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The husband begged to disconnect his wife from the machines, but something unexpected happened.

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Hey Dad, Dad!»

The man, quietly conversing with a young woman so as not to disturb other patients, turned to his daughter.

«Nastya, behave yourself.»

«Dad, I’m tired of sitting here. I’ve already told Liza everything. Can I walk down the hall?»

«Nastya, of course not. There are sick people here; they need peace.»

The woman smiled.

«Vit, don’t be so strict. Nastya will just walk around. Right, girl? She won’t bother anyone.»

 

The girl nodded energetically, then showed her father as if she was locking her mouth with a key. Viktor smiled. He adored his daughter. Just as much as his sister, whom he affectionately called Lizka. She was hospitalized with appendicitis, but now everything was fine, and she was to be discharged in a couple of days.

They all missed her, especially Nastya, since Liza had replaced her mother, although she was still quite young herself. When Viktor’s wife died, Liza came immediately.

«Casually,» she had said. «I’ll stay with you, it’ll be easier with Nastya, and anyway.»

Viktor knew Liza had sacrificed her career. Temporarily, but still. She worked at a large company where she was predicted to have a successful future, and she left just before a promotion.

Nastya went out into the corridor, looked around. It seemed no one paid attention to her, so she could again go see the sleeping princess. Behind a glass door, on a strange bed, lay a beautiful princess.

She was so beautiful that Nastya was breathless. The girl was sure she was indeed the sleeping princess, as Liza had recently read her a fairy tale.

But in the fairy tale, a prince woke the princess, but here she still slept. Nastya reasoned, «Maybe the prince got lost or something happened to him, and the princess fell asleep again.»

The girl slowly walked down the corridor. Patients walked back and forth. Some children also came to visit, so no one paid attention to Nastya. When she returned to the ward, she heard her father’s question:

«Well, did you have a good walk?»

The girl looked scared.

«Dad, tell me, can sleeping princesses be given injections not by doctors but by just people?»

«Well, why not? Doctors are people too. They can’t always be in white coats.»

Nastya sighed with relief. She kissed Liza.

«We’ll come again tomorrow. Don’t miss us.»

Liza hugged her niece.

«Oh, you don’t need to come tomorrow. If everything is okay, they’ll discharge me the day after tomorrow.»

Nastya frowned.

«No, we’ll still come to make sure everything is okay.»

Liza laughed, and Viktor said with a smile:

«You can’t fool our Nastya.»

The next day at the clinic began with confusion. No doctors had encountered a situation where relatives themselves demanded to disconnect a patient from machines. Usually, it was the opposite.

Liza barely caught the attending doctor. Roman Evgenievich stopped, looked at her with a strange glance, then shook his head.

«Ah, Elizaveta, what’s wrong? Worried?»

«Worried. You didn’t come today, and I don’t know whether to prepare for discharge tomorrow? I need to warn the relatives to bring things.»

«Elizaveta, let’s do this. I have an important council now. Honestly, I can’t think of anything else. I’ll visit everyone closer to evening and explain everything. And call the relatives. Agreed?»

Liza sighed.

«Agreed.»

«Can I go home today?»

«Today you can’t. It’s only been three days since the surgery.»

Liza sighed and, head bowed, went back to the ward. The doctor stood as if remembering where he was going, then raised his finger and quickly walked down the corridor.

Roman Evgenievich had felt uneasy since the morning. He was an old-school doctor and used to fight for a patient’s life to the end. But here a complicated situation arose. And most surprisingly, some colleagues supported the patient’s husband, who insisted on disconnecting her from the machines.

He couldn’t understand it. Yes, the brain was in a state of sleep, but it wasn’t dead. It’s unknown how long she could lie in such a state. But there were no clear indications for disconnection. Yes, the chances of recovery were minimal, but they were still there. If not for her husband’s persistence, this question might not even have arisen.

Half an hour later, all the doctors who observed Inna gathered in the ward. She had been admitted to them after falling from a great height. According to the protocol, she climbed into the attic of her house, supposedly for a cat, but lost her balance and fell.

The house was two-story and sturdy, so the fall was serious. She was immediately taken to the hospital. Numerous fractures, injuries. But the most dangerous thing was that the woman almost immediately fell into a coma.

Doctors hoped it was a reaction to pain shock, and that she would soon wake up. But time passed, and there were no improvements. Yesterday evening, her husband called and demanded to disconnect Inna from the machines.

«I’ve been living in limbo for a long time! Honestly, I’ve already mentally buried her. Even if you ever wake her up, she’ll most likely be a vegetable. At best. It’s been over three months. I’m her heir, and I demand to settle this matter.»

Talking to this person was unpleasant. But he really had the right to such a demand. However, the final decision remained with the council. If the majority votes «for,» the machines will be disconnected. If not, the process may drag on for another three months. And everyone understood that the man only wanted money. He was lazy and a do-nothing.

As Roman Evgenievich expected, opinions were divided. Half the doctors thought they should continue to fight. What «vegetable» can there be if the brain functions? All hemispheres work. It’s necessary to find the reason why the patient does not come out of the coma.

One of the young doctors sneered.

«You think the old-fashioned way. Look at the situation from another angle. What about the relatives? How should they live?»

Roman Evgenievich got angry.

«And what about the relatives? It’s not their life. Deciding whether to deprive a person of life or not can only be done by higher powers.»

«Roman Evgenievich, you might as well suggest we pray.»

«Some might benefit from praying, to cleanse themselves of sin a bit.»

The young doctor meaningfully looked at the patient’s husband, as if twirling his finger at his temple. He stepped forward.

«Listen, why do you need extra problems? You understand, sooner or later they will disconnect her anyway. I’m the heir, and I’ll remember who hindered me. She doesn’t move, doesn’t react for more than three months. Isn’t it obvious that this is the end?»

Doctors exchanged glances. Of course, there were indications, but in some ways, the man was right: after such a term, the chances of recovery were practically zero.

«Well, colleagues, your opinion?»

The ward fell silent for a moment. Then it was interrupted by a child’s voice:

«Not true. This beautiful aunt opened her eyes, smiled at me, and then this uncle came, she got scared, he gave her an injection, and she fell asleep again.»

Roman Evgenievich rushed to the source of the voice.

«You? Do you come to Elizaveta Sidorova?»

«Yes, and every time I visit this beautiful aunt. Yesterday she opened her eyes and smiled.»

«This is nonsense! You’re going to listen to a child?» — the patient’s husband grabbed the girl by the shoulder, intending to push her out of the ward, but other doctors intervened.

The department head said sternly:

«Everyone, leave the ward. Put a guard at the door. Roman Evgenievich, find someone adult to stay with the child while we question her.»

«I won’t leave until you disconnect the machines!» — the man retreated under the doctor’s gaze. — «You’ll regret this.» — He ran out of the ward.

One of the doctors returned with Viktor. He looked scared.

«Nastya, sunshine, what have you done?»

Roman Evgenievich reassured him:

«Don’t worry. The girl hasn’t done anything bad. We just need to ask her a few questions. We can’t do this without your presence. Let’s go to the office.»

«Nastenka, tell us again, only in more detail, what you saw.»

The girl sighed, looked at her father, and sighed again.

«When we came to visit Liza, I always went to see the sleeping princess. This time I went again. I looked at her, and suddenly she opened her eyes. First, she looked around, and then she smiled at me. She whispered something, but I couldn’t hear it. Then that uncle came. The princess got scared, he gave her an injection, and she fell asleep again.»

Viktor nodded.

«Yes, yesterday my daughter asked if princesses can be given injections not by doctors, but by ordinary people. I didn’t take it seriously. I thought it was just children’s fantasies.»

The department head exclaimed:

«Wait, where was the nurse? Nastenka, did you see the nurse?»

«Well yes, she was there too. But when the uncle came, they… they kissed, and she left.»

The room fell into dead silence. Then Roman Evgenievich said:

«Could this be why the journal disappeared?»

Everyone looked at each other, and the chief physician said:

«Okay, I’m calling the police. You all go to the patient. Do all the tests, record all the readings, but find out what he injected her with.»

Now the hospital was in real chaos. Doctors and nurses were running around as if they all had jet engines. Then the police arrived. Then the head of the department brought the nurse into his office.

She was led out of the hospital. All the patients who could move on their own spilled into the corridor. You can’t hide a sewing needle in a sack, and many began to leave home on their own. There was so much noise, as if it wasn’t a hospital, but a madhouse.

Viktor sat with Liza for a long time. He didn’t understand whether he and Nastya could go home, or if they were still needed. Just before the hospital closed to visitors, a tired Roman Evgenievich came to them.

«Liza, home tomorrow. Could you leave your phone number? You’ll probably be called to the station along with your daughter to give testimony? Yes, of course.»

Viktor wrote down everything required and handed it to the doctor. Nastya touched his hand.

«Did the sleeping princess wake up?»

The doctor smiled.

«Almost. Very close. It’s a matter of a few hours. Imagine, you saved her life. Or woke her up.»

The doctor left the office, and Liza and Viktor said simultaneously:

«Well, Nastya.»

She blurted out by habit:

«And what about Nastya? Why immediately Nastya?»

Then she fell silent, confused. They weren’t scolding her, were they?

Almost a month passed since Liza was discharged from the hospital. She had already forgotten that they had once removed something from her. Today was Nastya’s 7th birthday. And at home, they were preparing for the celebration. Her birthday was on the eve of Victory Day. And therefore, the mood was somewhat festive.

 

They sat down at the table at five. Nastya’s friends came, their parents, and just as they began to cut the cake, the doorbell rang. Viktor raised an eyebrow in surprise. Who could it be? Liza waved her hand.

«I’ll open it.»

She returned a minute later with wide eyes.

«Nastya, you have guests!»

Behind Liza, an incredibly beautiful woman entered the room. Behind her, two short-haired men, who carried boxes and bags.

«Hello! Hello, my savior!»

Nastya jumped up and clapped her hands.

«Hooray! The sleeping princess woke up! And you’re even more beautiful than when you were asleep!»

Inna sat down and hugged her.

«Thank you, my dear. I will never forget this. And I will always help you throughout your life. Well, my life, actually.»

«Inna? No way.»

She straightened up, looked at Viktor in surprise.

«Vitka, Sidorov? How? Wait, is this your daughter?»

He nodded, and then couldn’t help himself. He hugged Inna, and she hugged him back.

«Vitka, you always protected me from everyone at school, and now? Now your daughter saved me.»

Absolutely no one understood anything. Viktor explained.

«Inna and I went to the same school. Everyone was in love with her, including me. But since I was an athlete, only I was allowed to escort Inna and fend off her persistent suitors.»

She laughed.

«And then we moved, I lost my protector, and I married him. Well, let’s not talk about the sad things. Come on, guys, bring out the gifts. I hope there’s a place for me at your table.»

Liza winked at her older brother and whispered:

«It looks like I can now peacefully return to my career.»

Viktor blushed, showed his sister a fist, and rushed to help Inna. His mind was in complete chaos. Only one thought was clear: «The princess has woken up, the princess is single, and she’s here.»

And a year later, Nastya’s mother became the princess. And also, she promised that soon she would have a little prince brother.

Навигация по записям
The old man was tidying his son’s grave when his dog began digging in the ground. The discovery alarmed the entire village.
I’ve decided to give you a second chance,» said the husband business-like, after he himself had recently kicked his wife out of the house.

Having received a house in the wilderness, the abandoned nurse went out for firewood in the frost and found something unexpected in the forest..

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Barbara Solovyova sat in the doctor’s office and wept bitterly. The young nurse couldn’t come to terms with her beloved husband’s betrayal: it turned out that Gena had been cheating on her for the last couple of years and was even planning to marry his mistress!

«What a nightmare, oh Lord!» thought Varya to herself, «And to think he traded me for that flibbertigibbet! Well, yes—she’s the daughter of a deputy, all fancy and pampered, and I am what? Just a simple nurse at a city hospital… But we lived together for four years, it’s not just ‘rip and discard’… Oh God, why me?»

This happened about a week ago: it was Varya’s day off, and she decided to surprise Gennady. She cooked his favorite roast with salad and went to his workplace. Gena worked at a large firm that created advertising on building facades and road billboards, so he often stayed late at work due to constant meetings and «planning sessions,» where he, along with colleagues, resolved customer issues.

As she reached the right floor, the woman walked down the corridor to her husband’s office; she was already anticipating how Gena would be delighted to see her.

At that moment, behind the doors of Gennady’s office, a woman’s laughter was heard, and then—Varya heard:

«Gena, wait… Don’t rush… Gena, it tickles!»—The girl squealed, followed by a loud thud in the office.

«What is that?»—Varya stared in shock at the door to her husband’s office.

Varya decisively pulled the door handle. Of course, it was locked.

«Open up, Gena! Open it now!»—Varya exclaimed.—»It’s me!»

For a second, all sounds behind the door stopped. Then some rustling was heard, after which her husband finally opened the door. He looked a sight: his shirt was unbuttoned to the middle, and traces of dark burgundy lipstick were visible on his face. In addition, the man was struggling with his belt…

Varya felt as if she had just been «slapped» in the face—the humiliation was something she had never experienced in her life. Looking over her husband’s shoulder—the woman saw her: a gorgeous blonde in a tight short dress had already smoothed her long hair, and now she was adjusting the strap of her dress while looking at a small elegant mirror. Catching Varya’s glance—she just smirked maliciously.

«What are you doing here, Varya?»—Her husband asked indignantly.—»Why did you come here?»

Instead of answering, Varya just sneered bitterly:

«Yes, I was wondering that too, Gena… Really, why did I come here? I just wanted to please my eternally hungry husband, brought him food… And, it turns out, he’s busy with far more important matters…»

Varya could hardly remember what happened next. She stood and cried, stunned by the bitterness of the betrayal by the person closest to her… As for the beauty, she just slowly «floated» past Varya, on the way sizing up the lawful wife from head to toe. Lastly, she threw over her shoulder to her lover:

«As soon as you sort out your problem here, be sure to call me. I will always wait for you, my kitty…»

That same evening, Gennady seriously started talking about divorce:

«Well, we’re not suited for each other, Varya. It happens. Let’s separate like normal people…»

Varya, pale as a sheet, sat in front of him on the couch—and couldn’t believe what was happening.

«How could you, Gena? What did I do to you? And most importantly, how is this, your chick, better than me?»

Tears welled up in the nurse’s eyes of their own accord.

«I love you, Gena… Truly love you…»

However, in her husband’s eyes, there was nothing but fatigue and a faint glimmer of regret. He squatted in front of her and hugged the woman by the shoulders:

«Oh, Varya, why are you killing yourself over this, for God’s sake… You’re twenty-five already, not a girl. And I’ve cooled towards you—there’s no longer the passion that was there before.»

«And you have passion for her?!»—Covering her face with her hands, Varya asked. It was so painful and insulting that she couldn’t put it into words. Yes, I’m twenty-five, but what does that change?..

«Yes, Varya, it changes everything…»—the husband said slowly and got up.—»Look at yourself. All day at that job of yours—I always see you either in uniform or in pajamas… What love, what tenderness, tell me?..»

Gennady hesitated a bit, but still continued:

«And Lyuda… Lyuda is completely different. It’s sparks, it’s delight, it’s magic and a celebration of beauty, in the end! I’ve felt such emotions with her for the first time in my life, which we never felt in all our four years of marriage… Besides, she’s only twenty, in her prime. I don’t think I need to explain to you how many advantages that gives Lyuda over you.»

«Gena…,» Varya sobbed,— «How can you even say that to me?..»

Gennady looked at his wife, and then—the woman saw in his eyes the most natural coldness—he seemed to have already stopped considering her his wife. As if—they were both already strangers to each other…

«Varya, I made Lyuda a proposal.»—Gennady stated resolutely.

«What??»—The nurse could not believe her ears.

