— Zinaida Nikitishna, there must be no mushrooms left! — Tanya exclaimed with frustration, even throwing up her hands.
— So what if there aren’t! — her mother-in-law snapped.
— But maybe there’s still something left? Get ready, we’ll be quick!
As always, Zinaida Nikitishna wasn’t about to hear any objections.
Tanya had just come back from the garden—her back ached, her legs were shaking.
And now she had to drag herself out again into the October chill… Lord, what for?
Fighting with her mother-in-law would cost her dearly.
The old spiel would begin again: “Ungrateful Tanya!
Any other woman would’ve kicked her out long ago, but I’m still putting up with her…”
No thanks. She didn’t want to hear it for the hundredth time.
Tanya had been living with this woman for three years.
She only lived with her husband for two—and he wasn’t much of a husband anyway.
They met when Tanya had just left the orphanage and didn’t know where to go.
Andrey had offered, “Be my wife, we’ll move to the village, I’ve got a big house.”
The house was big. So big that cleaning it took Tanya half the day.
But it didn’t belong to him—it was his mother’s.
A woman who hated the whole world, but especially Tanya.
Andrey hadn’t died or disappeared. He’d simply left for some other woman, at the edge of the world.
And Tanya stayed.
No one knew why. Formally, she was still his wife, but in reality—a free maid.
At first, she cried from resentment. It was shameful—young, beautiful, and life had turned upside down.
Then she no longer had time to cry: Zinaida Nikitishna loaded her with so much work that she had no time for anything else.
The old woman went all out: bought two greenhouses, expanded the garden, even got a cow and a couple of piglets.
Why not, if she had free labor?
Tanya later found out that Zinaida was sending money to Andrey and his new girlfriend.
Now that was a real punch in the gut—Tanya was working so they could live comfortably?
The neighbors pitied Tanya:
— Why are you letting her walk all over you? — Stepanovna fumed.
— Acting like some fancy farmer! Back when Andrey lived here, neither of them lifted a finger, and now she’s running a whole operation!
Tanya only smiled sadly. It was unbearably hard, but leaving meant being completely alone.
Where would she go? Out on the street?
— You’re no bum! — scoffed Stepanovna. — Look at how much you do!
You’d be useful anywhere. Here you’ll just waste away!
Tanya knew the neighbors were right.
But how could she leave an old woman alone? They’d lived under one roof for years… so she just sighed.
But when she heard Zinaida wanted to expand the potato field, she thought—maybe it really was time to leave?
Tanya got dressed first and stepped outside into the miserable drizzle.
— Tanya, dear! Where are you going in this weather? — called Stepanovna.
— Zinaida Nikitishna’s sending me for mushrooms, — Tanya sighed.
The neighbor laughed, then stared in disbelief:
— Seriously? What mushrooms? Only toadstools left now!
Zinaida came down from the porch:
— It’s none of your business what kind of mushrooms! We’ll find some—you’re not the only one here!
Stepanovna spat:
— Zina, born a fool, die a fool!
You act all high and mighty, but everyone knows who you really are!
She spat again and disappeared behind the fence.
Zinaida barked:
— What are you standing around for? Let’s go, it’ll be dark soon!
In truth, she already regretted going out.
But she couldn’t stand seeing Tanya idle.
When Andrey brought her home, he said, “Mom, use her—free labor!”
At first Zinaida watched carefully, then realized the girl was tough.
Andrey was getting ready to leave—she didn’t stop him.
Let him see the world. She had a helper now.
They reached the forest when suddenly Nikitishna said:
— Oh no, I forgot! I’ve got dough rising at home!
I’ll run back—you go toward the ravine. Vasya brought back a whole sack of mushrooms from there yesterday.
Tanya was surprised:
— But I’ve never been there! It’s an unfamiliar forest and it’s far…
— What, you think mushrooms grow in the garden? No! Go where others go—you’ll find them too! What’s the problem?
And Zinaida turned and briskly walked home.
Tanya took a step after her, but realized—better the forest than the house.
Clenching her teeth, she stepped into the gloomy gap between the trees.
She reached the ravine at dusk.
She wanted to turn back right away—but how could she return home without mushrooms?
The mushrooms were right in front of her.
She started cutting them quickly, picking only the firmest ones.
Then another stump, and another…
She came to only when her basket was full and darkness had nearly fallen.
— Oh no! — she gasped.
She looked around.
She had no idea where the ravine was now.
She ran one way—nothing.
Back—still nothing.
Everything looked familiar, as if she’d been walking in circles.
Fear paralyzed her.
Night, unfamiliar forest… she couldn’t even move.
— Help!
Tanya opened her eyes.
She thought she’d nodded off, sitting under a big oak on the wet ground.
— Help!
No, that wasn’t her voice.
Someone else nearby was calling. A child?
She moved toward the voice, pushing through branches.
She left the basket behind.
Zinaida would surely freak out over it…
The voice grew closer.
— Hey! Where are you?
— Are you Baba Yaga? Did you come to eat me?
— No! I’m Tanya. I got lost too.
She finally saw the girl—sitting on a high stump.
— Wow, that’s a tall perch!
— There were… frogs… — the child whispered.
She looked at Tanya hopefully:
— Will you save me?
— Of course! That’s why I came. But let’s wait until morning—it’s easy to fall or get hurt at night.
Tanya could tell the girl had been crying. She had to comfort her.
— You won’t leave me?
— No. Let’s make ourselves comfortable.
In the dark, Tanya gathered branches and made a sort of bed.
The ground was damp, but they had no choice.
She sat the girl on her lap, covered her with her jacket—the girl soon stopped shivering.
— My name’s Masha…
— Why’d you come here, Masha? To eat the bears’ porridge and mess up their beds?
