– What nonsense is this? Why won’t the door open? The key’s stuck! – Vladislav shouted into the phone, yanking the handle.
– Lena, explain what’s going on?
– Because you don’t live here anymore, – Elena replied calmly.
– I changed the locks. And your things are by the door.
Silence on the other end.
– Have you lost your mind?
– No, Vladik, I’ve finally come to my senses. A little late, of course, but better late than never.
Elena always believed that fate had been kind to her.
She was born in Chaikovsky – a small town by the river, where life flowed calmly and peacefully.
Her parents, Valentina and Nikolai Pavlovich, were teachers.
Kind-hearted and humble people, known and respected by everyone in town.
Elena was a long-awaited daughter – a late child, surrounded by love but not spoiled.
– The main thing is to remain a good person, – her mother often repeated.
– It’s not what you become, but who you become that matters.
Her father would add:
– Study hard, Lenochka. Education is the key to all the doors in life.
Elena studied diligently, participated in academic competitions, and often won.
Together with her best friends – Ira and Natasha – she dreamed of conquering the capital after school.
– Imagine: university, the metro, cafés, museums! – Lena exclaimed dreamily, sitting on a bench by the river.
Ira sighed:
– You’ll definitely get in. You’re our top student. As for us… we’ll see.
– We’re all leaving together, – Lena said confidently. – We’re a team!
She graduated school with a gold medal and was admitted to a teaching university in Yekaterinburg.
Ira chose medicine, and Natasha stayed in Chaikovsky to help her mother at the pharmacy.
Parting from her parents was hard.
– You’ll be alone there… – her mother fretted. – A big city, a different life…
– Mom, everything will be fine, – Lena smiled, though inside she trembled.
University consumed her completely. New people, a new pace of life, dormitory, sleepless nights, lectures, breaks, coffee from vending machines.
Her roommates – Yana and Veronika – quickly became her new friends. Cheerful, vibrant, loud.
– Lenka, you’re a gem! – Yana admired. – You get everything instantly and still manage the household! You’re perfect!
– That’s just how we do things at home, – Lena said shyly.
– Come with us to the party on Friday! – Veronika winked. – It’ll be fun. Promise.
Lena hesitated. She didn’t like noise. But… why not try?
On Friday, the three of them got ready in the dorm room.
Lena chose a simple dark blue dress that her mother had given her as a farewell gift.
It highlighted her eyes and seemed modest but elegant.
The party was held in a rented hall.
Music, lights, unfamiliar faces.
Lena stood by the wall, feeling out of place. Her friends quickly melted into the crowd.
– Hi, – a voice sounded nearby. – You look lost. First time here?
Lena turned around. A tall guy stood before her with an open smile and attentive gaze.
– Vladislav. Fifth year, law faculty.
– Lena. Second year. Teaching.
– Let’s go out on the balcony. It’s too loud in here.
It was indeed quieter on the balcony. Vlad told stories, joked, talked about art, books, and travel.
She listened to him, holding her breath.
– Tomorrow I’ll show you a place. Not a tourist spot. My favorite in the city.
She agreed. That’s how their romance began.
Vlad was attentive and chivalrous. Flowers, walks, cafés, movies, gifts for no reason.
Everything seemed like a fairytale. A year later, they got married. It was modest but heartfelt.
Elena didn’t know Vlad’s parents well – his mother lived in another city, and his father had died when Vlad was a teenager.
– I don’t want to invite my mother, – Vlad said. – We barely talk. She’ll ruin everything.
The honeymoon was in Sochi. Vlad booked an expensive hotel and arranged dinners on the terrace with a sea view.
– You deserve the best, – he said. – I want everything to be beautiful for us.
After the wedding, they moved into a new apartment – a gift from Lena’s parents.
Vlad insisted on expensive renovations and furniture.
– Don’t skimp. This is your home. It should be luxurious.
At first, life went smoothly. Vlad got a job at a large firm.
Money came easily, Lena worked at school and developed teaching materials.
– You’re everything to me, – Vlad said. – I work like crazy for you.
Six months later, Lena found out she was pregnant.