«And she has already agreed,»—continued her husband,— «It will be better if we get a divorce as soon as possible. We don’t have kids, so, I think, it will all go quickly enough…»

Varya didn’t know what to respond. She sat there in tears and felt how her life was crumbling to dust. Not the life she had dreamed of when getting married… Yes, they had failed to have children all this time, but Varya had hoped that the right moment simply hadn’t come yet. Now, it turned out that Gennady had not planned to build a full-fledged family with her at all…

«And, by the way, since we’re talking about divorce—we should discuss the division of property… I’ve been thinking,»—Gennady shrugged and rubbed his hands, seemingly not knowing how best to tell his wife about his idea.—»Thought about buying you a solid house in the village? Such that you could live in it comfortably! You’re originally from the village—so that would be the best option for you.»

«And… what about our apartment?»—Wiping away tears, Varya asked.

«And the apartment, well…,»—The man hesitated for a moment, but then quickly said:—»The apartment will stay with me. After all, we bought it together, after the wedding—why should we divide these miserable square meters? Varechka, think about it yourself,—he quickly spoke, not giving his wife a chance to recover,— «Well, we sell this apartment, split the money, and then what? Those will be mere pennies, what are we, buy a room for ourselves? Sorry, but I’m not ready to live in some shack. And my job is not far, you understand… And this way, it’s a win-win for everyone—you get your own house in exchange for all acquired, and I—this apartment. All’s fair.»

Confused, Varya could not immediately respond: on one hand, her husband’s proposal, now almost an ex, seemed logical, but on the other…

«So, you’re suggesting I live out of town?»—She clarified.—»And what about my job, Gena?»

Gena grimaced and sourly said:

«Oh, Varya, don’t make me laugh, for God’s sake. What difference does it make to you where to work as a nurse—here, in the capital, or in a village? Anyway, nurses’ salaries are the same everywhere. You won’t lose much…»

In the end, Varya agreed, as suing was a long and likely losing process, not with her salary to engage in such a thing. Holy simplicity… She really thought that he would buy her a good house, somewhere close to the city. There, she would be able to start everything from scratch, and figure out what she had to do with her life next… And so, a month after the divorce—Gennady ceremoniously handed her the corresponding papers and keys to the house. He deliberately did not show his ex-wife her future home—citing his constant busyness.

Even now, when she asked him to drive her to the village where she was to live, Gennady flatly refused:

«Varya, be a person—call yourself a taxi! I’ve done all I could, on my part, for you. It’s time, my dear, for you to start living a new—completely independent and free from me life! I can’t keep helping you forever… And Lyuda will be upset if we’re late to her dad’s dinner invitation…»

Varya, although upset, couldn’t object: Gena was right, now each of them was on their own. Shrugging as if nothing terrible—she ordered a taxi herself and arrived at the address indicated in the papers.

«Gena, what a scoundrel you are!»—Varya nearly cried, scolding her ex-husband over the phone.—»How could you deceive me so brazenly??»

 

On the other end of the phone, an impatient sigh was heard:

«What, in your opinion, was my deception, Varvara?»—The husband asked coldly.

Varya stood in front of an old dilapidated two-story village house: to be honest, it looked more like a rundown shack than the «cute cottage» that Gennady had so enthusiastically described to her.

«That’s it, Gena—that’s it!»—Varya exclaimed.—»Just don’t lie to me that you didn’t see this house before buying it. You said it was comfortable rural housing, but here…»

«That’s it!»—Gena barked roughly,—»Don’t you show off! What I could find for decent money—I bought! Take what’s given and be quiet: are there four walls and a roof over your head? There are. So get settled. You’re a country woman, after all, or what?»

«Stop reproaching me for my past!»—Varya yelled back.—»I don’t want to live in such a horrible place! I’ll be scared to sleep here at night! Gena, I want you to immediately return to me all the money due for this shack. I’m sure I can buy a much better housing option for myself than this, so-called, ‘cottage’…»

The phone laughed sarcastically:

«Varya, wake up! The deal is irreversible! Or do you think I’ll rush right now to look for buyers for you? If something doesn’t suit you—figure it out yourself! Otherwise—I’ll call my future father-in-law. You know he’s a very important person. Just at the snap of his fingers—you’ll not only lose this house but everything else! Do you need that?»

Overcome with anger, Varya didn’t even know what to say. Finally, she said with contempt:

«My God, Gena—sometimes I think, how could I have lived with you for four years and not notice—how cynical and vile you are?.. I hope your new wife will soon realize that dealing with you is more trouble than it’s worth.»

With these words, the woman ended the conversation and walked into the yard of her new home. To Varya’s surprise, the interior of her house wasn’t that bad: of course, it required cosmetic repairs, and at least a week of cleaning. But, with some effort, everything was quite fixable. After all, Varya thought to herself—even though the house wasn’t pretty from the outside, it was still entirely hers. No one would just come and «ask» her to leave with her belongings, as her ex-husband had essentially done. After unpacking some of her things, the woman changed clothes and began cleaning the first floor.

While cleaning, the nurse remembered her past: she really grew up in a village, just located in a completely different region. Varya didn’t remember her parents—she was raised by her grandparents. Her grandmother, however, once said that her mother was a seamstress-motorist, worked at a clothing factory in the district center. Who the girl’s father was—Varya’s mother never told, and her grandmother didn’t insist on finding out.

Then, Varya’s mother fell seriously ill—caught a cold during one of the harsh village winters. The pneumonia the woman suffered caused serious complications to her heart, and six months later—Yekaterina (Varya’s mother’s name) died of a heart attack.

When young Varya graduated from school, she immediately headed to the city. She wanted to connect her life with medicine, but understood that she lacked the knowledge to enroll in university full-time. Therefore, the girl decided to start with medical college, where she trained as a nurse.

Just before graduation—a real tragedy happened in Varya’s life: Anna Ignatyevna, her grandmother, suddenly passed away. The elderly woman had been feeling unwell for some time but stubbornly refused to go to the hospital:

«Grandma, but it’s your health!»—Varya tried to convince her.—»Think about it, if, God forbid, something happens to you? And I’m not around, I’m in the city, studying. What then?»

«Well, the world isn’t without good people,»—the old lady shrugged her shoulders,— «Neighbors will help, they’ll call an ambulance…»

Unfortunately, the medics just didn’t make it in time that fateful day to the elderly patient. When Varya was informed of her grandmother’s death—the girl initially couldn’t believe it had happened—so unexpectedly it occurred.

Grandpa, Semyon Prokhorovich, also didn’t live much longer than his spouse: just a month after Anna Ignatyevna’s departure, a tragic accident took his life and practically all of Varya’s family’s modest estate. A fire broke out at night, suddenly. Firefighters later said that a tiny coal, inadvertently dropped by the grandfather from the stove, was the cause.

The loss of loved ones became a real trial for Varya: the girl couldn’t recover for a long time, so she even remembered the moment of her graduation from college poorly. In the photo, among the graduate students, the girl looked the saddest—there was not a hint of a smile on her face…

Gradually, life began to get back on track: Varya got a job as a nurse in a city hospital, and a little later—met Gena, whom she married. Now, four years later—she had to re-establish her life and start living literally «from scratch».

Finally, the house was put in order, and it started to look much cozier. Now, the woman had to figure out the job issue…

In the local paramedic’s office—the young nurse was welcomed with open arms due to the shortage of medical workers. Thus, Varya found a new job, and with it, some income. Soon, Varya also met her neighbor—a sixty-year-old woman, Lyubov Ivanovna Kunitsyna, a native villager who collected mushrooms, berries, and various medicinal herbs… Other villagers, although they considered Kunitsyna slightly strange and eccentric—never harmed her.

Lyubov Ivanovna lived alone, in a hut located at the very edge of the forest. Her only companion was her dog—Masha, who served her mistress faithfully in her forest trade.

One day the women chatted, and Lyubov Ivanovna invited the young nurse over for tea, where she told her about her unusual occupation.

Varya noticed that there were no family photos on the walls of Lyubov Ivanovna’s small house.

«Excuse me for such an indiscreet question,»—Varya said,— «But, do you really have no relatives? Doesn’t anyone visit you?»

Lyubov Ivanovna stopped smiling. She sighed heavily, and then—pointed to a small dresser behind the guest. Varya turned around and gasped—she hadn’t immediately noticed the photograph in a mourning frame standing on the dresser. The photo depicted a serious young man, looking at the camera calmly and somewhat distantly.

«My God,»—Varya whispered,— «Forgive me, Lyubov Ivanovna…»

«That’s okay, that’s my son, Nikita…»

The woman’s eyes slightly clouded over, as if she was slowly sinking into the past.

«I once had a husband and a son,»—Lyubov Ivanovna recounted,— «But neither of them is around anymore… Ignaty, my husband—went to God in Heaven seven years ago. He outlived Nikita by only six months…»

«I’m sorry for you,»—Varya sincerely sympathized.— «But, in the photo, your son looks quite young. What happened?»

Lyubov Ivanovna looked bitterly at her young guest.

«Nikita worked in the North, something related to the extraction of precious minerals. I didn’t delve into the details, nor did he talk much about it,»—the woman explained,— «His boss, when he called us, my husband and me, said that my son got caught in a fierce blizzard near their service ‘town’. He froze to death… They buried him there, so I don’t even know where my son’s grave is now…»

Lyubov Ivanovna breathed heavily—it was visible that she still hadn’t fully recovered after the loss of her only son. The elderly woman pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and began to wipe the tears rolling down her cheeks.

«Forgive me, Varya,»—she apologized,— «It’s just, whenever I remember all this—my heart feels like an old wound is reopening. It’s been so many years—I should have come to terms with it, but I just can’t…»

The old lady told Varya that Nikita was born late—they were already over forty years old at the time. They had been unable to have children for a long time, had completely despaired—but they were helped by a trip to a remote monastery.

«It was a real miracle!»—the woman recalled.

Lyubov Ivanovna told Varya that Nikita grew up very calm and intelligent, and only brought joy to his family until he turned sixteen.

The neighbor explained to the woman—she always wanted her son to stay close, help them around the farm, and get a job at the local farm, but Nikita had completely different plans for the future:

«My son’s heart was always hot, he was drawn to adventures and foreign cities. That’s why he left home. He traveled a lot, said he had almost traveled the whole country—so he sent news about himself very rarely. And seven years ago, we received that terrible news… Now, it’s so hard for me to come to terms with the fact that my closest people are no longer in this world…»

The elderly woman lovingly and sadly looked at her son’s photo.

«The only thing that saved me then,»—she continued,— «Is the appearance of Seryenki in my house. Without him, I can’t even imagine—what could have happened to me…»

«Seryenki?»—Varya was surprised.— «And who is that?»

Lyubov Ivanovna smiled:

«Oh, it was three years ago, in the spring.. I then met a wounded she-wolf in the forest… She was pregnant, lying in the bushes… Well, I helped her—gave birth to puppies, that is… Only, the wound she had was deep—she lost a lot of blood. Because of this, the she-wolf didn’t survive, and all her wolf pups perished. The only survivor, from the whole litter, was one… Poor thing, he was moving his little black nose around, squealing! Well, I took him, put him under my coat—and brought him home. Anyway, I couldn’t have helped his mom and brothers and sisters…»

«So, you brought a real wolf cub home?»—Varya was amazed.— «Wow! But how did you manage to raise him? Surely, special care is needed here…»

«My Masha nursed him,»—still smiling, Lyubov Ivanovna said,— «She had just given birth—less than a month since the birth had passed. But by that time, I had placed all her puppies with local hunters. The dog is pedigreed, even though she didn’t turn out to be large. So there was joy for everyone—my Masha found herself an adopted son, and I, that the little one wouldn’t perish.»

The neighbor seemed to glow when she talked about her second, four-legged favorite.

«When he grew up—he turned into such a handsome boy!»—the elderly woman recounted.— «Lean, long legs, all of smoky color—and on his chest, there’s a distinctive spot, slightly lighter than the main fur. That’s how I always recognized him when he ran home from his forest walks. We walked there together, my house is right next to the forest. But the forest called him, the wolf is a free creature, and he left. Now he comes sometimes—stays a little, as if checking if everything is okay with me—and then leaves again.»

Lyubov Ivanovna finished her story, and Varya was just amazed—what happens in the world! It’s a real miracle—to have a forest wolf as a «friend».

 

Varya herself later got to see Seryenki—the woman went into the forest for kindling, but tried not to go far into the thicket.

Several times, she froze as if rooted to the spot—seeing a wolf with that same, light-cream spot on its chest before her. Varya immediately understood who it was—so she tried to behave calmly but cautiously—after all, it’s a wild animal. He may have been good to her neighbor, but he didn’t know Varya herself, so the young nurse was still afraid of him.

One day, it was winter, mid-January—Varya, as usual, went to the forest for small kindling. When she had gathered enough branches, suddenly, as if out of nowhere, Seryenki appeared before her.

«Oh, hello, little wolf,»—Varya said quietly and stopped, waiting for him to move deeper into the forest.

However, the wolf didn’t intend to leave. Instead, he began to run up to the woman in short bursts, then run back. The wolf seemed to be calling Varya to follow him.

«Do you want me to go with you?»—Varya asked him, and Seryenki impatiently dropped to his front paws, as if saying «yes».

«Alright, have it your way…,»—Varya said slowly and started carefully stepping through the deep snow.

It was bitterly cold outside, so the nurse had to wrap her old cotton coat tighter around her. The woman followed the wolf further and further until she finally came to a large clearing.

At first, Varya couldn’t understand what exactly she was seeing: parts of some mechanism were scattered everywhere. Near one of them—the woman could make out an oval pilot’s cabin and part of a blade… It was a helicopter that had crashed in the forest.

«My goodness!»—Varya exclaimed and immediately ran to the cabin.— «Is anyone alive!? Hey!»

The cabin was crushed, like a tin can, but inside, to Varya’s great relief—there was still a living pilot. The man, about thirty, was severely injured—blood was seeping through his jacket from his arm.

«How are you feeling?»—The nurse tried to ask.— «Hang in there a bit, I’ll go get help right now…»

The pilot tried to half-open his half-rolled up eyes, but he couldn’t manage it. Varya touched his forehead: the man was «burning» all over. Obviously, he had a very high temperature, which meant every minute of delay inevitably threatened the pilot with certain death.

«Boy…,»—he murmured deliriously,— «… There, a boy… Save him… Please…»

Varya looked around in astonishment and then noticed a chain of small tracks leading from the helicopter somewhere deeper into the forest.

«Hold on, I’ll be back soon, and we’ll definitely get you out…,»—Varya promised him, and together with Seryenki, followed the trail.

As they walked, the nurse thought about how the helicopter could have fallen so close to their village, and they heard nothing? «Well, of course, there was such a blizzard all morning,»—Varya realized,— «The wind was howling so that no other sounds could be distinguished… Now the main thing is to find the missing boy».

Fortunately, Varya found the child quickly, the little one couldn’t go far, he was sitting, huddled, under a sprawling fir tree.

The boy was silent, looking at the woman with wide frightened eyes. His cheeks were completely pale, the little guy had time to get very cold.

«My God… Kid, are you okay?»—Varya said, trying to catch her breath after running.

Instead of answering, the boy rubbed his reddened hands, he didn’t even have mittens on!

Varya picked up the child and, as fast as she could, carried him to the village, to Lyubov Ivanovna’s house. There, she explained the whole situation to her.

«Let him stay with me—warm up,»—the old woman said,— «And you run for help to the Nikiforov brothers, and they’ll bring the others. Look, I have big sleds in the barn. Strong—they’re still from my husband. Grab them, and go to the forest quickly—now every minute is precious…»

Varya did exactly as her neighbor commanded, and just a couple of hours later—the male pilot was lying in the berry and mushroom gatherer’s hut.