Masha giggled:
— No! I wanted to scare Daddy… and I got lost.
— Why scare him?
— He wouldn’t let me go swimming…
— Swimming? It’s fall, it’s freezing!
— I wouldn’t have actually swum… but why didn’t he let me?
Her voice slowed, became softer.
Tanya smiled—the child was falling asleep.
Just a few more hours till sunrise.
She must have nodded off too—she woke to light.
Morning crept through the trees, Masha snored peacefully on her lap, and the sun was rising above the forest.
— Wake up, sleepyhead! We’ve gotta find your dad!
Masha rubbed her eyes:
— Why find him? He works here—he’s the forest ranger.
Tanya was stunned.
She’d seen the ranger a few times and blushed every time—he was handsome, confident, and had a special look in his eyes…
But they’d never spoken, and she didn’t even know his name.
So he had a daughter… and probably a wife. Of course.
— Alright, let’s go that way! — Tanya pointed. — The sun rises in the east, so your village must be over there.
Masha squinted slyly:
— How do you know where my village is?
— The frogs told me! — Tanya laughed.
Masha burst out laughing:
— Let’s go! I’m starving!
Tanya sighed. If only it were all that simple…
They might be heading the right way, but who knew what was waiting for them?
About two hours later, they heard barking.
Masha, exhausted, perked up:
— Laska! Joy!
Two huge dogs leapt from the bushes.
Tanya froze, but the girl ran to them, hugging and kissing them.
The dogs, nearly as big as her, squealed in delight and tried to lick her face.
— They’re ours! That means Dad’s nearby!
A long whistle followed, the dogs barked in reply.
One stayed with the girls, the other dashed ahead, as if to deliver the news.
A minute later, they heard footsteps—and a tall man stepped from the woods.
Seeing his daughter, he swept her up and spun her:
— Masha! You scared me to death!
— I scared myself! I won’t do it again! Tanya saved me!
Tanya gave a weak smile. Saved her… though she was lost herself.
She sank onto a stump—sudden exhaustion washed over her.
The tension from the last day began to fade.
The ranger handed her a flask:
— Drink. Rest a bit, then we’ll go.
Tanya took a few sips of cool juice and stood up.
They walked for almost an hour.
Yura carried Masha, the dogs led the way, pushing back the underbrush.
When the village appeared, Tanya knew—it wasn’t her home.
She still had nearly six kilometers to go. She groaned quietly.
Yura seemed to catch on right away:
— Rest, eat something, and I’ll take you. I’ve got a motorcycle.
Tanya smiled. She didn’t know his name but was too shy to ask.
As if reading her mind, he said:
— I’m Yura.
And you’re Tanya—Masha told me.
The house was on the edge of the forest.
It was clear he lived alone—everything was clean, cozy, simple.
— Make yourselves at home. I’ll feed you.
Masha nodded:
— I’ll eat everything!
Yura laughed:
— Everything? That’s three spoonfuls and a piece of bread!
Tanya ate hot borscht and felt warmth spreading inside—forgotten warmth.
Someone cared for her, offered her food, spoke gently: “Don’t rush, eat.”
No one yelled that work was waiting.
She could simply be.
But soon she’d have to go back—to a house that had long become a cage.
Tanya fought sleep, but Yura noticed:
— Lie down. Rest. Nothing bad will happen.
And really—what could? Would a weed grow in the garden?
Lying on the soft couch, Tanya suddenly realized—it was time to leave.
As soon as she returned, she’d pack and go.
Even if no one waited for her—she’d find work.
She woke up in the evening:
— Oh no! Why didn’t you wake me?!
Yura smiled:
— I couldn’t. You were smiling in your sleep.
— And Masha?
— Sleeping like a rock.
Tanya sighed:
— Zinaida will kill me over that basket…
Yura was surprised:
— She’ll kill you because you almost died?
Tanya nodded uncertainly, then suddenly began to talk.
In a way she never had before.
She told him everything—three years of life, work without rest, how she’d lost herself.
Yura shook his head:
— How can someone value themselves so little?
— I’ve already decided. I’ll go back, pack, and move to the city.
— Who’s waiting for you there?
— No one. Nothing. I’ll figure it out. I’ll find work.
Yura was silent for a moment, then softly said:
— Stay. You’ll always be welcome here.
As a helper, a friend.
And if you choose to leave—I’ll help you find a job.
Tanya looked at him and felt something inside begin to melt…
— Had a fun night out, did you? — Zinaida Nikitishna didn’t even start scolding properly—she was too tired from tending the animals.
— You left your relative alone in the woods!
— What relative! My idiot son should’ve come back long ago, but he won’t!
— Oh, shut up! Am I supposed to be grateful for life? — Tanya suddenly snapped.
— What’s this racket?! — Stepanovna butted in. — Oh, look who’s here!
It was Yura on his motorcycle. Tanya stepped out, said goodbye, and turned toward the house.
Zinaida was stunned:
— Where were you, you tramp! Still call yourself a wife? Where’s the basket?
Tanya came out a minute later, fully packed:
— Goodbye.
— Where are you going?!
— I won’t tolerate your abuse anymore. You think I owe you mountains for your “kindness”?
Zinaida opened her mouth but said nothing.
Stepanovna, grinning, added:
— Serves you right, drama queen!
That evening, Yura told Tanya that after Masha’s birth, his wife was ill for a long time and died two years later.
Since then, he’d moved with his daughter to this remote village to start over.
They agreed that Tanya would begin work in a week.
Until then, she had to rest—doctor’s orders, said Yura.
And six months later, they had a loud village wedding.
And they lived happily ever after—just like in a fairy tale.