– I’m going to be a father! – he spun her around the apartment with joy.
– This is a real miracle! Thank you!
He took care of her, spoiled her, brought her fruit and mineral water, even hired a courier so she wouldn’t carry anything heavy.
But the pregnancy wasn’t easy. The nausea was brutal, and she had almost no energy.
At first, Vlad patiently cared for her, but then something changed in his behavior.
– I can’t eat the same damn pasta every night! – he grumbled.
– You’re home all day — why can’t you make a proper dinner?
– I felt awful… I couldn’t even get out of bed, – Lena whispered.
– You always have an excuse…
He started staying late at work more and more.
Late returns, exhaustion, irritability became his norm.
After their son Matvei was born, Vlad was ecstatic for two days.
And then he vanished. Said he was staying at a friend’s. In reality – he was drinking.
– I’m not made for diapers! – he yelled. – I’m a man, not a babysitter!
Lena said nothing. She did everything herself: carried the baby, fed him, washed, ironed.
When Matvei turned one, she became pregnant again.
And naively hoped things would now improve.
– Are you kidding me?! – Vlad exploded when he learned about the second pregnancy.
– You can’t handle one kid — and you decided to have another?
– We wanted two children…
– I wanted that before you turned into a gray little mouse! Look at yourself!
Elena couldn’t hold back her tears.
– Where did your love go?
– Love? You still believe in fairy tales? – he scoffed.
– Everything fades. Especially patience.
With the birth of their daughter, Nika, things became unbearable. Vlad didn’t even come to the hospital.
– He’s on a sudden business trip, – Lena lied to the nurse.
Her friend Sveta helped her get home.
– Your husband’s a real bastard, – she said quietly. – Leave him. Before it’s too late.
At home, the nightmare began. Vlad drank. The money vanished.
He yelled, accused her, threatened to leave, then returned with flowers and shouted: “You’re my sunshine!”
– You should be grateful I come back at all, – he once hissed.
Lena might have endured even that… But then a girl came to see her.
– Are you Lena? – the girl asked at the door. – I’m Diana. I… I’m pregnant with Vlad’s child.
The world tilted.
– Come in, – Elena said, gripping the doorframe.
Diana spoke calmly.
– We love each other. He’ll be a good father. I don’t want to ruin your life…
Just… understand, he’s been with me for a while. I didn’t know he had kids.
Elena was silent for a long time. Then she said:
– He’s yours. Congratulations. Just remember: the same way he left me, he’ll leave you too.
Two days later, Vlad returned.
– What the hell?! Why won’t the lock open?!
– Because you don’t live here anymore, Vladislav Sergeyevich. Welcome to reality.
– This is my house! – he shouted into the phone.
– No. The apartment is mine. And our marriage… is also in the past.
She hung up.
The divorce was quick. There was nothing to split. Elena got a job at a private school. Put the kids into daycare and elementary classes. The money was tight, but they made ends meet.
A year later, she was teaching her own literature courses and attending conferences.
Her name became known. She got invitations.
Matvei joined a soccer club. Nika took up drawing. Laughter and joy returned to their lives.
One day, leaving the metro, Elena saw a man by a trash bin. She didn’t recognize him right away. Swollen face. Empty eyes.
– Vlad?
He slowly looked up.
– Lena… You.
– What happened to you?
– I… just. Life, I guess. Or me…
Turns out, Diana disappeared after six months. There was no baby.
Vlad lost his job — drank, lost control, lied. His mother turned away from him.
– I ruined everything myself. Everything I had. You understand?
Elena looked at him. And felt… emptiness. No anger. No pity.
– How are the kids? – he asked after a pause.
– Growing up. And, you know, they don’t ask about you. Maybe that’s for the best.
He nodded silently and walked away.
That evening, she sat on the balcony, holding her children.
Matvei enthusiastically told her how he scored a goal at practice.
Nika happily showed her drawing: a bright rainbow and a fluffy bunny.
Elena smiled. Everything was turning out just as it should.
– Thank you, life, – she whispered softly, looking at the city lit with lights. – For not letting me break.