The young nurse provided the pilot with first aid, and Lyubov Ivanovna, meanwhile—having thrown some firewood into the stove, was already preparing a hot dinner for their little guest. In front of him was a large cup of hot tea and a plate of fresh rusks so that the boy could properly warm up and quench his hunger.

The little one still remained silent, so Varya and Lyubov Ivanovna decided that the child was in shock.

«Nothing, he’ll eat now, and the stress will lift like a hand,»—the old woman said, scooping a large portion of hot meat stew with vegetables into a deep bowl for the child.

The boy began to devour the food with appetite. «No wonder,»—the old woman thought to herself,— «poor thing, it’s unknown how long he spent under that tree!»

When he had eaten, Lyubov Ivanovna seriously looked at the little one:

«Well, dear, do you feel better now?»

The little one nodded:

«Yes. Thank you for helping and feeding me—I thought I’d die of hunger… And thank you for saving my uncle! He’s actually a very good person—just loves to take risks too much. Uncle Kostya took me for a ride on this helicopter—it’s his personal transport. He really loves the forest, so he wanted to show it to me—from a ‘bird’s-eye view’, I think it’s called… Then, we got caught in a blizzard, and the helicopter crashed… Uncle got stuck, he couldn’t get out, but I was almost unhurt. That’s when I decided to go for help—but I didn’t know where to go, and I was already very cold…»

 

 

«And where are your parents?»—Varya asked worriedly.— «They must have been looking for you already!»

«My mom died a long time ago, and I don’t have a dad,»—the little boy sadly replied.— «Uncle Kostya is raising me. And my name is Vladimir, Vladimir Smirnov. But friends and uncle just call me Vovka.»

«Well, Vovka,»—Varya said to him with a smile,— «It looks like you and your guardian will have to live with us in the village for a while until your uncle fully recovers, so it’s better not to disturb him. Let him get better first, and then we’ll see what happens.»

«Okay, I don’t mind,»—agreed the boy, and personally volunteered to wash his dishes, which greatly touched Lyubov Ivanovna.

«Oh, what a proper young boy is growing up!»—She wiped away tears stealthily.— «Kostya is lucky with the boy, no doubt…»
The blizzard outside was growing fiercer, soon completely covering the road in front of the homes of Lyubov Ivanovna and Varvara, cutting their village off from the outside world. The storm was so severe that the power lines and cell towers, rendered useless without electricity, left them unable to call for an ambulance or emergency services: rescue teams simply could not reach them. The women themselves did not dare attempt to venture anywhere beyond their village in such fierce weather. So, all they could do was look after the boy and his injured uncle.

The storm only subsided on the third day—a rescue helicopter, finally receiving the delayed distress signal from the area where Konstantin’s helicopter had crashed, began its search. However, due to a distorted signal, the coordinates sent by the boy’s father were incorrect, so the rescuers began searching in a completely different area.

Later, they established the correct crash site and flew over the village where Varvara and her neighbor lived several times. Unfortunately, Konstantin’s helicopter had been so buried during the snowfall that the rescue service could not find it…

A few weeks later, the man finally began to recover, and Varvara managed to heal him with Lyubov Ivanovna’s extensive collection of herbs and her own medical knowledge.

All the while Varvara took care of him, she felt an inexplicable excitement and trembling. She often watched Konstantin as he slept, and at those moments, her heart would beat faster.

«My God, he’s so beautiful and brave!» Varvara thought at such times. «He wasn’t afraid to fly in such difficult terrain, wanted to make a child happy! Surely, his heart must be kind… Oh, it’s a pity that in her life, she never met such a wonderful man!..»

Varvara didn’t know that Konstantin, when he saw Varvara, felt similar feelings: the young man literally felt sparks running over her, «flaring» every time the beautiful nurse touched him.

Her wonderful, honey-toned, light brown eyes looked at the businessman with such sincere care and desire to help that Konstantin sometimes felt a bit «awkward.» In his everyday life, the gaze of the women around him expressed only demands, and a cold, pragmatic approach to choosing a potential partner.

When Konstantin felt a bit better and began to slowly walk around the old lady’s house, Lyubov Ivanovna asked him why he, first of all, didn’t call for help.

«I, Lyubov Ivanovna, want to see how my security service is working,» the businessman explained to her. «After all, I’ve been neither at home nor at work for so many days, and the connection here is bad. Let’s see how my manager handles such an emergency situation and how quickly they will start searching…»

Lyubov Ivanovna shook her head and smiled:

«Well, you are sly, Konstantin! Your employees will surely be worried.»

«If they are truly worried, they will find a way to contact me,» the man nodded to her. «Judging by the fact that this has not happened yet, my deputy awaits a serious conversation when we return to the city with Vovka…»

After that, he turned to Varya and carefully took her hand. The woman immediately blushed and felt dizzy from excitement:

«Varya, I want to say a special thank you…» Konstantin blushed, and a slight flush appeared on his cheeks. «If it weren’t for you, I would have most likely perished. And what would have happened to Vovka, God… An angel sent you to me, no doubt…»

The woman lowered her gaze, unable to look the man in the eyes: at that moment, Varya suddenly realized that she was in love with this tall and strong, yet so kind and sensitive man.

«It would be to you, Konstantin… I simply did what any normal person in my place would have done. Besides, I am a nurse—it’s my professional duty…»

Varya dared to look into Konstantin’s eyes, and at that moment—her soul seemed to fill with the singing of birds: the businessman looked at her so amazingly softly and tenderly, as if she were the dearest and closest person to him. Both understood that their feelings for each other were mutual.

Konstantin couldn’t explain why he so quickly began to feel something much deeper and stronger for the nurse than mere gratitude. However, at that moment—he decided for himself that he would not miss his chance: Varya was like the only and rarest diamond among millions of bright but ordinary «glass beads.» They must be together, and he would do everything in his power to make it happen…

Once, when Konstantin was sitting in Lyubov Ivanovna’s room, trying to help the woman repair an old radio, he saw a photograph of her deceased son on the dresser. Until that moment, he had almost never entered the herbalist’s room, and had not been interested in whether she had relatives—it just wasn’t the time…

The man instantly turned pale as if he saw a ghost before him, and with a trembling hand, pointed at the photo:

«Who is this?» he asked the old lady. Hearing who the boy in the photograph was to her, Konstantin whispered: «But this cannot be! Nikita was my late sister’s fiancé.»

«What did you say?» Lyubov Ivanovna could not believe her ears. «Young man, I am too old for you to joke so cruelly with me…»

The elderly woman slowly sank onto the old couch. She put her hand to her chest, as suddenly she felt ill—her heart seemed to be pricked by a needle, and it beat too fast.

«Lyubov Ivanovna!» Varvara jumped to her side. «What’s wrong with you? Are you unwell?»

«It’s alright, Varenka… It will pass,» the old woman reassured her.

«Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,» Konstantin said cautiously, «But I am telling the truth. Your son was going to marry Natasha—my own sister. She was pregnant when Nikita died on duty… He didn’t want to live off the money of Natasha’s and my father, was always too principled… My sister could not endure the difficult childbirth, and followed him in death… Since then, I have been raising Vovka by myself… It turns out that you are my Vladimir’s biological grandmother…

«My God,» Lyubov Ivanovna said with trembling, «So, what does this mean? Vovka—my grandson??»

«It seems so,» smiled Konstantin, then turned to the boy: «Vovka, meet your biological grandmother—baba Lyuba… Will you allow him to call you that?»

«Lord, of course!» exclaimed the elderly woman and hugged the boy to her chest. «Vova, my boy! What happiness that we found each other!..»

 

Lyubov Ivanovna couldn’t hold back the tears that streamed from her eyes. Just think! She had found the direct continuation of her beloved Nikitushka—she had a biological grandson all this time! And this girl—Varya, saved him from the harsh frost. The same frost in which her beloved son could not survive…

Varya was only confused—such amazing coincidences do not happen often in life… Yet, she was immensely glad that her elderly neighbor suddenly had a biological grandson! Now, she could again feel the real «taste of life» and would live for a dear and close person…

Konstantin fully recovered a few weeks later, after which he personally called his manager, and a car was sent for the uncle and his nephew. The boy was very happy that he now had a real grandmother and promised to visit her as soon as it was possible.

The millionaire, as he promised himself—gave his heart to the attractive and kind nurse who saved him from certain death. After some time—he flew back to her in the village, bringing with him a huge bouquet of delicate peach roses.

«My God, is this—all for me?!» Varya could not believe her eyes, receiving a huge basket of flowers from Konstantin. Honestly, she had already begun to think that they would never meet again: the social gap between them was too great…

«This is the least I can do to thank you, Varya…» answered, slightly embarrassed, the businessman. «I know it may sound a bit childish, but… Maybe you will honor me—allow me to invite you on a date?»

Varya, out of confusion, did not immediately find what to answer: she certainly did not expect this turn, although she secretly hoped that Konstantin might at least write to her after his return. And here it is—flowers, a date… But in the woman’s soul, a joyful song of love and pure feminine happiness was already singing.

«Yes,» she said quietly, «Thank you, Konstantin. I am very pleased with both these flowers and your proposal…»

The man smiled, and his face immediately lit up from the inside with sincere joy. In the corners of his eyes, like warm spring rays—appeared wrinkles, and this made Konstantin even more beautiful in the eyes of our heroine…

Their first date did not remain the only one—later, the couple had many more meetings. Varvara was completely charmed by the manners and chivalrous treatment she received from Konstantin. After six months, the young people had a lavish and incredibly beautiful wedding, attended by many guests—including Lyubov Ivanovna.

The elderly herbalist was very flattered that her grandson’s uncle invited her to their wedding with Varenka. She baked a large honey cake with berries, using an old recipe, and promised to teach this wonderful bride, as Varvara and Vovka were completely delighted with the cake.

As for little Vladimir, he adapted so quickly to Varya that, just a few months after the wedding—he began to call her «mom.» And a little later, the woman told her husband and Vovka another wonderful news—she was expecting their first child.

Now, Konstantin and Varya are preparing to become parents—the husband built a new, huge house for the whole family, where he moved his beloved wife. He wanted to take Lyubov Ivanovna there, too, but she refused—she was too firmly «rooted» to her old home, and her age was not suitable for moving.

Lyubov Ivanovna joyfully spends time with Vovochka when he visits her, and often thinks about the fact that Nikita managed to do the most important thing in his life, for which she will not cease to thank him—he managed to continue his lineage.

As for Serenky, who sometimes still comes to the old lady’s house, Lyubov Ivanovna seriously believes that the soul of her son was reborn in the wolf. Otherwise, how to explain that he led Varya to the helicopter, where her grandson was with his guardian? It must have been Nikitushka—who was that very wolf..

The husband left his ex-wife a house in a remote village as an inheritance. She went to check it out — and someone was living there.»

0

Vera looked confusedly at Alexey.

«Alex, do you realize that you’re making a mistake?»

Alexey waved his hand, showing his irritation.

«Let’s skip the drama. I’m tired of your perpetually dissatisfied expression. It’s always the same. Milana—she’s entirely different. She’s like a breath of fresh air to me. And you… I’m still being too kind to you, giving you time to pack your things and find yourself a place to live. You realize you have no right to demand anything? You’ve never worked, so don’t lay claim to my money.»

 

«Alex, but you’re the one who didn’t allow me to work. You said that for a wife of someone of your status, work was inappropriate.»

«Yes, I said it because then you were my wife. But now Milana will take your place, so you’ll have the opportunity to earn a living on your own.»

Vera remembered all these words as she stood at the cemetery in front of a fresh grave. Alexey’s happiness with his new wife was short-lived—only three years. Moreover, Vera knew the last year had been unhappy. Alexey’s illness also left many questions.

She knew Alexey suspected Milana of adding something to his food or drinks. He even started his own investigation and told Vera about it, but he never completed it…

A month before his death, he came to Vera, apologized, and shared details of his life. He looked unwell, and Vera’s heart ached to see his suffering. Now she shifted her gaze to the grieving widow—elegantly dressed Milana with a dark veil over her face and a young companion supporting her by the arm.

Vera heard the whispers of those at the funeral, condemning Milana for her lack of conscience. Vera understood—the investigation needed to continue. Although Alexey had betrayed her, she still loved him. Yes, he acted like a scoundrel, but he did not deserve to die. Vera sighed and headed to the cemetery exit. At the gates, someone touched her shoulder. She turned around and saw Milana.

«I hope you realize that you won’t get anything from my husband’s will,» she said coldly.

Her face was filled with malice, though Vera had given no reason to think otherwise. They stood silently for a few moments, like two opponents ready to battle. Then Vera turned and continued on her way, hearing Milana hiss through her teeth:

«Don’t even dare try to achieve anything!»

Alexey was treated at a clinic chosen by Milana, but Vera knew that wasn’t all. It turns out, Alexey was secretly seen elsewhere, almost no one knew. Everything was shrouded in secrecy, and it seemed he realized it should not be disclosed.

«Hello? Vera Nikolaevna, you need to be present at the reading of the will.»

«The will?» Vera smiled bitterly. «Did my ex really leave me something?»

«Sorry, Vera Nikolaevna, but I can’t discuss this over the phone. Can you come?»

«Yes, of course, I’ll come,» she answered.

Vera thought with a smile: she didn’t need his money, but she was very eager to see Milana’s reaction at the reading of the will.

Milana was in a great mood. The same young man who had been supporting her smugly looked at Vera and smirked. As Vera had guessed, all the property, including real estate, went to Milana. However, at the end, the notary announced that there was one more item—a house located in a remote village a hundred kilometers from the city.

Milana laughed heartily:

«The old wife gets the old junk. But don’t worry, Vera, I won’t take that hovel from you. You have nowhere else to live, you’re renting. Now you have your own ‘apartments’!»

Vera didn’t respond, silently took the documents, and left the office. «Well, this looks like the start of a little adventure,» she thought. Getting into her car, she took another look at the address.

«I have the day off; I might as well go take a look,» Vera decided, especially since she didn’t know Alexey had a house in such a backwater.

The drive took almost three hours, she got lost twice and even started to get annoyed:

«How can the road be so poorly marked? No signs, just turns.»

Finally, she saw the needed sign:

«Finally!»

The village was odd. Just a few kilometers back, there was something resembling civilization, but here—old wooden houses, most of them abandoned. «I wonder which house is now mine?» Vera thought, checking the photo. The house was at the very end of the village. She sighed—there was no road in the village, only trampled grass and car tracks.

She drove slowly on the grass, her small car catching on bumps and roots. Stopping at the house, Vera didn’t immediately get out of the car, looking around. The house looked abandoned, except for a path leading to the porch. The grass was trampled, as if people regularly walked here, and there were tire tracks at the gates—cars sometimes came here.

«Did Alexey leave me a house with tenants?» she thought. Decisively turning off the car, Vera got out and approached the gate, which emitted a piercing creak. The unexpected sound made her jump. She stepped onto the porch. The door was unlocked, which made her smirk:

Of course, it’s a village. The house seemed empty, so the locals come in, taking whatever isn’t nailed down.

«The door isn’t locked. They took whatever they could,» Vera muttered to herself.

She pulled the door and entered the house. Then she was struck with surprise—the room smelled of freshly brewed coffee, though such a scent seemed impossible in an abandoned house. She looked around: inside, it was clean and cozy, a laptop stood on the table, the house was clearly inhabited.

«Don’t be afraid,» a familiar voice said.

Vera spun around, and… everything went dark before her eyes.

«Vera, wake up! Please forgive me for scaring you like that, but I had no other choice.»

She struggled to open her eyes. In front of her sat Alexey, and Vera herself was lying on a sofa. She raised her hand, touching him—he was alive, warm. And he looked much better than at their last meeting.

«Alex… am I dead?» she managed to say.

He smiled:

«Of course not. Nobody died.»

«Then who did we bury?» she asked, shocked.

Alexey shrugged:

«A mannequin. Very expensive and carefully made.»

