– What right do you have? I don’t have a single ruble of my own here! I supported the family on my own, and now… now I’m sitting here, chained to a chair. And who’s to blame for this? – Vera barely audibly said, unable to hold back her tears.
A beautiful woman stood frozen by the panoramic window. She was a little over thirty. Vera was lost in her memories… Her husband’s betrayal. How long ago had it been? Time had dulled the pain, but her heart… It still ached at the thought of the past.
Sofia – that was the name of this woman in her past, provincial life.
She lost her mother when she was a baby. Her father… He became everything to her – both dad and mom. He surrounded her with such care that Sofia never felt deprived of her mother’s love.
She studied brilliantly! She graduated from school with a medal, then from the financial academy. Dad insisted. “What next?” – this question did not give her any peace. She did not want to leave, but her father was adamant: “You can’t bury talent in the ground!”
Sofia made up her mind and sent her resume to leading companies in the regional center.
“They won’t take me anyway,” she thought, simply wanting to calm her father down. He was so worried that his daughter would get stuck in their backwoods.
And suddenly – an invitation to an interview! Without much hope, Sofia set off. Who would have thought? She was accepted! An innovative company, a promising position…
The company turned out to be generous – they provided a service apartment! And the boss, caring about the new employee, advised: “Get a license. We’ll provide a car – it will be easier to get there.”
The first year in the new city flew by like one day…
Sofia easily got into the work rhythm. Her colleagues doted on her! Always collected, responsible, with an easy character. Only after work she hurried home – no hanging out in bars, no club parties.
– Hey, friend! You’ll end up an old maid. It’s time to get married! – Katya, one of her colleagues, teased her.
“It’s nothing… My prince is still on his way,” Sofia joked, hurrying to her quiet bachelor abode.
No one had any idea about her secret fear. The fear of losing her loved one, just as her father had once lost his mother. The fear of becoming a widow haunted her relentlessly.
Life… Sometimes it presents surprises that are more terrible than death. When a loved one becomes a stranger – isn’t that even more terrible?
They quickly became friends with Katya.
A married merry fellow – her husband was often away. He trusted his wife, and she appreciated it. Yes, Katya loved to have fun in the company of her friends – to dance, to sing. But she didn’t let men anywhere near her!
And then one day Katya winked mysteriously:
– Come this evening! I have a surprise… I’ll introduce you to someone!
Sofia arrived, still perplexed.
At the table are Katya with her husband and… Him. The stranger immediately attracted her attention. There was something about him… Charisma? Charm? Sofia felt: this was fate.
– Meet Andrey! – Katya chirped. – A friend of my Pavel. Also from the provinces, like you. Came to conquer the capital!
The evening flew by…
Afterwards, Andrey volunteered to walk Sofia home. But they were in no hurry to go home – they wandered around the night city, talking about everything under the sun.
The meetings became daily. Sofia was fluttering with happiness! First love covered her head. It seemed that he was crazy about her too. She wanted to introduce her beloved to her father. He rushed by the first train – of course, his daughter was getting married! He had long dreamed of grandchildren…
Only something about his future son-in-law alarmed the father.
– Honey, be careful. His eyes… They don’t look kind.
– Dad, what are you doing?! Andrey is the most sensitive, the most attentive! We’ve already set the date. Will you come?
– Of course, my dear! I’m so happy for you. And about the guy… Maybe I’m wrong. I’m getting old – that’s why I’m seeing things. Don’t listen to me!
The wedding was held quickly. Only then did Sofia meet his family – her mother and sister arrived. The mother-in-law, a striking forty-year-old woman, immediately began hinting at grandchildren. Like, a man needs heirs…
Sofia immediately cut him off:
– No! It’s too early to talk about children. We rent a place, I’m just starting my career, and Andrey is still out of work. First, I need to get back on my feet.
The father was puzzled by his daughter’s reasonableness. He thought that the rush to the wedding was due to the pregnancy…
The young couple settled in Sofia’s service apartment. The management did not object – they valued her as a specialist. “Lucky with the employee!” – said the director.
A year flew by – and now she was making a down payment on a small house. She took out the mortgage herself. Andrey… He was home less and less often, as if he was drifting away.
Where did their evening conversations go? The tender embraces? The confessions? “The passion is gone,” Sofia once complained to her father. But he reassured her:
– Darling, this is life! The moon and the stars are not eternal. Everyday life comes… Anything can happen in a family – both joy and sorrow. The main thing is – is he faithful? Doesn’t drink? Doesn’t cheat?
– What are you saying, dad! Andrey is looking for a job… He can’t find a decent one. I was lucky with the company, but he gets complaints everywhere. But he’ll cope, he’ll definitely do it!
– God willing, my dear…
And Andrey really wasn’t in a hurry to find a job. He went “for interviews”, returned – and again there was failure.
Later, Sofia learns the truth: her husband simply spent his days at his mother’s in the suburbs, playing computer games. After such “visits,” he returned gloomy and taciturn.
The mother-in-law also visited.
These visits exhausted Sofia. The only conversation was grandchildren! “Have children soon!” And what about Sofia? “Let Andrey find a job first. Then we’ll think about children.”
– So that’s it! – the mother-in-law flared up. – How calculating! You sat on your son’s neck and dangled your legs? Are you waiting for him to start straining himself? Shameless!
