Kriszti struggled to get off the bus. She had arrived in the town where Lajos, her fiancé, came from.
The whole ride she had silently wiped away her tears. She felt like her life had ended with Lajos’ death.
But in two months, she would give birth to their daughter.
Lajos’ and her child. That was the only thing keeping her from ending everything.
Two years earlier, they had met – after Kriszti had left the state orphanage where she grew up.
The girl was attending vocational school and working nights in a factory. It was exhausting but necessary. Lajos had come to the factory to install new machines.
Kriszti had heard that a wealthy man had bought the plant and completely modernized it.
The people had mixed feelings – they were happy about the progress, but also afraid of the changes. Kriszti, too, was uncertain. “New brooms sweep clean,” people said about him at the factory.
One evening, Lajos stayed late there. He checked how the machines were being set up. The local technicians couldn’t operate them yet, so Lajos also held a sort of training session.
Kriszti’s machine was also up for inspection. The young man came over to her several times, leaving her completely flustered, but by the end of the shift, he had disappeared. Kriszti was relieved.
And yet, this young man somehow had an effect on her. After the shift, she almost ran out of the factory. Finally, she could go home, sleep – and the next day she didn’t have to go to school. Finally, some rest.
– Hey, you there! – someone called after her. – Kriszti!
She stopped. A car rolled up beside her. Lajos was inside.
– I’m here because of you – he said with a smile. – Get in, I’ll drive you home.
Kriszti looked at him suspiciously.
– Maybe we’re not even going in the same direction.
– No worries – Lajos laughed. – I guarantee it’ll work out.
Looking back, she didn’t even know why she had gotten into a stranger’s car. But all morning they drove around the city, talking. Kriszti didn’t want to sleep anymore.
That evening, when she was back home, she looked out the window – and there was Lajos’ car. Inside, Lajos was sleeping with a huge bouquet of flowers in his lap.
From that day on, they were inseparable. Three months later, Kriszti became pregnant.
Lajos proposed to her.
– As soon as I finish the work here, I’ll take you to my city. You’ll meet my mother and my little brother, they’re really nice.
– No, first tell them about me. I don’t want to just show up like, “Here’s the bride – and by the way, I’m also pregnant!”
– That’s nonsense – Lajos waved it off.
– Maybe, but that’s just how I am – Kriszti insisted.
In truth, she knew exactly how wealthy families thought about orphans. She was afraid of rejection and preferred to protect herself in advance. But Lajos only smiled, never pressuring her.
Then he left. Three months ago already. Kriszti simply waited. Waited, as if she couldn’t breathe without him.
But Lajos remained gone. No call, no letter, no visit. Everyone said he had surely abandoned her.
Kriszti didn’t believe them.
Two months later, when she didn’t even have tears left, she overheard in accounting that the man who had installed the new machines – Lajos – had died.
The world blurred before her eyes. She collapsed. She came to in the office of the chief accountant. An older woman was looking at her with compassion.
– You were the girl he was seeing?
– Yes… – Kriszti whispered.
– Don’t cry. It was an accident. He had left his car when three guys attacked him. They were caught, but that doesn’t bring him back.
Kriszti stared blankly ahead. Her chest hurt as if someone was hitting it with a hammer.
– Do you know where he’s buried?
– Yes. We from the factory were at the funeral. I’ll tell you, I’ll also show you where you can lay flowers.
– Are you going to visit his family?
– I don’t know. Maybe not.
The older woman sighed, pulled out a sheet of paper. Kriszti slowly set off for the cemetery. The rain was pouring, every step was a struggle, but she didn’t stop.
Lajos was waiting. She knew it, she felt it. They needed to say goodbye. She needed to ask for forgiveness.
Because it was for her that he had gone – to prepare his family for the meeting. Because she had only thought of herself. Because she had been afraid.
The rain grew heavier. Kriszti began to shiver. She wasn’t thinking about catching a cold. Finally, she saw the grave. A fresh mound, a sea of flowers, beside it an old family grave. Probably Lajos’ family.
Under the cross was his photo.
– Hello, my love – Kriszti whispered and fell to her knees. She sobbed. For minutes.
Then she fell asleep, exhausted, freezing, and hungry. Later, she woke up with a start.
– I need to find shelter. – She searched her pockets – the cellphone was gone.
She had no strength left. A bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Suddenly, the crypt’s door creaked. Kriszti ran inside.
– Sorry… I just want to warm up a little – she mumbled.
She collapsed to the floor and left the door slightly ajar. In the dim light, something buzzed. A cellphone. An expensive one. She picked it up.
– Hello?
No answer.
– Can you hear me?
– Yes, that’s my phone. I lost it yesterday. Where are you?
– At the cemetery.
– AT THE CEMETERY?! That’s impossible! I was measuring a grave yesterday and left my phone there. Where exactly are you?
– I’m inside a crypt.
– Excuse me?! You’re inside a crypt?!
– Yes… I’m cold… I feel very bad.
The call was cut off. Kriszti lost consciousness.
– Girl, hey, wake up! Wake up!
Slowly, Kriszti opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the face of a strange man leaning over her, looking frightened.
– Lajos? – she whispered weakly. – Is that you?
The man flinched.
– Are you Kriszti?
The girl tried to nod, but she was so weak that she could only move her eyes.
“Damn…” the man whispered and gently took her hand. “Come on, I’ll help you get up.”
But when he looked down, he noticed Kriszti’s swollen belly.
“Damn… you’re pregnant?!” he blurted out.
Again, tears flowed from Kriszti’s eyes. She said nothing, only sobbed quietly.
The man looked around helplessly, then suddenly lifted her into his arms and hurried with her out of the crypt to the car.