Vera shook her head:

«I don’t understand. What’s going on here?»

Alexey leaned back in his chair and began to explain. Vera already guessed much of it. Milana’s lover had interned in India, and, according to Alexey, it was from there he brought the slow poison with which the doctor, chosen by Milana, gradually poisoned him.

Initially, Alexey couldn’t imagine anything was wrong. Suspicions that his wife was poisoning him appeared later, when much of his property had already been transferred to Milana.

«You understand, I had to do something to stop this. I discussed everything with Misha. Remember, he has a clinic on Vasilievsky? We decided that I needed to ‘die.’ There was a risk that at any moment Milana might decide to use the last dose of poison. Basically, everything worked out. There are just a few details left. I realize I hurt you very much and don’t deserve your help, but only you can help me.»

 

They talked until late at night. Alexey detailed his plan, and Vera immediately agreed. How could she refuse, with her living husband sitting in front of her, whom she had mourned almost every night?

They spent that night together. Vera approached her husband, and he silently pressed his nose into her hair. The only thing he said was:

«Forgive me.»

In the morning, Alexey was about to leave. Holding his hand, she quietly said:

«I forgive you.»

Vera watched with a slight smirk as Milana’s face turned red with rage:

«What new will? This is absurd! What gifts? Everything you’re listing has long belonged to me!»

«There’s a suspicion that Alexey was given some drugs. How else to explain that he transferred property to you that had already been gifted?» Vera said calmly.

Milana jumped up:

«What nonsense? What drugs? All of this is mine, and I will sell it all tomorrow!»

The notary coughed:

«Sorry, but the sale will have to be postponed. All this requires thorough investigation, and at the moment all documentation is frozen.»

Milana glared at Vera:

«You’ll pay dearly for this, and very soon!» she hissed and, grabbing her lover by the hand, suggested:

«Shall we talk?»

«Of course, let’s talk,» Vera calmly replied.

Milana smirked:

«Do you think I’ll give you anything? You’re gravely mistaken. I didn’t spend so much time on your Alexey for nothing. You’ll end up where he was.»

Vera, smirking, responded:

«Will you slowly poison me, just like him?»

Milana looked at her with interest:

«You’re smarter than I thought. Yes, I slowly poisoned Alexey to get as much as possible. But you’re of no use to me. The faster you die, the better. There are poisons in India that act instantly and leave no trace in the body. Our doctors will never detect them.»

She laughed loudly, but suddenly Alexey appeared in the room. The moment Milana’s lover almost reached Vera, Alexey struck him, knocking him out. Milana screamed in horror, seeing the one she thought was dead, and tried to escape. But she was immediately caught by people in uniform.

Vera began to tremble, and Alexey took her hand:

«Thank you. But now we have one more unfinished business.»

They went back to the notary. Judging by his reaction, he was aware of all events because he wasn’t at all surprised. Alexey transferred half of his property to Vera, which he had, then stood up and quietly said:

«Forgive me. It’s the least I could do for you. Perhaps I’ll go to the village. I don’t want to be in your sight.»

Vera aimlessly wandered around the apartment. «But why?» she thought. She should be happy: Alexey was alive, she was now very wealthy and, most importantly, an independent woman. But a void reigned in her soul. Something was wrong. And suddenly she realized: she needed Alexey, her Alex. Even if it brought pain, she still loved him.

Vera rushed out of the house, got into the car, and sped off. Now she knew exactly what she needed to do. Driving into the village, she noticed that lights were beginning to turn on in the houses. She stopped at a small elevation, caught her breath. She saw the light turn on in Alexey’s house and smiled:

«That’s good. Everything is going as it should.»

A few minutes later, she parked at the gate, turned off the engine, and got out. Her movements were mechanical, as if she was operating on autopilot. Suddenly, a thought came to her:

«What if I’m not needed? What if he doesn’t love me?»

But she immediately decided that everything would become clear now. Opening the gate, she saw him—Alexey was already coming down the steps to meet her. He approached and looked at her intently.

«Are you sure? I hurt you deeply. Such things aren’t forgiven.»

«You’re right, they’re not forgiven,» Vera replied. «But I’m willing to try.»

Alexey hugged her tightly and sighed quietly:

«Perhaps I had to go through all this to realize how much I need you. To understand that we are one whole. If you can forgive me, I promise never to let you down again.»

Vera also sighed:

 

«Alex, let’s try to forget all this. As if it never happened. We’re only 40 years old; we have a chance to start over.»

Three months later, Milana and her lover were tried. Vera couldn’t attend—she felt unwell. Alexey was very nervous, and as soon as they began to announce the verdict, he rushed home. Vera greeted him with a new, glowing smile.

«Vera, how are you?»

«Not ‘you,’ but ‘we,’» she replied with a mysterious smile.

«We? What do you mean? Did someone come?»

«Not yet, but in about seven months.»

Alexey stared at her for a long time, then, overwhelmed, asked:

«Is this a joke?»

«No, it’s serious.»

Alexey, unable to believe his fortune, lifted her into the air, spinning her around as if she were the lightest feather. Finally, putting her down, he said:

«You know, every day with you brings me more and more happiness. I thought it was impossible to be happier. But now I understand I was wrong.»

The son buried his wealthy father and learned that the will left him only a shack in the wilderness. But upon arriving there…

0

Sergey always stood out from his peers, and his father often pondered this. Pavel Ivanovich not only loved his son—he felt a deep sense of pride for him. Whenever his wife Natasha was around, he would frequently ask her:

«Why do we have such an unusual son? There has never been anyone like him in our family. Where did he come from?»

Natasha would just smile in response:

 

«Pasha, stop it! Why do you always call Sergey strange? He’s a perfectly normal modern boy: he’s into sports and interested in various things. He just prefers poetry and drawing over cars and toy guns. Does everyone have to be the same?»

Pavel Ivanovich sighed heavily:

«I hoped that as he grew older, he would become more ‘typical’ and leave these unusual hobbies behind.»

Natasha, smiling, replied:

«Pash, not everyone understands that times are changing. But the essence remains the same. Nowadays, everyone chooses their own path. And Sergey—he’s just special.»

Pavel Ivanovich avoided discussing family matters outside the home. He tried to hide his worries from Natasha so she wouldn’t be anxious. She only knew that he worked with cars and owned a dealership that sold both new and used cars. That was all she knew. For Pavel, it was important that his family lacked nothing.

When Sergey turned 15, during his birthday celebration, Natasha felt unwell. The birthday boy noticed it first. Approaching his mother, he asked worriedly:

«Mom, why are you so pale? Are you feeling ill?»

«No, no, just a bit tired,» she answered.

«Mom, why all this noise? Let’s just sit together, have some cake, and that’s it,» Sergey suggested.

«Sergey, you’ve always been against big parties, but 15 is an important milestone. Plus, you have so many friends! Everything is fine, go celebrate.»

Sergey went to join the guests, but before he did, he turned to his father:

«Dad, please keep an eye on Mom. She’s pale, and there’s sweat on her forehead. She says she’s fine, but… I’m not sure.»

Pavel Ivanovich looked at his son in surprise:

«What do you mean?»

«Just watch over her, okay?»

Pavel glanced at his wife and realized his son was right. He decided to send her to rest, explaining that they would manage on their own.

Sergey was not only scared because his mother looked unwell, but also because it was entirely unlike her to agree to rest.

Later, when the guests had left, Natasha’s condition worsened. Pavel called an ambulance. The doctors diagnosed her with a serious illness that progressed rapidly. Within three months, the disease had completely drained her. For Sergey, this was a real shock. He watched as his father, always strong and confident, became weak and lost.

One evening, noticing that his father was drinking alone in his study, Sergey decided to talk to him:

«Dad, it’s hard, I know.»

Pavel smirked, pointing at his glass:

«You mean this? Yes, it helps me forget, at least for a little while.»

Sergey took a deep breath:

«Then pour me one too.»

Pavel was outraged:

«Are you out of your mind?!»

«What should I do, Dad? You’ve found a way to comfort yourself, and I… don’t even have anyone to talk to.»

Pavel looked thoughtfully at his glass, then poured its contents into a potted plant. Sergey froze, then said:

«Mom would definitely kill you for that.»

Unable to hold back, he cried. His father approached and hugged him:

«Cry if you want. Sometimes it helps.»

 

From then on, their bond became even stronger. They became like two halves of one heart.

After finishing school, Sergey entered the Faculty of Philology, continuing to study at an art school. Although he had already graduated, he still took private lessons. Sometimes Pavel Ivanovich grumbled:

«Why don’t you choose something more ‘serious’? After all, self-esteem comes with the money you earn yourself. Why do you need these books and pictures?»

Sergey, without taking his eyes off the painting he had been passionately working on for a month, finally said:

«Why does a person need so much money?»

Pavel Ivanovich was slightly taken aback but quickly found an answer:

«With money, you can buy everything your heart desires.»

«Really? Absolutely everything?» asked the son, raising an eyebrow.

This question made the father think.

«Well… perhaps except for health… I see where you’re going. Yes, there are things that money can’t buy, but everything else is quite accessible.»

Sergey looked at his father calmly and confidently:

«Dad, if the most important things in life can’t be bought, is it worth suffering for everything else?»

Pavel Ivanovich abruptly stood up and started pacing the room nervously.

«Where do you get such thoughts? You’re just used to living without extra worries, thanks to my money!»

«Dad, what if we had none of this, but Mom was still here, wouldn’t we be just as happy?» Sergey continued softly.

A pause stretched for several seconds, after which Pavel admitted:

«Probably, yes… But that’s a different story.»

«No, Dad, you’re wrong,» the son objected.

«How can I not be?! Imagine if I die and leave you not a penny. What then? How will you survive?»

Sergey smiled:

«Dad, you’re speaking too soon! But seriously, I’ll find a job that allows me to combine earning with what I love. I’ll just continue living my life.»

An invisible chasm seemed to stretch between them, but Sergey honestly expressed his opinion, knowing his father wouldn’t be offended.

«So, you wouldn’t be upset if I left you no inheritance?» Pavel asked.

The son paused for a moment:

«No. It’s your decision, and you’ll choose those who, in your opinion, truly deserve it. You know, Dad, when I was little, I had a dream. I always imagined us living in some cozy village, away from your partners, endless negotiations, and all this business routine. Just us—all together—you, Mom, and me. Just a family. Without the extra noise.»

Pavel Ivanovich stared intently at his son’s face.

«You’re strange, Sergey. It seems like nothing really bothers you.»

«Why not, Dad? I’m very interested in many things. I like to paint, to create something eternal that will always be nearby. Look, for example, at this,» said Sergey, turning the painting toward his father.

The canvas depicted Natasha. Pavel froze, his chin quivering, tears streaming down his cheeks.

«See, Dad? We can see Mom every day and remember her alive. It doesn’t matter that she’s no longer with us. She will always be part of our life.»

«Maybe you’re right… But admit it, living without material worries is also nice,» Pavel said, wiping his eyes.

Sergey smiled:

«Of course, Dad. Who would argue with that?»
A year had passed since that conversation. Pavel Ivanovich’s business began to decline rapidly, and the situation became increasingly dangerous. He became more nervous, feeling an oppressive pressure.

«Pavel Ivanovich, are you going home today?» Regina’s voice rang out as she peered through the door.

«What? Oh yes… I’m busy now, but I’ll leave soon. You can go,» he replied distractedly.

Regina had been working with him for five years, and their relationship had long surpassed professional boundaries. Pavel fully understood that she was ready to accept his proposal, he just needed to make the move. However, he now felt an internal discomfort about the situation.

Instead of leaving, Regina decisively entered and sat opposite him.

«Pash, tell me honestly, what’s happening?»

Pavel tried to smile, though he felt increasingly tense inside.

«Nothing special, Regin. Just someone more significant decided I’m too much of an interference…»

She continued to look at him intently, demanding a fuller explanation.

«Pash…» she began, but he interrupted her.

«I want you to leave temporarily. There’s an envelope with a bonus and a voucher in the safe. It’s just in case something happens.»

Regina slightly tilted her head, surprised by his words, and was silent for a while. Then she nodded:

«Alright, Pash. When should I leave?»

«Actually, you should have left yesterday. But I managed to buy you a ticket for tomorrow’s plane.»

She stood up and headed for the exit.

«Understood, Pash. We’ll definitely talk once everything is over.»

Quietly closing the door behind her, Regina disappeared.

Sergey waited all night for his father, but he did not return. Lately, this had become the norm: Pavel was constantly tense and hardly ever appeared at home. Sergey guessed that his father had major problems, but there never seemed to be a right moment to talk. In the morning, he noticed a pistol at his father’s place, which spoke volumes—the situation was far more serious than he could imagine.

When the clock struck two in the morning and his father still hadn’t appeared, Sergey decided to distract himself by turning on the television. But his attention was immediately drawn to the news on the screen.

«A well-known businessman died as a result of his car exploding,» the announcer reported.

Sergey staggered and collapsed to the floor. The car on the screen was his father’s. His heart constricted with pain. The next day began with endless calls to hospitals, but suddenly the front door burst open. One of his father’s partners stood on the threshold.

«What’s happening? I can’t understand… He was always so strong, and now… Dad never told me anything.»

«He was under a lot of pressure, Sergey. A lot,» the partner said.

«That means he felt something but kept silent,» Sergey whispered.

Regina, standing nearby, could no longer hold back her tears. Only then did Sergey realize: her grief was equal to his own.

After the funeral, it turned out that Pavel had sold the company three days before his death. No one had even suspected. The father’s deputy, an old family friend, was shocked by this decision and repeatedly asked Sergey where the money had gone. But the son was completely helpless:

«I don’t know what happened to the company. I always stayed away from my father’s affairs. Why should I know the answers now?»

A month later, it became known that Pavel had sold all his possessions. The family friend came to his house again, cautiously hinting at a possible young mistress. Sergey just shook his head—although he guessed why Regina had been so bitterly crying.

At the reading of the will, this same friend was present, watching Sergey closely. When the notary announced that the only inheritance was an old house in a remote place, a place the son had not known about, the friend swore so loudly that the echo filled the room and he left. Sergey sighed heavily but felt a strange relief inside: life in the countryside seemed perfectly acceptable to him.

The new owners of the city house turned out to be kind people. They did not rush to evict Sergey and even allowed him to take everything necessary. They had not shown themselves at all until the will was read.

The next day, Sergey took a train. Anxiety mixed with a sense of liberation, as if he had finally found his path. When he reached his destination, dusk had already fallen. Setting down his suitcase, he decided to leave the rest of his belongings in a storage locker, checking the address and photograph of the house.

The house was exactly what he was looking for. However, climbing over the fence, he noticed a luxury car in the yard. Such a vehicle clearly did not belong to the locals. Whose could it be? Approaching closer, he saw a light in the window and peered inside. The world around him spun, and Sergey lost consciousness.

He awoke from a sharp jolt. Opening his eyes, he met the gaze of a man. Sergey wanted to sink back into oblivion, but the man spoke with a voice that could not be mistaken for a stranger’s—it was his father’s voice:

«Don’t be afraid, everything is alright, it’s really me,» said the man.

«You… You can’t be my father! I buried you with my own hands!»

«Are you sure it was really me?»

«What?! How can that be? You simply can’t be alive!»

«Listen, stop repeating the same thing! Explain, why are you so sure it’s impossible?»

«Alright… If you really are my father, what did mom call you when she was angry?»

«Carlson! Now do you believe?»

«Dad… Is it really you?»

 

Sergey cried, but he felt no shame. They sat in the yard, drank tea, and his father began his story:

«When the situation became extremely dangerous, I decided not to wait until they eliminated me. I sold everything, transferred the money to another name, and disappeared from the radars.»

«What if the truth had come out?»

«Who would look for me here, in such a backwater? After our conversation, it became clear that this house was the perfect place for a new life. Here I can engage in farming, start all over. No one will find us.»