————————————————————-
But quiet Sofia suddenly exploded:
– Maybe you should give birth yourself? You’re old enough! Babysit – I don’t want to! And by the way, I have to pay the mortgage… Alone! Because your son doesn’t want to work!
After this, my mother-in-law was completely taken aback.
Time flew. Sofia paid off the mortgage, the house became her property. And Andrey? Gloomier every day. True, he finally got a job – as a taxi driver.
Just what of it? Earnings are tears…
Sofia was building a career. She dreamed: she would save up money, have a baby. They would live – no worries!
But fate was preparing a vile blow…
Sofia remembered that evening forever. Andrey flew into the house, beaming and excited. He hugged her: “Darling, I have a surprise!” And dragged her outside.
There, in the yard, a huge bike was on display.
– The boss is selling it, almost for nothing! – Andrey chattered. – They’ll deduct it from your salary… Let’s go for a ride? Check out my handsome man!
Sofia’s heart sank. Again, all the expenses were on her! She could forget about the child…
– Come on, jump in! I don’t have a helmet, though… I didn’t have time to buy one. But I’ll be careful, don’t be afraid!
– Are you crazy? You can’t go without a helmet! They’ll take away your license… And it’s dangerous!
“You won’t get lost with me!” he winked.
And Sofia saw the same Andrey, the old one – cheerful, confident, dear… Her heart sank, foreseeing trouble. But she sat down anyway.
Let’s go!
The wind whistled in her ears, knocking out tears. Sofia closed her eyes – the flickering lights and shadows frightened her.
– Andrey, stop! Please, slow down! – she screamed. But her husband seemed not to hear. Faster, faster… And then – darkness.
I woke up in a hospital room. My tearful father was next to me.
– My daughter! You’re awake! – he sobbed. – The doctors didn’t promise… Thank you, Lord!
– Dad… Andrey… Where is he?
– What about Andrey? He’s out somewhere… She was unconscious for ten days! Your boss is a gem, he paid for everything. The best clinic, the best doctors… And your husband… I’d like to wring his neck! The main thing is that you’re alive!
Recovery was difficult.
Spinal injury, pinched nerve… Sofia couldn’t walk on her own.
“He will recover,” the doctors assured. “Rehabilitation is needed. Long, difficult… But he will get back on his feet!”
I returned home in a wheelchair. Thanks to my boss – he allowed me to work from home, kept my salary. I always appreciated it… Now I couldn’t find a place for myself – as if I was to blame for what happened.
Andrey had to become a nurse. Help wash, change clothes, cook food… All the household chores fell on him. But how long will he last?
He started disappearing from his mother’s. “I need to eat properly! I’m a man, I need hot dinners!” But his mother-in-law never visited him, and didn’t even bring food to her daughter-in-law.
Andrey became rude before our eyes. Once he left at dawn, while Sofia was sleeping. And she… She couldn’t move to the chair. She lay there all day – hungry, exhausted by thirst. But the most painful thing was the resentment.
I was embarrassed to call Mila – it would be awkward to disturb her. And most importantly – I was ashamed of my husband to the point of tears.
He returned in the evening and looked askance:
– You’ve got it all figured out! You’re just lying there… You know, your mother is right – I don’t need a crippled wife. I’m getting a divorce. We’ll split the property in half – we acquired it during the marriage. There’s no point in wasting time on you. I won’t have children now anyway…
– Andrey, come to your senses! You didn’t invest a penny in the house – I was the one raising the family. And I ended up in the chair because of you!
– Shut up! You’re annoying me! I thought I’d get married and live happily ever after! But now I have to take out the pots and cook porridge…
He left… Sofia gathered her remaining strength. She called her father, then Katya. She asked for help. Her family did not abandon her – it became easier.
A couple of days later, a letter arrived – a statement of divorce. Sofia did not admit it even to herself, but she kept waiting: what if he comes to his senses? What if he comes back?
The miracle did not happen.
Instead, a call: “Pay for the bike! It crashed because of you!” And then a lawsuit for division of property.
Sofia could have lost her home. She cried to Katya, her father… They supported her as best they could.
And here comes the trial.
The judge turned out to be a man of few words. He listened to the parties – however, Andrey did not show up, he sent a lawyer.
But the decision stunned everyone. The grey-moustached servant of Themis said:
— Grant the divorce. Assign the defendant to pay alimony to the disabled spouse.
Andrey’s lawyer turned white.
I didn’t expect the judge to look into the case so thoroughly. But he approached the process with full responsibility.
The claim for division of property was rejected. The house turned out to be a gift from Sofia’s father – such property is not subject to division.
It’s all about the father’s foresight. Once he insisted: “Daughter, sign the house over to me!” The mortgage was closed, Sofia is the sole owner. The father explained about the benefits for pensioners.
Sofia didn’t bother at the time – she did as he asked. And then he returned the house as a gift. “No longer needed,” he simply said.
So Andrey was left with nothing.
And Sofia… She coped. She got back on her feet, found new happiness. Now she was standing by the window of the maternity hospital, remembering the past. Her husband was supposed to come for her – that same boss.
He couldn’t resist her grey eyes. He proposed as soon as the divorce was final.
