She was awakened by noise. In the room, the neighbors were talking—old lady Masha and old man Egor, and some unknown person.

«Zakharovna,» the stranger addressed old lady Masha, «take the girl for a couple of days. I called her father—he will come on Sunday.»

«An investigator and a doctor from the district will arrive soon. I’ll wait for them here.»

Old lady Masha searched for something to dress Polinka in, but finding nothing, she put the same old mother’s sweatshirt on her and wrapped her in an old grandmother’s scarf on top.

When they stepped into the hallway, Polinka saw something lying near the woodpile, covered with two sacks. A leg sticking out from under one of the sacks wore her mother’s boot.

Old lady Masha took Polinka to her house and ordered her husband to heat the bathhouse. She washed the girl, steamed her well with a birch broom, wrapped her in a large towel, sat her in the ante-room, and told her to wait. A few minutes later, she returned with clean clothes.

Polinka sat at the table in flannel pajamas, wool socks. A white scarf with tiny blue dots was tied around her head. A plate of borscht was placed in front of the girl.

A woman entered the room, looked at Polinka, and sighed heavily.

«Here, Maria Zakharovna,» she handed old lady Masha a large package, «some things for the girl. My own have outgrown these. There’s even a winter jacket. Such a tragedy.»

«Thank you, Katya,» old lady Masha replied and turned to Polinka, «have you eaten? Come, I’ll put on some cartoons for you in the other room.»

That day and the next, several women visited Maria Zakharovna. From snippets of conversation, Polinka understood that her mother had been found frozen in a snowdrift, quite by accident. And someone had called her father, and he would be coming soon.

Polinka felt sorry for her mother and missed her. At night, she cried quietly under the blanket so that no one would hear her.

Her father arrived. Polinka curiously watched the tall, dark-haired man she didn’t remember at all. She was a bit afraid of him, so she kept her distance. He also studied the girl and only once, when they met, awkwardly patted her on the head.

Father couldn’t stay long, so they left the next day. Before leaving, he closed the shutters, nailed the windows and doors shut crosswise, and asked the neighbors to keep an eye on the house.

Old lady Masha told Polinka as they parted:

«Your father has a wife—Valentina. She will be your mother. Listen to her in everything, don’t argue. Help around the house. Then she will love you. Besides your father, you have no one, and you have no other home either.»

But Valentina never came to love Polinka. The woman had no children of her own, and perhaps she didn’t know how to love children. But Valentina didn’t mistreat the girl. She made sure Polinka was always neatly dressed, although she rarely bought new clothes, making do with what colleagues and acquaintances gave her for the girl.

As soon as father brought Polinka home, Valentina «arranged» to put the girl in daycare. In the morning she would drop her off, and in the evening after work, she would pick her up. At home, Valentina immediately started making dinner or doing other household chores, while Polinka sat in her room, looking out the window or drawing.

Father also rarely talked to his daughter, believing he was doing everything she needed: fed, dressed, shoed—what else?

When Polinka went to school, she didn’t cause any trouble to either her father or Valentina. She did okay in school, mostly getting B’s, and C’s in math, physics, and chemistry. But the teachers said the girl tried, it’s just that exact subjects weren’t her forte.

However, she excelled in craft classes, especially when the girls sewed, knitted, or embroidered. Even the teacher was surprised at how skillfully Polinka mastered everything. Olga Yurievna would just show a new stitch or pattern, and Polina would repeat it as if she had known it for a long time.

Thus, Polina lived in her father’s family: from about ten years old, she cleaned the apartment by herself, could iron a mountain of laundry, and from the age of thirteen, she cooked for the whole family. She only interacted with Valentina on household matters, but it seemed Polina didn’t need more than that.

Father was pleased that there were no crises typical of teenage years, which his colleagues with daughters had warned him about. And his daughter’s silence and introversion he considered a trait of her character.

After ninth grade, Polina said she wanted to go to college to study to be a pattern maker and tailor. Father went with her to the industrial-economic college, they submitted the documents, and in September Polina began her studies.

She still did a lot of housework, but now she also started sewing. Valentina had an old sewing machine; Polina fixed it, and now there was no problem if she needed to hem towels, sew new curtains, or mend clothes. The girl did all this herself. Neighbors started approaching her—some needed trousers shortened, others needed custom-sized bedding sewn. She charged little, but she didn’t spend the money—she saved it.

Three years flew by unnoticed. School ended, and Polina turned eighteen.