Sergey smiled through tears.

«Everything I dreamed of… Just missing Mom. By the way… Did something happen with Regina? What’s she got to do with this?»

At that moment, a pale Regina appeared at the gate.

«Sorry… I came for Sergey. I was afraid he’d be doing badly here. I wanted to offer him to stay at my apartment. There’s enough room, and here… Sorry, I won’t intrude.»

She turned to leave.

Sergey looked at his father:

«What are you, frozen? She’s about to leave!»

Pavel Ivanovich blinked in confusion:

«But… she’s…»

«Dad, if you want her to stay, act! Opportunities like this don’t come every day.»

Regina was already approaching the gates when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she met Sergey’s gaze, who nodded to her, confirming that everything was alright.

The man quickly stood up and ran after Regina. Sergey, who by then had started dozing off after the long conversation, was awakened by his father’s voice:

«Sergey!»

Opening his eyes, he saw Regina, standing next to his father; her face expressed a mix of anger and annoyance.

«You were right! We decided to get married,» Pavel announced with a broad smile.

«Not ‘we,’ you decided that alone!» Regina snorted, crossing her arms.

«Well, okay, me. But you agreed!» Pavel tried to maintain his composure.

«Of course, I agreed! How can one argue with your stubbornness?» she replied, but her voice carried warm undertones, revealing her true feelings.

Why Inna was knitting booties, she herself did not know.

0

Why Inna was knitting booties, she herself did not know… Her daughter was 40, had been widowed two years ago, and had never had children. Last year, she remarried. Her husband was younger and wanted to live for himself. Her son had long ago moved to America and had no plans to return. The nephews had grown up, but they were still too young for children. Probably just some beautiful Latvian yarn had caught her eye. She only took one skein. The colors were magical, delicate. She thought—maybe a vest for herself. She bought thin needles, a crochet hook, and started knitting.

She didn’t notice how she ended up knitting tiny booties. And there was still so much yarn left. By evening, a bonnet was ready, and the next day, pants with a bib and a little sweater were knit. Inna took out a large box of buttons, chose beautiful, tiny ones shaped like little ladybugs. Then she went to the bathroom, mixed up a wool wash in a basin, and gently washed the set, sighing, ‘I’ll die without ever holding my grandchildren in my arms.’ Inna laid the knitted items on a terry sheet spread out on the table: ‘But there is a child somewhere in the world who needs this.’ She opened her laptop and started looking for orphanages in her city. She read up. She dressed and went to the store. Bought more yarn, this time with more shades of blue, and sat down to knit again. She made a set for a boy. Then she knitted ten pairs of booties and ten warm hats. All in different colors. Inna went to the Orphanage. ‘We can’t take them without a certificate,’ the employee told her, ‘You should have brought diapers, they’re always needed.’ But Inna stood and cried. ‘Okay,’ the woman said, ‘we’ll figure something out. Come on, let’s dress them in your booties.’ Inna held the babies, kissed their tender cheeks, cooing, ‘Such little ones. They need a mother.’

 

She put booties on tiny feet, and for the older ones, she tried on the knitted hats. Then she left. Her husband came home late from work and asked how things were. She didn’t know what to say. Dinner wasn’t ready, the fridge was empty. — ‘I was knitting booties at the Orphanage. They said diapers were more needed,’ said Inna and looked at her husband. — ‘Alright,’ he replied, ‘let’s cook some potatoes, and tomorrow we’ll buy diapers.’ Inna took out a pot and started washing vegetables. ‘We won’t get a child, we’re old, I’m 61, and you’re 62.’ — ‘Maybe they won’t give us one, but they won’t nail the door shut either, we can make an arrangement. Come by, help out. And the booties, socks will be useful. — ‘There’s a pair, a boy and a girl, twins, light-haired. They’re almost 2 years old. I think the knitted suits will fit, maybe a bit big, but children grow fast. The booties will be just right, I made them in the shape of sneakers.’ — ‘Let’s go together,’ said her husband. ‘I’ll arrange it. We’ll visit.’ And he did arrange it. For four months, Inna and her husband volunteered. Inna knitted new suits and booties, for them to grow into. The twins already called her mom. But one day they came, and the children were gone.

— ‘Can you imagine, they were adopted, both of them. We made their photo in your knitted suits, and that same day, a couple called. They’ve been preparing documents for months. This morning they took them. We were afraid until the last moment that they wouldn’t want both. Inna’s tears welled up. — ‘Why are you crying, silly,’ said her husband, ‘you should be happy.’ Their daughter called, — ‘Mom, can you and dad come over? I need help.’ — ‘Is the faucet broken,’ asked Inna, ‘or did the neighbors flood you again?’ — ‘I need a bed assembled,’ replied her daughter, ‘come over, don’t call, just use your keys.’ — ‘Alright, we’ll come.’ They got in their Volga and drove. Their daughter’s three-room apartment sparkled clean. Something delicious smelled from the kitchen. Inna and her husband took off their coats and put on slippers. — ‘Wash your hands and come to the room,’ shouted the daughter, ‘I’ll be right there.’ They sat on the couch and started watching the news. Suddenly, her husband nudged her. She looked up. There in the doorway was her son-in-law—Dima. In his arms sat those very twins, dressed in the suits she’d knitted, and in little knitted sneaker-booties. The boy held a piece of apple, and the girl, with smeared cheeks, sneakily looked around and tried to bite the apple. Dima smiled.

 

— ‘I don’t even know how to say it. Anyway, you have grandchildren now. We didn’t tell you, we didn’t know if it would be possible to arrange it. Jeanne will be here soon, she’s cooking porridge for them. A flushed Jeanne ran up. — ‘Mom, dad, meet Tanya and Volodya. I saw their photo on the ‘Children Wait’ page. They’re twins, like me and my brother. And they’re wearing booties just like the ones you knitted for us. Remember, in the photo when we were 2 years old. I showed my husband the kids, and he said—’we’re taking them.’ Dima put the children down. They ran to Inna, reaching out their little hands, and screamed: ‘mama, mama!’ She hugged them and kissed them, wiping away tears: ‘I’m not your mom, I’m your grandma, granny.’ And kept repeating: ‘granny, granny, granny’ Her husband laughed: ‘And now why are you crying? Time to buy more wool.’

I begged you not to leave the room when I have guests,» Irina yelled at her mother.

0

Mom! Where are you?» the voice of her daughter, like the chirping of a bird, scattered throughout the yard.

Valentina straightened her back with effort, leaning on the ancient wooden handle of the shovel. How old was this tool? It seems Sergey himself made it, always repeating, «With a reliable tool, any job is easier.»

 

«I’m in the garden!» she responded, slowly heading towards the gate, carefully holding her lower back.

At the gate stood Irina — elegant in a light coat, on high heels. Beside her jumped Sashka, energetically waving some toy. Her son, Valentina’s grandson, remarkably resembled his father as a child — just as active, restless.

«Oh, and Sashenka came too!» Valentina opened her arms, but immediately grimaced from back pain.

«What’s wrong, mom?» Irina looked anxiously into her mother’s face.

«Oh, nothing special, daughter. My back just aches after work. I’ll walk it off—it will pass. And Andrei, is he busy again?»

«As always,» Irina slightly pursed her lips. «Stuck at work for days on end. Let’s go inside, I brought you some groceries.»

Valentina carefully ascended the porch, clinging to the railing. Each step echoed with pain, but she tried not to show it. Lately, her daughter had been watching her too closely, as if looking for some problems.

Inside, at the kitchen threshold, stood two huge bags. Valentina looked inside:

«Why so much? I can’t eat all this alone. Maybe you’ll stay with me?»

«Mom! I found my food gun! And a chamfering tool!» Sashka suddenly burst out from behind the stove, pretending to shoot.

«Stop bothering,» Irina brushed him off. «I’d like to stay, but I can’t. We’ll leave tomorrow.»

Something in her daughter’s tone made Valentina wary. After thirty-five years of motherhood, she had learned to sense when something was wrong with her children. Now her intuition suggested — this was not just a visit.

But she did not ask further. Open relations between them had ceased ever since her daughter started her own family. And Irina had a complicated character — if she planned something, she would beat around the bush until she decided to share.

«It’s warm here,» Irina leaned against the stove. «Very cozily heated.»

«The nights have become cold and damp. I’m afraid of catching a cold on my back.»

The day passed with usual chores. Sashka, having played outside, fell asleep early. And Irina couldn’t start the conversation, though Valentina noticed — she clearly had something to say.

In the evening, as they sat on the porch admiring the sunset, Irina finally decided:

«Mom, I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time. Natalya and I are worried. You’re alone in such a big house…»

Valentina looked attentively at her daughter. In the twilight, her face seemed pale and tense.

«And what are you planning?» she asked softly.

«You see…» Irina stood up, slowly walked across the porch. «My sister and I decided to open a medical center. Modern, large-scale. We already have investors, a suitable building selected. But we need initial capital…»

Valentina felt her heart squeeze. Now everything became clear.

«And what does my house have to do with it?» her voice became firmer and stricter.

«Mom, don’t rush to reject the idea!» Irina sat down next to her, gently taking her hand. «Hear me out. Andrei and I bought a new apartment — four rooms. One of them will be entirely yours. The area is excellent, near a park, a clinic… And this house can be sold. The money will go into our business, and you’ll become a co-founder. Can you imagine the potential profit?»

Valentina was silent, looking at the darkening garden. There, by the old apple tree, she and Sergey once planned their future. Brick by brick, they built a house, planted trees… Every corner was filled with memories.

«Think about it, mom, don’t rush to answer,» Irina stood up. «Tomorrow I’ll bring Natalya, she also wants to talk to you.»

Valentina could not sleep that night. She wandered through the house, touching familiar walls, sinking into memories. Here Irina took her first steps, and there Natalya liked to hide when she was upset. In that corner stood Polina’s crib when they brought the granddaughter for the summer…

Closer to two in the morning, she sat down on the old sofa in the living room — the place where she and Sergey always spent their evenings, discussed the day, and dreamed of the future. Now his half remained empty.

«Seryozha,» she softly called out in the darkness, «what should I do? Remember how we started building this house? You always joked — why such a big one, we two wouldn’t fill it…»

Her hand slid over the worn upholstery:

«And then Irinka was born. Remember how you carried her in your arms, singing lullabies with your deep voice? And three years later, Natasha appeared… What a happy time!»

Outside, the night wind rustled the branches of that very apple tree they had planted when they moved here.

 

«Our girls have grown up. Maybe they’re right? You always said: help your children while you can. And I’ve become stubborn, fixated. Give me some sign, some advice on what to do…»

She fell silent, listening to the night sounds of the house. The old floorboards creaked, as if pondering along with her.

Unnoticed, she dozed off right on the sofa. A bright ray of sunlight woke her in the morning. Opening her eyes, she froze — a gust of wind had flung open an old wedding photo on the wall.

Sergey looked out from it with his special, slightly mocking glance. On the back of the frame, where the glass had cracked, the sunlight illuminated an inscription made by his hand many years ago: «The main thing is to have your soul in place. And it is there, where you are.»

Valentina pressed her palm to her chest. There it was, the sign. The house could be sold, everything could start anew. But the main thing was to preserve herself, her soul. Like then, in their youth, when she and Sergey believed only in each other and in their strength.

She stood up, straightened her shoulders. Now the decision was obvious. But she would not allow herself to become a silent shadow in someone else’s home. Sergey would have understood her. He always did.

By morning, everything was decided. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was the only right way.

The children had grown up, they needed help. And the house… The house was just walls. The main thing was to preserve the family.

Natalya arrived by noon. The younger daughter seemed tired, sunken. It was evident that she was worried.

«Mommy, I’m sorry that it all happened so suddenly,» she began, embracing her mother. «But this is a unique chance for all of us! We’ve long wanted to open our own clinic…»

«I agree,» simply replied Valentina.

Both daughters froze, not believing their own ears.

«Really?» Irina beamed. «Mom, you won’t regret it! We’ll organize everything, you’ll live in luxury!»

The move was scheduled for a month later. Valentina methodically packed things, wrapped up photos, sorted through years of accumulated trinkets. Some she gave away to neighbors, some she threw away. Each day made the house more empty, more foreign.

Irina’s new apartment turned out to be spacious and bright indeed. A separate room was prepared for Valentina with expensive furniture. Everything new, modern, comfortable.

At first, it seemed that everything would work out well. Valentina helped around the house, walked with Sashka, sometimes looked after Polina when she came from her art school. But soon cracks began to show.

First, there were small misunderstandings. Irina frowned if Valentina, out of old habit, got up at five in the morning and clattered dishes in the kitchen. Andrei scowled if she forgot to turn off the light in the hallway.

Even Sashka, who joyfully greeted his grandmother at first, now increasingly locked himself in his room with a tablet.

«Mom, why did you start a general cleaning again? We have cleaning services on Thursdays,» Irina irritably adjusted the flowers that Valentina had just arranged. «And these vases… they don’t match the interior.»

Valentina remained silent.

These vases belonged to her—the only thing she took from the old house besides personal belongings. Old, with peeling paint, but so dear. And Irina preferred glass ones, «in the Scandinavian style.»

Business at the medical center progressed slower than anticipated. Irina often came home tired, easily lost her temper. Natalya called less and less—too busy, on duty. When Valentina tried to inquire about affairs, her daughters evaded answers or changed the subject.

And then «receptions» began.

Irina and Andrei regularly hosted business evenings, inviting business partners. On such days, they asked Valentina to stay in her room to not embarrass the guests.

«You see, mom, these are important people,» Irina explained. «We need to show a certain level. And you… well, you know yourself. You have your habits, your style of communication.»

One evening, Valentina accidentally overheard a conversation. She was heading to the kitchen for water when voices from the living room reached her.

«…and what am I to do?» Irina’s voice was louder than usual. «She ruins everything! Imagine, yesterday in front of Roman Sergeevich, she started talking about her garden! And he’s an investor, by the way!»

«And what about Natalya?» asked someone’s female voice.

«Natalya?» Irina bitterly chuckled. «My little sister is busy with her problems. Her husband is against mom moving in with them. And I’m supposed to pull everything on my own?»

Valentina froze by the wall, feeling her hands treacherously tremble. The glass accidentally hit the umbrella stand, and silence instantly reigned in the living room.

«Mom? What are you doing here?» Irina came out into the hallway, her face flushed.

«I came to get some water,» Valentina replied quietly.

«I asked you not to leave your room when I have guests!»

That night, Valentina couldn’t sleep. She lay staring at the ceiling, thinking: how did it happen that her girls, her little ones, became so alien? She remembered how little Irina ran to her with scraped knees, and Natalya cried, burying her face in her shoulder when she didn’t get into the institute the first time.

The next morning, Natalya called.

«Mom, how are you?» her voice sounded guilty. «Ira told me that you talked yesterday.»

«Everything’s fine, daughter,» Valentina tried to speak calmly. «How are you? It’s been a long time since you visited.»

 

«Mom…» Natalya paused. «Maybe you’ll stay with us for a bit? Take a break from Irka’s business meetings.»

Valentina closed her eyes. There it was, what she had feared from the beginning.

Natalya’s apartment was in an old five-story building on the outskirts of the city. Two rooms, a tiny kitchen. Viktor, Natalya’s husband, greeted her coolly—muttered «hello» and went into the bedroom.

«Don’t mind him,» Natalya whispered. «He’s just tired. Make yourself comfortable in the living room, I’ll set up the sofa for you.»

But Valentina saw that her daughter was clearly not happy with the situation. Natalya constantly apologized—either for the cramped space or for the neighbors who were noisy. Viktor demonstratively ate in the room, not approaching the common table. In the evenings, his dissatisfied muttering: «When will this end?» echoed off the walls, making the space even more cramped.

