Svetlana sat quietly on a bench outside the maternity hospital, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision she had made. She had wondered if it would have been better to leave her baby here, where the authorities could care for him. But there was no choice—she felt there were no other options. As soon as her partner learned she was pregnant, he disappeared without a trace. Later, it turned out he was already married, looking for nothing more than a fleeting affair.

Abandoning her child was never an option. However, her indecision now put her baby at risk of being without warmth or sustenance. Through tear-filled eyes, Svetlana gazed at the tiny nose peeking from the blanket.

Svetlana had lost her parents when she was young. After their passing, her home was destroyed in a fire, caused by faulty wiring, according to the fire department. Her only option was to live with her aunt. However, her aunt, already overwhelmed with her own children, treated Svetlana coldly.

Determined to move forward, Svetlana found work and hoped for a brighter future. She then met Savely, a handsome young man with an expensive car. When her aunt found out about their relationship, she forced Svetlana to leave her house. Savely helped her find a place in a dormitory, but now, even that was no longer available to her.

Wiping away her tears, Svetlana tried to gather her thoughts. What was she supposed to do now?

There was a rustling behind the bushes, and two nurses emerged, taking a break to smoke.

"Did you see how Tamara Ivanovna's husband brought her today?" one nurse asked.

"Yes, I saw. It's such a shame. She's such a good doctor, but nobody is immune to that. She lost a child and can never have another, yet she still helps deliver babies every day."

"She's an excellent doctor and a wonderful person," the other nurse replied.

"Yes, they had been hoping for this pregnancy for so long. They’re over forty now. And the house they built..."

Svetlana looked at her son and whispered, "Forgive me. I hope everything turns out as I intended."

She walked to the church to reflect on her decision. Inside, she cried quietly for almost an hour, only leaving when her child began to stir. She found a quiet spot and decided to take a brief walk.

In the park, she watched the ducks, but she couldn’t stay long. There were too many families with children. She realized she would never be able to take her son to the park or teach him how to play. Her life seemed to be falling apart, yet her heart remained focused on her child.

As darkness fell, Svetlana found herself in front of a new house with a green roof. The lights were on inside, but there was no sign of anyone. She kissed her baby tenderly on the nose, then walked towards the house, overcome with emotion.

On the large porch, she carefully placed a box she had found in a dumpster. Inside, she placed the baby, who immediately began to cry. Svetlana closed her eyes tightly, her heart aching as his cries pierced her soul.

She rang the doorbell and held it down for a long moment before swiftly running away. She hid behind a tree, listening to the baby’s cries. A loud male voice came from inside the house:

"Tamara, come quickly!"

Svetlana clenched the sleeve of her jacket, fighting the urge to shout and run to the child.

A woman appeared at the door, gently lifting the baby into her arms.

"Quickly, Tolya! Get inside the house," she said urgently.

The door closed, and the baby’s cries faded into silence.

Exhausted, Svetlana sank to the ground by the tree, unsure how long she had been there. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark. She stood up and walked toward the outskirts of the city—there was nothing left for her here. She kept her documents in her pocket, though they now seemed irrelevant.

An hour later, she reached the highway, and after another half hour, a truck stopped and picked her up. The driver, an elderly man, was headed north, and she told him that she was going there too.

"Matvey, how wonderful to see you!" a woman exclaimed as her son got out of the truck and embraced her warmly.

"Mom, don't sit in the heat. You know about your blood pressure," Matvey said.

"Oh, don’t worry about that! Where's my sunshine?" she responded with a smile.

A young woman stepped out of the truck, holding a toddler. The boy, around two years old, was still sleepy but brightened as soon as he saw his grandmother.

"Grandma!"

"Come here, my joy!" Tamara Ivanovna spread her arms wide.

The daughter-in-law handed over the child, joking, "You stay with him for two days, and Matvey and I will get some rest."

Tamara Ivanovna laughed, "Rest as much as you want! You get the weekend off, and I get to see my grandson once a month."

Matvey winked at his wife, "Mom, we’ll definitely rest. I brought fishing rods, and I plan to teach Vera how to fish. How's the river? Is it still dry?"

"Fishing?" Vera scoffed. "There haven’t been any fish there for years. And you, instead of spending time with your mom, just plan to sit by the water! You’d better help with the supplies. I remember how your mom and I used to make compotes and jams…”

Matvey theatrically sighed, "Ah, you caught me! Fine, I’ll fix the fence. It’s about time we did that. By the way, yesterday Pashka called, asking how things were here."

The day passed quickly, and Matvey smiled slyly, never revealing the truth: they had not come just for the weekend but for a three-week vacation. After his father’s death, his mother had changed, even though she tried to hide it. Matvey had long since moved to another city, becoming a renowned doctor who had begun his career in his hometown. Now he led one of the most advanced perinatal centers.