Unexpectedly for her father, the girl announced that she wanted to return to her native village.

«Isn’t it good for you here? Why are you leaving?» her father asked.

«You raised me, and I am very grateful. But from here on, I’m on my own.»

Polina barely recognized her home. Her village, unlike many others, was not dying but growing—several years ago, a new road was built nearby, new residents arrived, new homes were built.

The house that used to seem huge to Polina now looked like a shabby hut against the backdrop of newly-built two-story cottages. True, several neighboring homes remained the same. There was old lady Masha’s house on one side and old man Egor’s on the other. I wonder if they are still alive?

Polina opened the gate—it creaked just as it did back when little Polinka, listening to that creak, awaited her mother.

The girl climbed onto the porch. «Can’t get into the house without tools,» she thought.

Leaving her things on the porch, she went to old lady Masha’s house. Polina entered the gate and saw an elderly woman weeding a flower bed.

«Hello,» said Polina.

The woman straightened up and looked intently at the girl:

«Hello,» she replied. «And who might you be? The face seems familiar…»

«Maria Zakharovna, it’s me, Polinka.»

«Indeed, Polinka! And you look just like your mother! – exclaimed old lady Masha. – You’ve arrived!»

«I’ve arrived, but I can’t get into the house. Do you have a crowbar or something else to pry off the boards?» asked Polina.

«Just a moment, wait!» she said and shouted towards the house: «Zakhar! Come here!»

A young man in his twenties came out onto the porch.

«Grandson! Grab some tool, help your neighbor open her house.»

Within an hour, all windows and doors were open, and Polina entered the house she hadn’t been in for twelve years. Here, in the hallway, lay her mother the last time she saw her, or rather her legs, clad in brown boots with worn toes.

There on the bed was the quilted blanket under which she tried to warm up. The bucket, the cast iron pot, the sooty pot. Polina felt like she had returned twelve years back.

She remembered old lady Masha’s admonition: «Behave well, and you will be loved. You have no other home besides your father’s.»

«How can there be none? Here it is, old, with a leaning porch, but so dear! – thought Polina. – Here, I will be happy!»

For almost a week she washed, cleaned, laundered, painted. She found a chimney sweep in a neighboring village—he cleaned the chimney and fixed the stove, and Polina whitewashed it. She threw out a heap of old junk from the pantry and the attic, hung new curtains.

Zakhar helped her fix the porch and the fence that had collapsed in several places.

And all this time, villagers who remembered her and her mother came to her house—they were surprised that she had decided to move here from the city.

Father probably wouldn’t recognize his quiet, introverted daughter—the smile never left Polina’s face. She was talkative and friendly.

The local tractor driver plowed her garden, and although it was late, but with Maria Zakharovna’s guidance, Polina managed to plant something and tidy up the berry bushes.

«It’s alright, this year you were late with the seedlings, but next year you’ll plant everything you need,» old lady Masha said.

Having finished with the house, Polina got a job—not yet in her field. There was no atelier in the village where she could work, and she didn’t have a sewing machine. So, she went to work at the post office. And not behind the glass but delivering mail to three neighboring villages.

She was issued a government-issued bicycle, and Polina went pedaling: two kilometers to one village, three to another.

With her first salary, she bought a sewing machine, with the second—an overlock. She started sewing—first for the home, then customers found her. Of course, the village wasn’t the city, but little by little, even people in neighboring villages learned about her. People started coming.

And after a couple of years, another postman was delivering the mail—Polina had enough from her garden and sewing earnings. Especially since it was already hard for her to ride a bicycle—she and Zakhar, whom Polina had married, were expecting their first child.

Polina kept in touch with her father and Valentina; they came to the wedding, invited the young couple to the city. But they refused:

«My home is here,» Polina said

Lisa sat in the living room, listening to her son Artem arguing on the phone. He was speaking loudly with a friend, and Lisa couldn’t help but overhear snippets of the conversation.

«Yes, mom doesn’t understand anything!» he shouted, making Lisa flinch. «She never knew what I really needed.»

Her heart clenched. She couldn’t imagine that her son, for whom she had lived and worked, thought this way about her. When Artem slammed his room door, tears welled up in Lisa’s eyes. She went to his room to say something but stopped at the threshold.

There was a note on his desk that read, «Mom, forgive me for everything…»

Lisa felt a chill run down her spine. What did this mean? She hastily grabbed her phone and started dialing Artem’s number, but she heard the front door’s lock quietly turn.