After a week, Valentina realized: a decision had to be made. She couldn’t be a burden to her own children. She packed her few belongings in an old bag and went for a walk to think.

Her legs led her to the city park. She sat on a bench, watching mothers with strollers. A nearby elderly couple—an old man with a cane and a woman in a bright scarf—settled next to her.

«Excuse me, may I sit down?» asked the woman. «My legs are just not listening to me.»

«Of course,» replied Valentina. «It’s hot today.»

«Yes, indeed,» the woman pulled out a bottle of water. «Would you like a drink? You look a bit pale.»

A conversation ensued. Galina Mikhailovna and Nikolai Petrovich turned out to be surprisingly pleasant companions. They mentioned that they owned a small house on the outskirts—they used to live there themselves, now they rent it out.

«The last tenants moved out a month ago,» Galina Mikhailovna sighed. «A pity, they were good people. We don’t rent it out for money—just so the house isn’t empty. Now we live in an apartment ourselves, moved closer to the children.»

Valentina listened and felt warmth in her chest. Maybe… maybe this was a sign?

«And you… you’ve found new tenants already?» she asked, surprising herself with her decisiveness.

Galina Mikhailovna looked attentively at the new acquaintance:

«Are you interested?» she turned to her husband. «Kolya, what do you think?»

Nikolai Petrovich gave her a thoughtful look:

«The house is small but sturdy. Two rooms, a kitchen, a veranda. There’s a garden, though it’s overgrown…»

«A garden?» Valentina’s voice trembled.

«Yes, old apple trees, currants…» Galina Mikhailovna suddenly fell silent. «Wait, are you… you’re Valya? Valentina Petrovna?»

Valentina looked up in surprise:

«Yes, but how do you…»

«My God!» exclaimed Galina Mikhailovna. «Kolya, it’s Sergey Nikolaev’s wife! The one who worked in engineering at the factory? We used to go to demonstrations together!»

Nikolai Petrovich squinted:

«That’s right… And your daughters—Irina and Natalya? Irka always played with my calculator when we gathered.»

The world suddenly seemed incredibly small and warm. They talked until evening. Remembered mutual friends, factory holidays, youth… Valentina learned that Galina Mikhailovna’s and Nikolai Petrovich’s children had long moved to another city, calling them to join, but the old couple didn’t want to leave their native places.

«You know what,» Galina Mikhailovna spoke decisively as the sun began to set. «Let’s go, take a look at the house. It’s nearby, we’ll get there by bus.»

The house turned out to be small but exceptionally cozy. Whitewashed walls, blue trim, a sturdy porch. And most importantly—the garden. Large, overgrown, but alive and breathing life. Valentina slowly walked among the apple trees, gently touching the rough trunks, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

«Doesn’t it fit?» Galina Mikhailovna was concerned.

«What are you…» Valentina shook her head. «On the contrary. It just reminds me so much of my old house…»

That same evening she called Natalya:

«Daughter, don’t worry. I’ve found a place where I’ll live.»

«What do you mean?» anxiety sounded in her daughter’s voice. «Mom, what are you planning?»

«I met some good people. They rent a house, there’s a garden. The cost fits my pension.»

«What house? Who are these people?» Natalya raised her voice. «Mom, you can’t live alone!»

«Why not?» Valentina replied calmly. «I’ve lived in my own house all my life and somehow managed.»

«But… but…» Natalya stumbled. «Wait, I’ll call Ira, let her explain to you.»

Irina rushed over within an hour. Burst into Natalya’s apartment, not even greeting Viktor:

«Mom, stop this immediately! What house are you talking about? We didn’t start all this for you to wander around strange corners!»

«And for what then, daughter?» Valentina looked her in the eyes. «So that I’d sit locked up and not embarrass you in front of important guests?»

Irina recoiled:

«You… you know?»

«Yes, I know,» Valentina nodded. «And about your conversations regarding where to ‘place’ me, I’m also informed.»

«Mom…» Natalya stepped forward. «We did everything for your good…»

«I understand, girls. Really, I understand,» Valentina smiled sadly. «But you’re different now. You have your own life with your own rules. And I… I can’t change anymore. And I don’t want to.»

She took out a worn envelope from her bag:

«Here, take it. These are the documents for the old house. Sell it, build your center. My pension will be enough.»

«Mom, please…» Irina began.

 

«No, daughter. I’ve made a decision.»

A week later, Valentina moved into the house of Galina Mikhailovna and Nikolai Petrovich. They helped her settle in, brought old furniture from the attic, even provided a TV— «it was just sitting idle anyway.»

And the garden… the garden came to life. Day after day, Valentina cleared the overgrowth, tied branches, weeded grass. Her hands remembered this work, her body rejoiced in familiar movements. In the evenings, the owners often dropped by—just to sit on the porch, talk about life.

The daughters appeared two months later. They came together, silent, guilty. Irina started immediately:

«Mom, we have problems. The bank denied the loan, investors backed out…»

«And now?» asked Valentina, pouring tea into old cups.

«The money from the house… it…,» Natalya lowered her gaze. «In short, it didn’t work out. Forgive us, mommy.»

Valentina looked closely at her daughters. Irina, always so confident, now seemed small and lost. Natalya nervously crumpled a napkin, like in childhood, when she got bad grades.

«Well,» Valentina finally said. «Then it was meant to happen.»

«You… you’re not angry?» Irina asked in surprise.

«Of course, I’m angry,» Valentina sighed. «But you’re my daughters. Where can I go from you?»

«Mom,» Natalya raised her tearful eyes. «Maybe you’ll come back? We’ll figure something out…»

«No, girls,» Valentina replied firmly. «I’m fine here. I’ll take care of the garden, there will be apples—come visit with the grandchildren.»

They sat on the veranda for a long time. Talked—for the first time in a long time openly and honestly. And in the garden, the leaves of the apple trees rustled, promising a rich harvest, and from somewhere came the bitter smoke—Nikolai Petrovich was heating the sauna next door.

When she saw off her daughters in the evening, Valentina went out to the garden. Sat on an old bench, closed her eyes. And suddenly felt—she was home. Not in the house that was sold, not in Irina’s apartment, not at Natalya’s. But here, among the apple trees and currant bushes, next to these amazing people, formally strangers, but who had become almost family in spirit.

Somewhere above, an apple fell, thudding against the ground.

Valentina picked it up, wiped it on her skirt. Firm, ripe. There would be something to treat the grandchildren when they visit.

And they would definitely visit…

The wife constantly said she was running to help a sick friend. But the husband figured out he was being deceived and decided to follow up.

0

Konstantin and Albina met within the walls of the Institute of Culture, although their faculties were different. From a young age, Konstantin was immersed in the world of music, which was not surprising given his background. He grew up in a family where art was not just a hobby, but a way of life. His father, a violinist, taught at the conservatory, and his mother taught children to play the piano at an art school. It would have been a tragedy if their son had not inherited a musical ear. Fortunately, Konstantin had it in full. And, of course, his parents’ passion for art could not help but be passed on to him.

Konstantin often spent time at the music school where his mother worked. The building, reminiscent of a palace with its columns, grand staircase, and stucco, was filled with the sounds of various instruments coming from behind every door. Konstantin chose the guitar and was so enthusiastic that he never doubted his future. He knew exactly what awaited him.

Albina, on the other hand, grew up in a completely different environment. She was practically an orphan while her parents were alive. Her mother left her father and moved north to Noyabrsk, leaving little Albina in the care of her grandmother. She promised to return as soon as she got on her feet, but instead, she started a new family, where two children grew up. Albina’s father showed no interest in his daughter’s fate, never visited her, and never helped. Albina tried not to think about him.

They lived on her grandmother’s modest pension. Her mother occasionally sent money, but it was unreliable. From an early age, Albina learned to rely only on herself. She earned extra money by babysitting neighbors’ children or walking dogs. In her free time, she dedicated herself to books. Reading became her passion, and despite not being able to afford new books, she found them online and at the library. Therefore, after school, Albina entered the Institute of Culture, dreaming of becoming a librarian.

Her faculty was predominantly female, and many of her classmates looked for partners in other institutes. Albina, however, met Konstantin in her own educational institution. It happened by chance. One day, lingering after a lecture, she walked down an empty corridor and heard the sound of a guitar. The music was so beautiful that Albina couldn’t resist and peeked into the hall. There, she saw a dark-haired guy rehearsing on stage. Albina froze, listening to his play, and when he finished, she involuntarily clapped her hands. Konstantin, smiling, jokingly bowed in response.

 

Soon, they began to spend every spare minute together. In the summer, they organized a real research trip to the surrounding villages. They collected folk art—Albina documented song lyrics, while Konstantin recorded melodies. These materials later came in handy for their graduation projects.

By the time they graduated from the institute, Albina’s grandmother had passed away, leaving her a small two-room apartment in a prestigious area of the city. The location was ideal—it took just minutes to get to any cultural institution. Albina had long become part of Konstantin’s family, so when the young couple decided to get married, the groom’s parents were only delighted. The bride was modest and hardworking, but most importantly, there was so much common interest between her and Konstantin that their conversations never ended.

The wedding took place in the heart of summer, when nights are short and unnoticeable. The newlyweds and their friends greeted the dawn on a river tram, raising glasses of champagne in honor of the rising sun.

Initially, they decided to settle in Albina’s apartment, opting for cosmetic repairs. Creating their «own nest» became a real pleasure for them. They quickly found jobs: Konstantin got a teaching position at the art school, and Albina took a place in her beloved childhood library. After receiving their salaries, they enthusiastically went shopping, choosing new curtains or a coffee set—delighting in each purchase like a child with a new toy.

However, about six months later, their routine began to change. Their work schedules did not match: Albina went to work and came home later than her husband. Then she started staying out late. One day, when Konstantin, having forgotten some necessary notes at home, stopped by around eight in the morning, he discovered that Albina was already gone, although her library opened significantly later.

Konstantin had always trusted his wife and for a long time accepted her explanations without question.

«Did you go somewhere today? I came by, and you weren’t there,» he asked once.

«I ran to the market,» she replied.

«Why did you come back so late yesterday? I think I forgot to ask.»

«A friend was sick. She has a little one, needed help.»

«Karina? What’s with her?»

«It turns out she has serious heart problems. She won’t get healthy again.»

It seemed that Karina needed constant help. Either she needed someone to sit with her son while she was at the doctor’s, or help prepare for her birthday, as she was too weak to clean up herself. One reason replaced another. And Konstantin, who had never experienced jealousy before, suddenly realized that he no longer played the main role in his wife’s life.

Some time later, as he was leaving the entrance in the morning, he noticed Karina jogging. In a stylish sports suit, rosy and energetic, she easily passed him, waving goodbye. Konstantin was so taken aback that he couldn’t even call out to her.

Returning home in the evening, he again did not find Albina. Then he took Karina’s phone number from his notebook.

«Is Albina with you? If you can, call her over,» he asked.

«Where did you get the idea that she’s with me?» Karina was surprised. «We haven’t seen each other in ages.»

«Strange… And how’s your heart? No more need for help?»

«My heart?» Karina was clearly embarrassed but quickly figured out what was happening. «My heart, dear Kostya, is healthier than ever, but it looks like you’re growing horns. Or have they already grown? Maybe Albinka told you she was sitting by my bedside? How long has this been going on? Oh, always so modest, and now she’s completely let loose!»

Konstantin hung up without a word. Whatever the case, he wasn’t going to discuss his wife with anyone, even their mutual friend. He decided not to ask other acquaintances and said nothing to his parents. The only way to figure things out was to follow Albina himself. It seemed humiliating and unpleasant, but for him, it was more important to understand than to build assumptions. Scandals without grounds were not in his character, but he also didn’t want to look foolish.

He took a leave of absence from work, but pretended to leave for his classes as usual in the morning. Then he hid on a bench at the neighboring entrance, almost completely concealed by a thick lilac bush. Half an hour later, Albina appeared. She was clearly in a hurry somewhere. If she had called a taxi, it would have been impossible to follow her. However, the wife headed to the bus stop.

Konstantin managed to move unnoticed behind her, then got on the same crowded bus through a different door. Albina rode almost to the last stop—a place that surprised him even more. Here was practically a suburban area. What was Albina doing in such a backwater? She confidently walked down the road leading to a forested area. Konstantin had never been here before, but soon noticed a building off the road—a hospital for the disabled. That’s where his wife entered.

Five minutes later, he also crossed the threshold of the institution. A female security guard, on duty at the entrance, looked at him attentively.

«Are you Albina’s husband?» she asked with sympathy. «Poor thing… I really feel for her. She’s so responsible, tries her hardest, but I’m afraid the results will be weak.»

«What results?» Konstantin didn’t understand. «What are you talking about? I just returned from a business trip, my wife hasn’t had time to tell me everything yet…»

«Don’t you know?» the woman shook her head. «Her father is lying here. Not only an alcoholic but also with serious back problems… Poor girl, she spends day and night here. Help is often inadequate in state clinics. Orderlies are paid pennies, so they won’t come over extra times. When Albina found out what happened to her father—he’s been here for a month and started developing bedsores—she took on his treatment. Now she washes him every day, treats his wounds, takes him out for walks…»

And indeed, at the end of the hallway, a wheelchair appeared, pushed by Albina. At the handles sat an emaciated elderly man with the distinctively bluish face of a chronic alcoholic.

Seeing her husband, Albina froze in place, turning pale as a sheet.

«Why didn’t you tell me anything?» he asked quietly.

«How could I…» she stammered, «How did you find out? Were you following me? You thought I was…»

Konstantin squeezed her hand tightly.

«Let’s go to the yard. Let’s sit down, talk. Let me help you with the wheelchair.»

The pause dragged on.

«By the way, what’s your father’s name? Ilya—I know that from your patronymic. And then?»

«Ilya Maximovich.»

The yard around the hospital was spacious and cozy, with tall trees creating cool shade. They sat on one of the benches. Ilya Maximovich seemed to enjoy every second of being outdoors. Closing his eyes, he soon drifted into a doze.

«You see,» Albina began, and tears streamed down her cheeks, «I immediately saw how much your family differed from mine. Your parents—cultured, kind people—they welcomed me so warmly. And me… a mother who lived far away and never needed me. And this father, who once forgot everything in the world for a bottle. I was a hundred percent sure: if your parents found out I was the daughter of an alcoholic, they would never let you marry me.»

«What nonsense!» exclaimed Konstantin. «Your father—that’s his choice, and we are completely independent individuals.»

«Wait, let me finish,» Albina continued. «Keeping quiet about my father wasn’t so difficult, since he hadn’t lived with us for a long time. I remember only that distant childhood: his endless binges, constant scandals with my mother. There was always poverty in the house because he drank away every penny. He couldn’t hold a job for more than two or three weeks. He’d start a new position, then inevitably get drunk, come in such a state to the construction site or gas station—and they’d immediately fire him.

 

After divorcing my mother, he started seeing different women. But such, you know, that even looking at them without tears is impossible. In recent years, we hardly crossed paths—news about him came through mutual acquaintances. Then one night he went out for vodka. Someone took his money and brutally beat him, literally tormenting him with their feet. It damaged his spine. When they told me… I could have refused to care for him, since he never paid child support, never helped with anything… But when I saw the state he was in… You know the rest.»

Kostya hugged his wife tightly and gently kissed her. When the walk ended, he helped Ilya Maximovich return to the building and settle into bed. It was evident that for Albina, this place had become a second home. Her favorite mug stood on the bedside table, familiar slippers lay near the bed. It was clear she intended to continue coming here daily to care for her father.

But Konstantin couldn’t allow such a situation. That same evening, he turned to his parents for advice. They took the story seriously. The son didn’t reveal the true reason for Albina’s silence, simply asking for their support. He knew his mother had influential connections in the medical field.