Vera, the center’s accountant, had become his partner. Though they longed to visit their relatives more often, Matvey’s work schedule had made it difficult. Now, they had decided to take a vacation to help his mother and address some household matters.

That evening, the family decided to have a barbecue. Andryusha, their son, was happily playing in the sandbox. Matvey and his childhood friend, Pashka, were discussing roof repairs and future work on Pavel’s house. Tamara Ivanovna, busy in the kitchen, pretended to scold the men, but her face radiated happiness. Having the whole family together was a rare occasion.

"Mom, we have some news for you," Matvey said, breaking the silence.

"What news, dear?" she asked, curiosity lighting her face.

"Wait, I want to check your reaction first," he grinned, playfully tapping her with a towel. "We’re staying for three weeks!"

Tamara Ivanovna sank onto the bench, stunned by the news. "Why didn’t you say so earlier? That’s wonderful!"

She wiped away joyful tears. Matvey, worried, asked, "Mom, why are you crying?"

"These are tears of happiness, dear," she replied, smiling warmly.

The family spent a long time talking, covering a variety of topics, when an unfamiliar woman appeared at the gate. Matvey stood up and approached her.

"Hello! Are you looking for us? Please, come in—mom is home," he said.

The woman entered the yard, hesitating as she approached the table. "I’m sorry if I’ve intruded."

Vera studied the guest carefully, then glanced at Tamara Ivanovna. She noticed how Tamara’s face paled, and she clutched her heart.

"Tamara Ivanovna, what’s wrong?" Vera asked in alarm, rushing to her.

Matvey and Pashka quickly helped her inside, measured her blood pressure, and gave her something to calm down.

Once Tamara Ivanovna recovered, Matvey went back outside. "Where is that woman?" he asked, looking around.

Vera looked at her husband. "She disappeared as soon as Tamara Ivanovna started feeling better. I have no idea who she could be. Maybe an acquaintance of your mom’s?"

"Maybe a distant relative," Matvey suggested.

Pasha and Vera exchanged surprised glances.

"How can you be so sure she’s a relative?" Vera asked. "Although… she did look familiar. Look in the mirror! If I didn’t know your history, I’d think you two were mother and son," she said thoughtfully.

Matvey turned to Pasha, confused. "Yes, they look remarkably similar. I swear."

Matvey sat on a bench, lost in thought. "What does all of this mean? Could she be connected to my biological parents? But why have I never seen her before?"

At that moment, Tamara Ivanovna’s voice rang out. "No, Matvey. She’s not our relative… not for your father and me. But for you… Yes, she is your real mother."

Matvey went pale, and Vera squeezed his hand tightly. "Who?" she whispered.

Tamara Ivanovna took a deep breath. "I’ve hidden this from you for years. All this time, I hoped she would never appear. I never understood why she did it. But I never had the strength to start this conversation."

She began to recount how, after losing their own child, she and her husband had desperately wanted a baby. One day, a note had arrived at their door: "Please give him what I can’t. Give him happiness."

"At that time, we had the means and the reputation in the city, and we saw it as a sign. We had to change our jobs and relocate to another district to avoid unwanted questions. Over time, we forgot, and everyone thought you were our son. I love you with all my heart; you have always been the dearest person to me. But Svetlana… she didn’t leave you lightly. It wasn’t her choice. Please believe me."

"Mom, do you want me to meet her?" Matvey asked after a long pause.

Vera placed her hand on his shoulder. "I think it’s necessary. Otherwise, this mystery will keep haunting you."

"But where do I even start looking for her?" Matvey wondered.

Pasha, standing by the gate, pointed, "She’s over there, by that tree, crying."

Matvey stood up, unsure of what to say to the woman who had once abandoned him. His thoughts were muddled: he had grown up with his beloved mother and father, though now his father was gone. These memories had always been solid, but now everything seemed to be falling apart. Yet, despite his confusion, his feet carried him toward her.

"Hello. We need to talk," he said hesitantly.

The woman looked up in fear, then timidly touched his shoulder. "I don’t want anything from you, Matvey. Just listen to me..."

Three years passed. Matvey once again found himself in the yard, spending every free moment surrounded by family.

"Mom! Where is everyone? Gather the grandchildren!" he shouted joyfully.

Andrey ran out of the car, followed by Vera holding a little daughter in her arms. Svetlana and Tamara Ivanovna ran out to meet them.

"Oh my God! We were watching out the window all day, and we still missed you!" Tamara Ivanovna laughed.

Svetlana had bought a house nearby, and their relationship had grown warmer. What started as caution eventually blossomed into a genuine friendship. Now, they shared joys together, celebrating their grandchildren and discussing family matters. In the evenings, both women would share stories: Tamara would reminisce about Matvey’s childhood, while Svetlana shared her own experiences.

Now, they had formed a unique, yet strong family. Matvey often joked, "Who would have thought—I, a doctor who helps women become mothers, ended up with two mothers of my own, and my children have three grandmothers! Life really is full of surprises."