Lisa rushed into the hallway and caught Artem at the door. His face was tense, but his eyes showed hesitation. He was holding a backpack as if he was about to leave the house.

«Artem, wait,» Lisa said with a trembling voice. «Can you explain to me what’s happening?»

He froze, not looking at his mother, but he didn’t move. Lisa cautiously approached closer.

«I found your note,» she continued. «You can’t imagine how it scared me.»

«Mom, it’s not what you think,» he said softly. «I just… just don’t know how to explain everything to you.»

Lisa noticed how his shoulders drooped, and she realized that something serious was troubling him. She took a deep breath and tried to speak calmly:

«Artem, you can tell me everything. Whatever happened, I’m always on your side.»

He finally looked up, filled with internal struggle.

«I’m tired, Mom,» he exhaled. «Tired of being who you want me to be. I know you want the best for me, but I feel like I’m losing myself.»

These words stunned Lisa. She hadn’t expected such an admission.

«Do you think I want to make you someone else?» she asked quietly.

«Sometimes it seems so,» he replied. «I try to meet your expectations, but it’s too hard.»

Lisa felt her heart squeeze. She realized that all this time, her love and care might have been perceived by her son as pressure.

«Artem,» she said gently. «You are more important to me than any of my expectations. If I made a mistake somewhere, forgive me. I just wanted you to be happy.»

Tears welled up in Artem’s eyes. He dropped his backpack to the floor and hugged his mother.

«I just wanted you to understand me,» he whispered.

«I will try,» Lisa replied, holding him tightly. «We’ll get through this together, Artem.»

This conversation marked the beginning of a new stage for both of them, where they learned to truly listen and understand each other.

Fyodor Petrovich had long dreamed of visiting the cemetery to see his son. However, his health hadn’t allowed him to fulfill this wish for a long time. Paint and tools were prepared in advance, and today he woke up feeling better. After breakfast, he began to get ready. Two months ago, he noticed that the fence at his son’s grave was leaning and the gate was hanging unevenly. It was not surprising, since it had been almost ten years since he buried his boy. In fact, Sasha was not his biological son. Fyodor Petrovich and his wife had been together for 20 years, but they had no children. After much contemplation, they decided to adopt a child from an orphanage. There, they immediately noticed a thin five-year-old boy who looked at them sadly. Fyodor Petrovich felt his heart clench.

«Why is this boy sitting alone?» he asked.

«Sasha is special,» they replied. «His mother brought him here six months ago. It was a difficult scene. He cried, didn’t want to part with her, and it broke our hearts. Since then, he has been on his own, unable to forgive and understand this betrayal. Despite our efforts, he doesn’t connect with anyone.»

Fyodor Petrovich and his wife immediately decided that they could help Sasha believe that life isn’t all that grim. While processing the paperwork, they took him on walks. Sasha did everything they suggested: ate ice cream, rode on carousels, but his eyes remained empty.

It took a whole year for Sasha to look at them without fear. Only after a year did he approach Fyodor Petrovich one evening and asked:

«Do you really never leave me?»

«Never, I promise you.»

Little Sasha pressed against him and cried. From that moment, they forgot that Sasha was not their biological son. The boy delighted them in everything. He studied well and after school, he entered a military academy. They lived in a small village, and few of the youths continued their education after school, so the parents were incredibly proud of Sasha. During holidays and vacations, he came not to rest but to help his parents. Everyone in the village was envious, seeing how tenderly Fyodor Petrovich and his wife treated their son.

Sasha remained in the service. His parents worried, especially when he didn’t make contact. They knew he was in dangerous places. Later, he was discharged due to health reasons. Sasha became sad, and two years later, he fell ill. The doctors just shrugged their shoulders. The disease was discovered too late.

Soon after the son’s death, his wife also passed away, and Fyodor Petrovich was left alone…

He went out into the yard, and an old dog named Buyan ran up to his feet. The dog was already in years. If translated to human age, he was Fyodor Petrovich’s peer.

«So, Buyan, shall we go to Sashenka? Let’s go.»

The old dog, it seemed, understood the owner’s words and wagged its tail joyfully.

They closed the gate and headed down the dirt road. The cemetery was on the other side of the village. They had to walk through the entire settlement and then another kilometer.

«Good day, Fyodor Petrovich! Where are you and Buyan heading?» called out Maria Stepanovna.

«Hello, Maria Stepanovna. I’m going to my son and wife. Need to fix the fence and paint it.»