Just a few days later, a suitable option presented itself. Ilya Maximovich was transferred to a modern clinic where he was given a private room and began comprehensive treatment, including therapy for alcohol dependence. The hospital was located in the city center, just a fifteen-minute walk away. Konstantin’s parents regularly visited Ilya Maximovich, bringing him delicious gifts, although the food at the clinic was already excellent. Albina’s father began to recover quickly.

After some time, he sheepishly admitted to his daughter that it seemed there were budding feelings between him and one of the elderly orderlies.

Konstantin and Albina understood that there would be no more secrets between them. The father-in-law and mother-in-law continued to treat Albina with the same warmth, and she, in turn, felt that she had found a real family. And this feeling extended not only to Konstantin but to his entire family.

Listen up! I’m rich now and it’s time for us to divorce,» said the husband arrogantly. He could not imagine the consequences.

0

You don’t even realize how much your mediocrity and dullness irritate me now,» Andrei said, his eyes flashing. «I don’t need a gray mouse; I deserve more!»

«Do you really think money makes you better?» Olga replied, her voice full of pain, trying to hold back tears.

The evening light cozily illuminated the kitchen where Olga was cooking dinner. The smell of freshly cooked borscht and fresh pies filled the air.

Andrei burst through the door, waving an envelope and smiling ear to ear.

«Olya! Olya! You won’t believe it!» he shouted, not even taking off his shoes. «I got a letter about an inheritance from some distant relative! Now I’m rich!»

Olga turned around, wiping her hands on her apron.

«That’s great, Andryush,» she calmly replied. «But who is this relative? We didn’t know anyone…»

«Who cares!» Andrei laughed and approached her, kissing her on the cheek. «Now we can afford everything we want!»

Olga raised her eyebrows in surprise but didn’t have time to say anything as Andrei began talking about future plans, waving his hands and dreaming of luxury purchases.

However, the next day, apparently after a sleepless night as a future millionaire, Andrei turned into a completely different person.

He looked at Olga with disdain, began to command and demand attention only to himself. All his talks were about how rich he now was and how successful. It was as if the letter he received was not about an inheritance, but about being awarded the Nobel Prize.

«You know, Olya,» he said at breakfast, not looking at her, «now that I’m rich, I think we need to reconsider our relationship.»

Olga shuddered and stared at him in disbelief.

«What do you mean?» she asked, trying to hold back tears.

«Well, you understand, I’m now on a completely different level,» he said, biting into a sandwich.

«Other people? What are you even talking about, Andrei?»

«About how I’m now rich,» he repeated, as if that explained everything. «And you… you’re too ordinary.»

Olga was in shock. She called her best friends—Katya and Lena—to meet at a cafe and tell them what happened.

«Girls, you won’t believe it!» she began as soon as they sat down at the table. «Andrei received some inheritance and now thinks I’m not his match!»

Katya snorted.

«Well, that’s news. Who is this relative who fell out of the sky?»

Lena frowned, listening intently to Olga.

«And what are you going to do?» she asked.

«I don’t know,» Olga sighed. «Andrei has become so… so disgusting!»

Katya shook her head.

«Olya, are you sure this isn’t some mistake? Maybe he’s just gone a bit mad?»

«I don’t know,» repeated Olga. «But this isn’t like him.»

Lena, frowning even more, pondered.

 

That’s how the evening ended. Olga returned home, where Andrei was already immersed in looking at catalogs of luxury cars. Anxiety settled in her soul, but the hope of help from her loyal friends kept her spirits up.

Days passed, and Andrei became increasingly unbearable. Although he had not yet received the money from the inheritance, his behavior changed. He walked with his head held high as if he were already a millionaire, and treated Olga with arrogance and disdain.

«Olya, where is my suit?» he yelled one morning. «I have an important meeting today!»

Olga found the suit and neatly hung it on the bedroom door.

«Andrei, can we talk?» she timidly asked, approaching him.

«Not now,» he dismissed her. «I don’t have time for trifles.»

Olga felt her eyes filling with tears. She didn’t understand what was happening and why the man she loved had turned into this alien, cold man. She decided it was time to talk to her friends again.

In the evening, Olga met with Katya and Lena at a small cafe on the corner. They sat at a cozy table by the window, ordered coffee, and began discussing what was happening.

«Girls, I can’t live like this anymore,» Olga began, barely holding back tears. «Andrei has become simply unbearable. He treats me like a servant and says he needs other people around.»

Katya snorted, pushing her coffee cup aside.

«What a scoundrel! Olya, you need to put him in his place. He hasn’t even received the money yet, and he’s already turning up his nose.»

Lena frowned, listening attentively to Olga.

«Ol, we’re always with you. Don’t worry, everything will work out.»

Lena, looking away, thoughtfully said:

«Olya, you need to stay strong. Katya and I won’t let him hurt you,» Lena confidently said, stroking Olga’s hand.

«Thank you, girls. I couldn’t have coped without you,» Olga quietly replied, trying to calm down.

Days went by, and Andrei’s behavior became more and more unbearable.

He continued to belittle and insult Olga, accusing her of being mercenary and supposedly only waiting for money from his inheritance.

«Olya, you understand that I’m a completely different person now,» Andrei said, returning home in the evening. «You’ve always been a gray mouse, but now I see right through you. You’re just waiting for me to get rich so you can feast at my expense.»

Olga looked at him with horror and pain.

«Andrei, how can you say that? We’ve been together for so many years, I’ve always supported you!»

«Yes, yes, supported,» he sneered. «But now it’s clear to me that you only care about money.»

Olga felt her heart breaking. She couldn’t understand why Andrei had become so cruel. All this time, she had tried to be patient and understanding, but his words were like a knife in her heart.

«Andrei, let’s discuss everything, talk,» Olga firmly said.

«About what? About how you’re waiting for my money?» he sarcastically asked.

«No, about what’s happening to you. I want to understand why you’ve changed so much.»

Andrei looked at her with contempt.

«You wouldn’t understand. You’re too simple for this level of life.»

These words were the last straw for Olga. She decided she would not endure this any longer.

The next day, she met with her friends. They sat in the same cafe, and Olga felt the girls’ support with their presence.

«Olga, we need to tell you the truth,» Katya began, looking at Lena.

Lena nodded and added:

«Sorry, Ol, we wanted to joke, but it got out of control.»

Olga looked at them anxiously.

«What do you want to say?»

Katya sighed and said:

«The letter about the inheritance… It’s fake. Lena and I orchestrated this to show you what a person can become if they have money.»

Olga froze, not believing her ears.

«You mean it was all a lie?» she whispered.

Lena took her hand.

«Olga, we did this because we saw how Andrei was treating you. We wanted to show you who he really is. And it turns out he’s really a terrible person.»

Olga felt her eyes fill with tears. She didn’t know what to feel—anger, disappointment, or relief.

«How could you do this?» she asked, not hiding her tears. «Did you think this would help?»

Katya looked at her with regret.

«We thought it would help you see the truth. We didn’t expect him to become like this…»

Olga was silent for a long time, processing what she heard. Finally, she spoke.

«I don’t understand why you did this. But it was too cruel. Now I know that Andrei is not who I thought he was. And my friends are not who I thought they were.»

When Andrei returned home, he found Olga in the living room. She sat on the sofa with a determined look, her eyes blazing with resolution.

«Olga, what’s this important conversation again?» Andrei asked irritably, taking off his jacket.

«Sit down, Andrei,» she calmly said. «We need to discuss a lot.»

Andrei sat down, grumbling unhappily.

 

«Again these talks? I’m tired of them.»

Olga sighed, gathering all her strength.

«Andrei, I know the truth about the letter. It’s fake. My friends did it to show me who you really are.»

Andrei turned pale. A mix of surprise and anger flashed across his face.

«What? Fake? Are you serious?»

«Yes, Andrei. You acted as if you really became rich. You became arrogant and cruel. You humiliated me and insulted me, thinking that money gave you the right to behave like that.»

Andrei jumped from his chair, his face turning red with rage.

«This is ridiculous! You believe your friends more than me? They’re just jealous of our happiness!»

Olga calmly stood up from the sofa, looking him straight in the eye.

«No, Andrei. They helped me see the truth. You don’t deserve me and our love. You showed your true face when you thought you became rich.»

Andrei breathed heavily, his eyes blazing with fury. He realized he had lost.

«That’s your choice, Olga. You’re destroying our family yourself. I’m leaving.»

Olga watched as he packed his things. Her heart ached, but she knew it was the right decision. Andrei was not the man she loved. He had changed, and his new appearance was alien and repugnant to her.

When the door slammed shut behind Andrei, Olga felt a mix of pain and relief. She knew a new stage of life awaited her, but she was ready for it.

Katya and Lena arrived almost immediately after Andrei left. They found Olga on the sofa, still shaken but determined. The friends sat next to her, expressing their support and care.

«Olga, how are you?» Katya asked cautiously, holding her hand.

«It was hard,» Olga admitted, wiping away tears. «But I know it was the right thing.»

Lena, seeing that Olga had calmed down a bit, asked:

«Olga, we told you the whole truth about the fake letter, but we didn’t explain why we did it. Do you want to know?»

Olga nodded, looking at them with interest and anxiety.

«Of course, I want to understand why you decided to arrange all this…»

Katya sighed and began explaining:

«The thing is, three weeks ago a lawyer from Switzerland contacted me. He said he had been trying to contact you, but you’re a bit paranoid, all social media is closed. I don’t know how he managed to find me, but he left his number, asking me to pass it to you. There’s a real case about an inheritance, he didn’t tell me the details, of course, because of confidentiality.»

Olga stared at her friends in astonishment.

«What? A real inheritance? From which relative? You weren’t joking?»

Lena continued:

«This lawyer left a number you should call. Katya and I thought, since it’s Switzerland, there must be a lot of money involved. We decided to test Andrei first before telling you about the real inheritance. We wanted to make sure it wouldn’t ruin your marriage and that he wouldn’t hurt you.»

Olga sat in silence, digesting what she heard. She couldn’t believe that all this time they were testing her husband, and it turned out he was indeed insincere with her.

«So, this was all for my benefit?» she finally asked.

Katya nodded.

«Yes, Olga. We wanted to make sure you saw his true face before you received the inheritance. We knew he might not be who he seemed.»

Olga cried again, but this time they were tears of relief and gratitude.

«Thank you, girls. I don’t know what I would do without you.»

Lena hugged her tighter.

«We’re always here, Olga. Now you need to call this lawyer and find out all the details about the inheritance.»

Olga took the phone and dialed the number her friends had given her. After a short conversation with the lawyer, her face lit up with joy.

«He confirmed everything. I indeed received a large inheritance from a distant relative,» she said, not believing her luck.

 

Katya and Lena clapped their hands, rejoicing with their friend.

«Olga, you’re now rich!» exclaimed Katya.

«And most importantly, you’re free from Andrei and his manipulations,» added Lena.

Olga smiled through tears. She felt her heart fill with joy and hope for the future.

Now she had the opportunity to start a new life, free from lies and humiliations. And she knew her friends would always be there, supporting her every step of the way.

They raised glasses of champagne, which Katya had brought just in case.

«To a new life, full of happiness and freedom!» proclaimed Katya.

«To true friends and a better future!» added Lena.

Olga raised her glass, feeling her soul filled with warmth and gratitude.

«To you, girls. Thank you for everything.»

They drank, laughing and hugging, happy that their friend was now free and wealthy.

Olga knew that new challenges awaited her, but now she was ready for anything, knowing she had loyal friends and a new life full of opportunities.

I’ve been cheating on you for quite a while, Klara,” her husband spat out. After those words, his wife made it clear she would not tolerate such a thing.

0

This day seemed to stretch on endlessly. Klara simply couldn’t understand why Leonid had arranged this meeting on the Embankment—the very place where they had first met. What was he up to? In the past, her husband had rarely shown a romantic streak: the most he ever did was bring her a bouquet on a holiday or perfume on her birthday. And now he suddenly wanted to surprise her! Klara decided not to let the opportunity slip by and prepared thoroughly: she went to the hairdresser and chose an elegant outfit, as though getting ready for a first date, paying close attention to every detail.

Leonid was already waiting by the fountain with an arch, glancing at his watch from time to time. He wasn’t holding any flowers—apparently, this meeting wasn’t as festive as Klara had imagined.

“Hi!” she said, appearing suddenly, causing Leonid to flinch involuntarily.

“Hi,” he replied curtly, then added, clearly nervous, “We’re running late, Klar. Let’s hurry.”

Leonid didn’t even notice his wife’s transformation; he didn’t pay her a single compliment on her appearance. “Probably later,” Klara reassured herself.

“Where are we going?” she asked, lifting an eyebrow in surprise. “Did something happen? Is this a surprise?”

“Something like that,” Leonid shrugged and pulled her along.

They crossed the Embankment Square, walked over a bridge, and headed toward a new high-rise building. During that time, countless guesses flitted through Klara’s mind. When Leonid stopped at the building entrance and punched in the door code, she decided not to ask any more questions—let it be a surprise. Still, her heart was pounding uneasily.

They took the spacious elevator to the thirteenth floor. Leonid let Klara go first, took a set of keys from his pocket, and walked to the door at the very end of the hallway.

“Whose apartment is this?” Klara couldn’t help but ask as she stepped into a stylish foyer.

“Do you like it?” was her husband’s response instead of an answer. He gestured toward the room. “Go have a look!”

Klara walked through the apartment: the wallpaper she’d always liked, a chandelier identical to the one she had recently wanted to install in their bedroom but Leonid had talked her out of. The balcony offered a magnificent view. Though the apartment was small, it felt incredibly cozy. Klara could already picture herself enjoying a cup of her favorite tea while admiring the balcony view.

“You could spend forever here,” she said in awe, turning back to Leonid. “Just imagine how magical the view will be at night when the river is lit up and the streetlamps are glowing!”

“I knew you’d like it here,” Leonid finally said, holding out the keys to her. “And don’t bother thanking me. It’s all for you!”

“What do you mean?” Klara asked in confusion.

“Exactly what I said,” he nodded, glancing at his watch again. “I have to go—I’ll send your things over later in a car.”

“Wait!” Klara placed a hand on her chest, sensing that something was terribly wrong. “What do you mean, ‘my things’? And why are you in such a rush?”

“Klara, stop pretending you don’t understand!” Leonid snapped, annoyed. “You know perfectly well that I’m leaving you—I’m starting a new life!”

Klara opened her mouth to reply but realized she had no words. Any questions would only bring more accusations, and she truly was in shock.

“Why, for heaven’s sake—explain what’s happening!” she finally managed to say.

“It means this apartment is yours now,” Leonid said coldly. “The paperwork is in the dresser, in your name. I used your power of attorney. And today my real love is flying in, so I need to get to the airport. Sorry, but I don’t have time for a long goodbye.”

“Lyona, you’re not joking?” Klara whispered, her voice trembling. “How is this possible? Everything was fine just yesterday…”

“Klara, I’ve been cheating on you for a long time!” Leonid exploded. “And don’t tell me you had no idea! I thought you were smarter—I assumed you were just turning a blind eye.”

Klara felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Had their marriage really been so flawless? They rarely fought. When their son was little, Leonid never came home late from work; it was only after their son moved to the capital that her husband started traveling on business more often. Still, they celebrated holidays together, spent weekends at home. Yes, in recent years the business trips had become more frequent, but he always called and brought back souvenirs from the same city. Now it was obvious where he had met his “beloved.” And Klara? All this time, she had been relegated to second place?

She wanted to ask a million questions, to voice every emotion. But the lump in her throat kept her silent. She looked at Leonid, tears streaming down her face, realizing that their world was collapsing before her eyes.

 

“Well, it’s all settled then,” Leonid said. “This apartment is yours now, and you’ll give up your share of our jointly owned property. I’ll arrange with Lina for a place to stay, and then we can sign all the paperwork with the notary. After that, we’ll handle the divorce.”