He laid Kriszti down on the back seat, covered her with his jacket, and then pulled out his phone.
“Mom, she’s here! She’s at the grave! The girl Lajos talked about. She really exists… and she’s pregnant!” he whispered.
On the other end of the line, a woman’s voice answered — stern, but full of emotion.
“Pregnant? By Lajos?”
“It looks like it, yes.”
“Good, bring her immediately to Dr. Sergej’s clinic! I’ll be there shortly too. Right away!”
She hung up. His face tense, he looked back at Kriszti.
“Listen… I’m Dénes. Lajos’ brother. Don’t worry, everything will be okay. I’ll take you to the doctor.”
The engine started, and they drove toward the hospital.
The clinic reacted quickly and efficiently. Kriszti was immediately taken to a private room, examined, and wrapped warmly. The nurse gently stroked her hair:
“Calm down, young mama, you’re in good hands now.”
Meanwhile, Dénes paced nervously back and forth in the waiting area. Shortly after, his mother arrived — Erika.
A tall, determined woman, every movement of hers radiating strength and discipline. Behind her hurried Dr. Sergej, a small smiling man in a white coat.
“And?” Erika asked.
“Nothing serious. Just exhaustion, shock, and the onset of an infection. The baby is fine. Luckily, she was found in time.”
Erika nodded.
“Can I see her?”
“Briefly, yes. But please, be gentle.”
Erika entered the room slowly. Kriszti was already half awake when the woman sat beside her.
“Hello. I’m Erika. Lajos’ mother.”
The girl nodded weakly.
“You look a lot like him,” Erika said more softly than one would have expected.
“I didn’t come to demand anything. I just wanted to say goodbye to him.” Her voice faltered.
“Would you tell me everything about him? About the two of you?” the woman asked.
Kriszti nodded slowly and then began to speak — for long minutes: how they met, their first date, the bouquet of flowers, the happiness, the plans.
And finally, the silence. The three months when no one called anymore.
When she finished, Erika stood up, walked around the room, and then stood by Kriszti’s bed.
“Why didn’t you go with him when he called you?”
Kriszti lowered her gaze.
“Because I’m an orphan. Raised in state care. All my life I was looked down upon because of that. I was afraid that his family… that you too…”
Erika smiled bitterly.
“Nonsense. Where you come from doesn’t define you. You’ve just met the wrong people, my child.”
Then she squeezed Kriszti’s hand again.
“Rest now. I’ll come back tomorrow morning and bring you everything you need.”
“No need… I have a bag… just my phone is missing.”
“We’ll find it.”
Erika walked out. Dénes was already waiting for her outside.
“It’s good. The baby is fine too. But… Dénes, this girl… Lajos was happy with her. I saw their pictures. We need to cherish her.”
Dénes nodded.
“I know. And we will.”
The next morning, when Kriszti woke up, Erika was already there — with a pile of things: clothes, fruit, and even a new phone.
“Erika… why are you so… kind to me?” Kriszti asked shyly.
The woman smiled.
“Because my son chose you. And because my grandchild is growing inside you.”
After a short silence, she added:
“But I have one question. When will you finally let Dénes get closer to you?”
Kriszti lowered her gaze.
“I don’t know… Lajos…”
“Lajos is dead. But you’re still alive. And life is meant to be lived. Think about it.”
Two years passed.
“Karinácska, come to me, my little heart!” Erika called out, trying to catch the laughing, curly-haired little girl.
But Karinácska giggled and ran to Kriszti, who hugged her with a smile.
“My name is Queen!” the little girl announced proudly, and Erika laughed.
Kriszti now lived downtown, in a cozy apartment. A babysitter helped her with everyday life, and she herself was studying law. She no longer looked at the future with fear, but with hope.
That day, Erika spoke to her in a serious voice:
“Kriszti, I want to talk to you. Just the two of us.”
The girl froze. Although Erika had never been harsh or cruel, Kriszti always had a bit of respect — or fear — toward her. She sensed that something important was coming now.
“Yes… of course, I’m listening.”
“Please answer honestly. How much longer will you and Dénes keep torturing each other?”
Kriszti’s eyes widened.
“What do you mean?”
“I see it. He barely sleeps, eats poorly, works constantly, and watches over you. And you… you look at him like you want him, but you don’t let him near you. Why?”
Kriszti blushed.
“I… I don’t know, Erika. Maybe… I still haven’t let go of Lajos. I still love him. And… I feel guilty. Because someone else also… appeals to me.”
Erika sat down opposite her and said quietly but firmly:
“Lajos is dead. He loved you and was happy with you. But he’s not coming back. You are alive. And life is not for suffering. Dénes loves you. You can see it in every move he makes.”
Kriszti’s gaze trembled.
“I love him too… but I don’t know how to start again.”
“By just trying. That’s all. Try — if it works, you’ll be happy. If not, you can say you tried. But this floating in limbo helps no one. Least of all Karina.”
After the conversation, Kriszti sat for a long time staring at her phone. Her old device was back — they had found it intact in the crypt.
She took it out, slowly and decisively opened her messages, found Dénes’ name, and simply wrote:
“Yes. I’m in.”
Two months later
Karinácska clapped her hands happily as Kriszti and Dénes walked hand in hand out of the town hall. Erika stood there with a bouquet and hugged them both.
“Thank you, Mom,” Dénes whispered.
“I thank you. For not letting the past kill the future.”
That evening, when Karinácska was already asleep, Kriszti leaned toward Dénes.
“There’s something I never really said. Maybe because I thought it couldn’t be said. But now I know.”
“What is it?” Dénes asked.
“I love you. Completely. With my past, with everything. And I’m not afraid anymore.”
Dénes wrapped his arms around her and said simply:
“I was never afraid. I was just waiting for you.”