«Oh, how are you yourself? You’re ill, after all. Isn’t there anyone you can ask?»

«God didn’t give us grandchildren, and asking a stranger… You know, they’ll take the money, and then I’ll have to redo it. Times are such…»

Fyodor Petrovich and Buyan continued on their way. At the entrance to the cemetery, they met a man, clearly not a local. He passed by without greeting. Fyodor Petrovich was surprised: in their village, everyone greets each other, even if strangers. But here…

The cemetery was in disorder. A week ago, there was a strong wind that broke branches. Fyodor Petrovich sighed…

«Oh, how much work we have ahead of us, Buyasha.»

The dog growled.

«What’s making you angry? Didn’t you like that passerby? Me neither. But what does it matter to us…»

When Fyodor Petrovich had already gathered the branches, Buyan suddenly began digging the earth at the very fence. The soil flew in all directions. The dog dug while simultaneously barking and squealing. Finally, he stopped and barked loudly.

Fyodor Petrovich approached the hole and froze. In the pit dug by Buyan, the corner of a cardboard box was visible. It had clearly been buried recently, as the cardboard had not yet soaked through from the moist soil. Perhaps it was hidden by that same stranger. Fyodor Petrovich cleared the soil around the box, which turned out to be quite large, and with difficulty pulled it out.

And then something moved inside the box. He began to tear the cardboard, and Buyan circled around, continuing to bark.

«Quiet, quiet…»

Inside were rags. Fyodor Petrovich carefully pushed them aside and gasped. In the box was a tiny, naked baby girl. She moved, opened her mouth, tried to breathe, but had no strength to cry. How long had she been under the ground? Probably no more than half an hour. There was enough air in the box that she had not suffocated.

«Oh, Lord!»

He grabbed the baby and ran to the cemetery exit, while Buyan ran ahead, barking loudly. The dog hadn’t run like that for many years. Fyodor Petrovich’s heart pounded as if ready to jump out of his chest, and his breath burned his throat. But he didn’t stop. They rushed to Olga Sergeyevna, the former paramedic of their village. Although the medical post had long been closed, residents still turned to her for help.

Olga Sergeyevna was digging garden beds when she noticed that Fyodor Petrovich was running towards her house. Clearly, something serious had happened. Quickly rinsing her hands in a barrel of rainwater, she ran to meet him.

«Fyodor Petrovich, what happened?»

He could barely extend the girl to her and hoarsely said:

«Found… in a box… buried…»

At that moment, the baby squeaked quietly, and Olga Sergeyevna, as if waking up, quickly took her in her arms and ran into the house.

She skillfully swaddled the baby in a soft towel while her husband frantically dialed emergency services and asked Fyodor Petrovich many questions. Half an hour later, at Olga Sergeyevna’s gate, there were emergency doctors and police officers. Curious neighbors bustled about. Someone gave Fyodor Petrovich drops for his heart.

The next day, an unusual vehicle pulled up to Fyodor Petrovich’s house, which he had never seen before. The man tried to stand up from the couch, but his legs, tired from the previous day’s events, did not obey. Sasha, the husband of the paramedic, peeked out the door.

«Who’s there?»

«Hello. Are you Fyodor Petrovich?»

«Yes, that’s me,» replied the old man, struggling to rise from the couch and approaching the door.

«I’m German, the grandfather of the girl you saved.»

Fyodor Petrovich saw how a sturdy young man carried a large box and placed it on the table. German put a stack of money next to it.

«This is for you, treats. And this is money for your needs. I understand that thanking with money may not be entirely appropriate, but I don’t know how else to express my gratitude. Please accept it, it’s from the heart.»

Fyodor Petrovich sat down. German continued:

«My daughter married against my will. I immediately understood that her husband only wanted money, but she wouldn’t listen. When she became pregnant, I thought, perhaps, I was wrong. Alas, she died in childbirth. I knew nothing about it. The girl survived, and the son-in-law wanted to quickly inherit. That’s why he decided to get rid of her. I could never imagine such a thing was possible. The investigation will clarify everything. The son-in-law has already been arrested, and the girl… She’s the only thing that connects me to my daughter. I should have insisted on my own, but I didn’t want to interfere in her family.»

Fyodor Petrovich understood how hard it is to lose loved ones.

«Is the girl all right?» he asked.

«Yes, everything is fine, you were just in time. Thank you very much.»

Fyodor Petrovich again and again recounted how everything happened. He also mentioned that the fence at his son’s grave was leaning, and he came to fix it.