With a sudden slam, Leonid shut the door, leaving Klara standing in the foyer of her new apartment, clutching the keys tightly in her hand. His footsteps echoed down the hallway until they disappeared, leaving only silence. Klara felt as though she were sinking into a void—deep and bottomless. Slowly, she looked around the space that now belonged to her; instead of bringing joy, it filled her with the bitterness of betrayal. How could she have lived so long in an illusion, completely unaware of her husband’s other life?

Klara sank onto the sofa, covering her face with her hands. Her thoughts darted back and forth, trying to pinpoint the moment everything started to fall apart. Yet no matter how hard she tried to remember, there were no obvious warning signs. They had been an ordinary family—neither especially passionate nor particularly quarrelsome. Any fleeting sense of distance she had attributed to routine or fatigue. Meanwhile, the gulf between them had been widening day by day.

She spent a sleepless night, going over the years of their life together, searching for clues as to when and why it had all changed. Leonid had always been reserved and laconic, but she had loved him for that—his reliability and predictability. As for him, when did he stop loving her? The questions circled in her mind, but the answers remained out of reach.

Early the next morning, as the first rays of dawn tinged the sky a pale pink, Klara called a taxi and returned to their old apartment. Leonid met her at the door, his arms crossed in a gesture of irritation.

“What do you want here?” he asked coldly, blocking her way.

“I live here,” Klara replied calmly—much to her own surprise—and stepped forward, intending to enter.

But Leonid refused to let her pass, standing like an immovable barrier.

“You understand you’re putting me in a very awkward position? I bought you an apartment! You should be grateful I made sure you weren’t out on the street.”

Klara gave a small, bitter laugh without raising her eyes.

“Grateful? For the cheating? For the lies? No, Leonid, I’m staying here. This apartment belongs to both of us, and I’m not leaving.”

His face twisted with tension.

“You don’t understand what I’ve done for you. I could have divided this property through the courts. After the sale, your share wouldn’t have even been enough for a room in a dormitory! But I took care of you—I ensured you’d have a decent place to live! You should be happy!”

“Thank you, of course,” Klara answered evenly, “but I’ve decided to rent out the second apartment. I’m staying here. Until we’re officially divorced, this apartment is still mine. If you want, you can try taking it back, but remember—the documents are in my name,” she added, knowing she had every right to remain.

Leonid’s face reddened with anger.

“You have no right to do this! I counted on your decency! I was sure you’d agree to my terms!”

Klara looked him straight in the eyes, no longer feeling fear or regret.

“I’m staying here. If you don’t like it, you’re free to leave.”

He froze, at a loss for words. Before him stood a completely different woman—strong and self-assured. The Klara he had known was gone.

 

Days began to drag on endlessly. They found themselves in a bizarre situation: three of them under one roof. Every day, Klara asserted her presence in the apartment—occupying her usual spot at the dining table, cooking in the shared kitchen, and continuing her daily routines that had shaped this home for years.

When Leonid tried to stage “family” evenings with Lina, Klara was always there, reminding them who the real mistress of the house was. Occasionally, she allowed herself pointed but subtle remarks directed at his new partner, watching Leonid tense up and Lina lower her gaze.

Leonid tried various tactics to make Klara leave, first pleading with her, then resorting to threats, but all were in vain. She stood her ground.

After a few weeks, Lina couldn’t stand it any longer. One morning, she quietly packed her things and left without a word. Leonid blamed Klara, yelling that she was at fault for destroying his relationship. Yet Klara remained calm, looking at him with icy determination. Their marriage no longer existed for her, but she refused to let him walk away without consequences.

Over time, Leonid began to change. His stubborn determination to get a divorce and start a new life gradually faded. One evening, after returning from work, he found Klara in the kitchen as usual, preparing dinner and lost in thought. Approaching her, Leonid spoke with unexpected heaviness in his voice:

“I’ve changed my mind about the divorce.”

Klara looked up, clearly surprised.

“Changed your mind?” she repeated slowly, as though testing the words. “And what do you propose?”

“Let’s just leave things the way they are,” he said, sitting down on the edge of the table. “I realize now I made a mistake. We can go back to the way things were.”

“The way they were?” Klara gave a small, humorless laugh, but there was no longer any pain in her eyes. “You really think we can just erase everything that’s happened? Forget the betrayal? No. Now I’m the one insisting on the divorce. And here’s my proposal: you relinquish your share of this apartment, and I’ll transfer the new one to you. That’s the only way we both come out even.”

Leonid thought for a moment. He didn’t like the condition, but he knew he had no other choice. Selling their shared apartment would leave him with barely enough for anything decent, especially after his savings had gone toward buying Klara’s new place. And that new place, though modest, was still his best option. In the end, he agreed—on one condition: both transactions had to be concluded at the same time, to rule out any risk of deception.

The paperwork was signed, and each party got what they deserved. Leonid, finally free, realized that his new life wasn’t as bright as he had imagined. Klara, however, walked out of the notary’s office feeling lighter, certain that this freedom was the start of a new, brighter chapter in her life.

The wealthy woman went bankrupt and bought a wreck of a house in the wilderness. Lost in the forest, she found something strange…

0

Masha, listen to me. Just wait, don’t cry. The place I’m going to pays really well. It just turned out this way, but we can’t give up. I’ll earn money, and we’ll start over.» Ivan tried to reassure her.

Masha shook her head in despair.

«No, Ivan, no. No money is worth a life.»

«What life are you talking about? What are you talking about now? Times are completely different, nobody goes into hand-to-hand combat. Don’t worry so much. Do you really think I would go to certain death and leave you alone? No, you just need to hang in there until I start receiving. There is a place to live. At least we still have that apartment.»

Masha sighed.

«Ivan, we don’t need this business anymore. Let it be lost forever. To lose everything in a week again? And we had to sell everything…»

«Masha, I don’t see any other way to prove to myself that I’m worth something.»

He sighed again, knowing she understood him well but categorically disapproved.

Masha knew her husband wouldn’t calm down. The incident was, of course, very upsetting. They had been building their business for almost ten years, everything was going well for them, everything was working out. And then, like little children, they fell for foreign scammers. Now there was no way to trace them.

Two days later, Ivan left to serve on a contract.

Masha felt as if half her heart had been torn out. She flinched every time the phone rang, and if someone knocked at the door, she would panic.

A month passed, and the panic didn’t subside; on the contrary, it grew more and more. Masha was sure something bad would happen, it was bound to happen.

Early one morning, someone rang the doorbell. She looked at the clock, and her legs immediately stopped obeying her. She barely made it to the door and opened it. When she saw a man in uniform, she understood everything.

 

He didn’t even manage to say anything before Masha slid down the wall. She woke up in the hospital, initially unable to understand where she was. And then, when she did, she remembered and screamed out loud.

It turned out she had been between heaven and earth for a week.

She was discharged only a week later. She went straight to the cemetery. A cross, no photographs, nothing. No compensation was given; they said an investigation was still ongoing. Everything was so unclear…

Masha returned home. For a day, she paced from corner to corner. And then she decided that things couldn’t go on like this anymore.

For a small apartment, especially an urgent sale, she didn’t get much. She immediately asked the agency to find her a small house somewhere far from people, from civilization. They found her one 300 kilometers from where she lived.

When the taxi stopped, Masha looked in horror at the old shack she had bought without even looking.

«Is this where you plan to live?» The taxi driver looked at her in disbelief.

«Right here. How much do I owe you?» Masha gathered her strength and looked at the driver.

He took the money and watched her walk away.

«They’ve completely lost their minds, living the high life, don’t know what else to do to entertain themselves,» he muttered.

Masha didn’t hear these words. And they weren’t important to her. She stood in front of the old house, thinking that she wouldn’t have to live here. But to survive…

She built a large bonfire, pulled all the old junk from the house. Not much. While the little bonfire smoked, Masha grabbed a rag.

«Good evening to you. And here I was wondering what the fire was about,» a voice said.

Masha turned around sharply. A grandmother stood on the threshold, the kind you see in fairy tales, a godsend dandelion.

«Did I scare you? Don’t be afraid, I live next door. Well, or rather, I’m living out my days,» the old woman said, appearing from around the corner. «And what brings you to our remote parts?»

Masha finally shook off her stupor.

«I decided I wanted to be closer to nature. Nothing holds me in the city anymore. My husband died…»

«Come to heal your wounds, then?» The old woman nodded understandingly.

«I guess you could say that. Please come in, why are you standing at the doorstep?» Masha invited her in.

The grandmother walked in and sat down.

«Well done, the house already looks like a home. My name is Klavdiya Nikolaevna.»

«And I’m Masha.»

«Well, why are you alone, Masha? Didn’t call anyone for help? We may not be young anymore, but we can help,» Klavdiya Nikolaevna offered. «I’ll call my girls. We’ll quickly put things in order here.» The grandmother quickly rushed out the door.

Masha just shook her head. Imagine that, where only the soul holds on, and still so quick. Twenty minutes later, Klavdiya Nikolaevna returned with three more grandmothers, about the same age.

Listening to their humorous banter and memories from their youth, Masha felt very hungry. When it got dark, they sat down to drink tea. The grandmothers brought all kinds of food.

«Don’t worry, Masha. Our places are remote, of course. But they’ve been peaceful for a long time, everyone’s forgotten about us. The authorities, our children. Nobody needs us. A mobile shop comes once a week. We only buy bread there,» one of the grandmothers explained.

«And how do you live?»

«That’s how we live. Some have chickens, some have rabbits. We plant gardens, share with each other.»

«And where’s the nearest store, medical post?» asked Masha.

«Oh, that’s ten kilometers from here. Sometimes grandchildren and children come by. Look, Klavdiya’s grandson tried to take her away so many times, but she won’t leave. She says she won’t leave us here,» another grandmother answered.

Klavdiya smiled.

«He’s a good grandson, only he’s just unlucky in life. He’s been married twice, and it never worked out.»

Masha immediately pictured a self-centered young man.

«I know what you’re thinking. But you’ll see for yourself. He’s threatened to come in two weeks. Says he’ll gather firewood for you, grandmother,» Klavdiya added.

The grandmothers helped Masha with the garden. They didn’t do much, but they did something.

Who would have thought she would be digging in the garden beds? Even in her worst nightmares, she never thought of such things. But now, it was nothing; she sat there, arranging seeds in the holes.

Every evening, the entire female population of the village, consisting of four grandmothers and Masha, gathered at someone’s house for tea. Masha eagerly listened to various stories.

«Remember how we caught bandits here?» Klavdiya waved her arms.

«Oh, how could I forget! Those scoundrels hid in my attic. And I didn’t even know.»

Masha’s eyes widened.

«Oh, please tell.»

«That was about fifteen years ago. Many had already left, but there were still many residential houses. We had policemen show up in the morning. We all poured out of our houses, didn’t understand what was going on. Turned out, some bandits had robbed someone, took a lot of money and all sorts of gold. And apparently, they headed our way by car, only they got lost somewhere. So the policemen were looking for them.»

«What policemen? It was already the police,» someone objected.

«Oh, what difference does it make. So, they went through the yards. And it turned out that the bandits had settled in the attic at Nikolaevna’s. Oh, we suffered so much fear then! They were shooting, and Klavdiya was at home and couldn’t leave.»

«And did they catch them?»

«They caught them. But they didn’t find either the money or the car. After that incident, the last residents left the village. They say it’s a place lost by God,» one of the grandmothers said.

«And yet people used to flock here. We have a very clean and healing spring here. So many legends about it, laid down by our great-grandmothers.»

«Yes, exactly. Women who couldn’t have children would come, live a few days on the spring water, and then everything would work out for them,» another grandmother added.

Masha dreamed all night of bandits and pregnant women. In the morning, waking up, she remembered how the grandmothers talked about a strawberry glade and decided to go there.

She always thought she was good at navigating the forest. But there were so many berries, and the forest was so beautiful, she lost track of time and realized she didn’t know where to go.

She wasn’t initially afraid, but fear set in later, as it started to get dark.

«Well, just what I needed, to disappear in the forest,» she muttered, realizing that for the first time since Vanya’s death, she wanted to live.

Perhaps it was indeed the miracle spring doing its work. When an owl started hooting, Masha ran. She felt as if wolves were surrounding her from all sides. She ran, not knowing how long, only to suddenly stop, finding herself in the middle of a glade. In the moonlight, a car stood. It was completely unclear how it had ended up there, surrounded by bushes. She remembered the grandmothers’ story. Could this be the same car that the bandits had abandoned?

A branch snapped behind her, and Masha jumped into the car with a shriek. She didn’t care what was inside; the main thing was that the forest dwellers wouldn’t reach her. By morning, she had dozed off and woke up to the sun shining directly in her face. She looked around: dust, cracked seats, and a bag full of bills on the back seat…

Masha leaned over the seat and saw that the grandmothers had gathered around.

«My dears, how glad I am to see you!» She cried with joy.

Klavdiya Nikolaevna said:

«I’ve already called my grandson, he’s on his way.»

Everyone gathered at Masha’s house, and she told them about her adventures.

«We’ll turn things around here with you! But let’s not tell anyone where the money came from.»

«We’ll clear the road, beautify it, and people will come to our spring,» they discussed.

«That’s the plan! Does anyone really understand how good it is here?»

Everyone turned around. A young man stood at the door, smiling at the gathered group.

Klavdiya Nikolaevna jumped up:

«Vanechka, the grandson has arrived!»

Of course, the word «grandson» hardly fit this two-meter-tall man. Masha flinched when the grandmother called him Vanya. Ivan turned out to be nothing like she had imagined. He was cheerful, straightforward, and seemed very smart. In two days, he mowed the grandmothers’ and Masha’s yards, piled up trees.

Meanwhile, Masha tried to figure out where to start beautifying, what to buy. And somehow Ivan caught her at it.

«May I help you? I happen to work with business plans,» he offered.

Three years later.

«Maria Anatolievna, we have a two-month waiting list ahead, and people keep calling and calling.»

Masha sighed:

«I understand, but we don’t have that much space.»

Ivan stood up from the table:

«Mash, maybe it’s time to think about expanding?»

She smiled at him:

«Well, dear, of course, we can think about it, but you’ll have to handle it alone.»

Ivan looked at her in surprise:

«Why alone? Without you?»

«Without me, because I’ll be busy with completely different things,» she answered.

Klavdiya Nikolaevna looked at Masha and suddenly said:

 

«And I always tell everyone: it’s not a legend at all, it’s all true.»

Ivan looked at his grandmother in confusion:

«What are you even talking about? I don’t understand.»

«Vanya, why do people come to us? Because the spring is healing. And we live here,» she explained.

«And so?» Ivan stared at her in the same bewilderment.

«Mash, don’t keep us in suspense,» Klavdiya added, winking.

«What do you want to say…» Ivan asked, looking at Masha.

Masha nodded. Ivan slowly stood up, looked at her in bewilderment, and then yelled, picking her up in his arms!

In the evening, they stood on the porch of their new house and looked at the village. There were new houses, more residents. The village was unrecognizable: lighting, new buildings, paths. Nearby, the sanatorium building was visible, the very one that had such a long queue.

«So, Mash, aren’t we great?» Klavdiya rejoiced.

«And we’re great, and those bandits who left the bag in the forest.»

«Let’s not even remember about it, just live here and now.»

«But we have to remember something,» Ivan interjected. «Mash, I’ve been submitting requests for three years… Basically, your husband — he’s a hero. I know it was important to you. So we need to go to the city, get all the documents, and there’s a medal waiting for you there, awarded to him posthumously.»

Masha stood silent for a while, then leaned into her husband.

«Thank you. This was indeed very important to me.»

Ivan stroked her head.

«What do you think, who will we have?»

«I don’t care, as long as everyone’s healthy.»

Ivan sighed.

«We need to think about building a school.»

Masha laughed.

«What, not about a university right away?»

They hugged and turned to face the village. They would do everything to make this place thrive, to make people here happier.