Fyodor Petrovich was able to move normally only two weeks later. In that box of gifts, there was so much that the money would have been enough not only for a new fence but also for a monument. One clear day, Fyodor Petrovich took a tape measure and left the house, and his loyal dog ran beside him.

«Will you come with me, buddy?»

The dog wagged its tail joyfully and barked loudly. They passed through the gate and almost immediately met Maria Stepanovna.

«Where are you heading, Fyodor Petrovich?»

«To the cemetery. The girl’s grandfather came, left money. I decided to take measurements and order a new fence. The old one is completely leaning.»

«Go ahead, of course.»

Fyodor Petrovich continued on his way, and the elderly woman watched him go and involuntarily crossed herself. She knew more than he suspected, having been to the cemetery herself the day before.

Fyodor Petrovich walked, occasionally turning back and talking to the dog:

«The main thing is that everything goes smoothly today, right, buddy? Yes, without any trouble, we’ll manage.»

Suddenly, the old man stopped and looked around, not understanding where he was. In front of him rose a majestic memorial complex. High and elegant fences made of massive black chains, white gravel, tiles, and majestic black monuments. Fyodor Petrovich froze in amazement, noticing that the monuments had the names of his son and wife engraved on them. They looked so realistic that they seemed alive.

«Sanechka…»

Turning to the second monument, Fyodor Petrovich immediately understood who had arranged all this. Of course, it was German. He quietly bowed and whispered:

«Thank you, kind man. You did everything right.»

Fyodor Petrovich sat down on a bench next to the graves.

«Well, my dear ones. Now you can rest. Everything is done, just as I dreamed. I didn’t come to you until I finished the work, but now everything is in order.»

In the evening, Maria Stepanovna noticed that the dog Buyan returned alone, without the owner. The dog whined plaintively as if trying to say something. The woman understood: something had happened, and she went to Fyodor Petrovich’s house. As she expected, the house was locked. She quickly gathered neighbors, and they hurried to the cemetery.

Fyodor Petrovich sat on the bench with a smile on his face. He had passed away. The funeral organization was taken over by German. And Buyan did not want to leave Maria, despite German’s offer to take him to a country house. The dog often ran to the cemetery. He lived another two years after his owner and died near the beautiful fence, where he was buried to remain close to the family and Fyodor Petrovich

The day passed as usual. Christina was about to finish work when her phone rang — it was her worried husband:

Where are you? How much longer? Come on, hurry up, I’m waiting for you.
Without giving any explanations, Nikita hung up. Christina began to worry and called a taxi to get home faster. At the doorstep, her husband met her with suitcases — What happened? — the girl asked in confusion.

— I should be asking what happened. When did you become so mercenary? — I don’t understand…

— We agreed on how we would manage the household, spend our common funds, and so on, remember?

— Suppose. But everyone must adhere to the conditions, Nikit, — the wife replied more firmly.

— Unlike you, I hid nothing. Today at lunch I met an acquaintance. His wife works in your department, and I found out how much you really earn. Your deceit has been exposed. I’m not going to support you and your parents. We are breaking up, — the husband said calmly.

Christina looked into the room and saw the doors of an entirely empty wardrobe. Nikita had taken care in advance and packed all the things. Two years of married life fit easily into a suitcase and a couple of bags.

— I packed all your things that you brought from your mother to our rented apartment. The rest, sorry, — Nikita clarified matter-of-factly.

The wife sighed heavily. She had previously thought about her husband’s excessive stinginess, but the girl tried to dismiss these thoughts. After all, she loved Nikita very much.

— Here, you’ll pay for it. I promised the landlady that tomorrow you will bring everything to her at work, — Nikita pulled out receipts for the apartment payment and handed them to his wife.

— Why should I pay for utilities? I need to rent a new apartment, it takes time and money. You put me in front of a done deal, — Christina got nervous.

— Yes, it was convenient on my neck, wasn’t it? — the husband smirked.

— Not true, I also bought groceries and things. And about the apartment, we had an agreement. You pay the bills, — Christina pointed at her husband.

— I found a report from your card that you hid. You lived at my expense, and you spared yourself nothing. And you made a gift for your mommy. I am not your cash cow! Let’s go our separate ways before we have kids!

— I don’t remember such a deal that I had to give you all my salary, and still report to you!

— I just thought I had found a kindred soul, but you ruined everything! You’ll be biting your elbows and going back to your village to your mother! — Nikita yelled, but his wife had already left the threshold.

Christina didn’t think about how to live further, she only thought about how to get to her mother in the village. Well, anyway, a normal town. Yes, small, not the capital, but still well-kept, and they build new houses. Nikita crossed the line today everywhere he could.

The girl decided not to waste even more nerves and called a taxi again. The husband, seeing from the window how his wife got into the car, became even more confident in his decision: «What a spendthrift! And she left me the bills to pay.»

That same evening, Nikita decided to pack his things and go to his mother. Ekaterina Alekseevna was a woman who was used to solving everything herself and did not tolerate detours, so she immediately asked bluntly why they broke up. She saw no other more suitable match for her son, a bit infantile and naive Christina suited Nikita perfectly.

— I found the receipts she was hiding. Moreover, I’ll tell you, my wife spent all her bonus on herself, which is not a small amount — twenty thousand. I suspected something was wrong when she went to the beauty salon for the second time in a month. Twice a month is too much, — the son complained about his wayward wife.

— But on the other hand, it’s her earned bonus, — the mother shook her head. — Why did you indulge her whims?

— That’s the thing, she didn’t ask me for anything. Christina began to hide her income from me. Yes, she bought groceries and things for the house, but she did not forget about herself. I travel to the office by transport, but she looks like a doll, buying new things for herself. And I didn’t understand right away where the money came from. I thought she found someone on the side, — Nikita continued.

— It would have been worse if you had paid for all of it. And you kicked her out, foolish. I personally liked Christina very much. And now what are you going to do? You’ll have to look for someone else. I can’t shelter you, — the mother cut him off.

— I’m noticeable, handsome, I definitely won’t be without attention. I already have one girl in mind, — the son boasted, glowing with pride.

Angelina from accounting — a beautiful girl, a couple of years older than Nikita, but that didn’t bother him. She had a car, an apartment, and a good salary. Isn’t she the ideal wife?

— Nikit, are we going to some special restaurant tonight? — asked Angelina when the young man delighted her that he was divorcing and wanted to invite her on a date.

— In a restaurant? No. We can eat at home. You have your own apartment, — Nikita was surprised.

— But… you also rented a place, didn’t you? — Angelina shrugged her shoulders.

— Yes, I now moved to my mother’s. I thought we’d go to your place.

— Home is very boring. First, we need to go out to eat and have some fun, after all, it’s Friday. And I hardly cook. I don’t like it, and it doesn’t turn out well?

— So how do you eat?

— At mom’s, in a cafe or a little restaurant, — she batted her eyelashes, and Nikita was already counting the upcoming expenses. Interest and the desire to get back at his ex-wife took over.

They went to a new cafe near their office. Lina agreed, and for the first time in his life, he came on a date with flowers. His ex-wife used to say she didn’t like flowers, but now he had to spend money for such an occasion.

— Such a simple bouquet… — scoffed Alina.

— What do you mean simple? Do you know how much it costs? — Nikita was outraged.

Nikita turned out to be a very stingy man. Angelina understood everything right away and tried to leave the date as quickly as possible. The same happened with two other girls whom the young man met after breaking up with Christina. Nikita had already thoroughly enjoyed his freedom and was not in a hurry to file for divorce. In turn, Christina healed her emotional wounds and worked a lot hoping to rent her own housing soon and move away from her mother.

Almost a month had passed since the husband kicked Christina out. There was no time to miss or be sad, work did not let go. To rest from bad thoughts, Christina and her sister went to a local restaurant, where the girl met a guy. Well, as met… She knew Kostya from the school bench, so nothing serious was planned, but yesterday’s boy had grown up and become a noticeable man, showing interest in the girl himself.

Almost simultaneously with this event, Nikita, having gathered courage, came to Christina to clarify everything and take her back. But the girl approached her mother’s house not alone. Kostya drove her in a new car. Nikita almost burst at the seams, noticing some strange man next to his wife.

— What is this? What kind of clown brought you here?

— Why did you come? We already decided everything, — Christina was stunned.

— I thought about it and decided to give you a second chance, — Nikita answered business-like.

— Too late! I don’t need it anymore. Find yourself another fool, — the wife cut him off.

Later, the mother-in-law called Christina several times about the divorce. She tried to persuade her that, look, you rushed, where else will you find such a husband. The ex-husband and mother-in-law completely tired her with their calls, so the girl also decided to change her phone number. They got the divorce finalized successfully, and as for a new marriage, Christina is now not in a hurry to enter into one.