A TURNING POINT IN MEGGIE’S LIFE

Meggie had always known deep down that her marriage with Lucifer was not meant to last. She had sensed that the day would come when she'd have to face the consequences of his selfishness and emotional neglect. But when it finally happened, she was still taken by surprise.

Lucifer, her husband, had become increasingly distant over time, consumed with his own life. He made decisions that disregarded her needs and desires, but Meggie remained patient, hoping for things to change. However, on one fateful day, Lucifer declared that their marriage was over.

"You’re not fifteen to be asking such questions. It’s time for you to figure things out on your own," Lucifer said, coldly shrugging as he stood in front of Meggie, his face devoid of any empathy.

Meggie stood in disbelief. "So, I have to move out?" she asked quietly, still reeling from the shock.

Lucifer, almost indifferent, nodded. "You’ve got it right. But don’t worry, I bought you half of a house. It’s cheap, but it’s yours."

Meggie couldn’t help but smirk, her frustration bubbling over. "Why only half? Couldn’t afford the whole house?"

Lucifer’s face turned red with irRacheltion. "Enough, Rachel. Don’t start with this. We haven’t been husband and wife for a long time. I’m tired of all this!"

She turned silently and left the room. Lucifer had been living comfortably with his wealth, spending money freely on entertainment and gatherings, while Meggie struggled to make ends meet. But when she stopped giving him her salary, his attitude shifted dramatically.

"Do you think your pennies make any difference in this house?" he had snapped at her, belittling her contribution.

"Lucifer, I’ve been wearing the same boots for four years," Meggie had calmly responded. "And you’ve updated your entire wardrobe during that time. Is that fair? And why 'pennies'? With my side jobs, I earn no less than you."

But Lucifer didn’t care. He had a mistress, and his money was flowing elsewhere. As their finances grew strained, their arguments became more frequent.

Meggie had long considered divorce, but there was one obstacle: she had nowhere to go. Lucifer’s careless words confirmed it—their relationship had reached its breaking point.

THE STRANGE GIFT AND THE SURPRISE

Lucifer had bought her half of a house—a seemingly generous gesture that quickly turned out to be nothing more than a selfish act. The house wasn’t what she expected. It wasn’t divided into two, but rather a property sold for a fraction of its value, an act that would soon make sense. The house had been previously owned by a couple; the wife had left after her husband became disabled, and she sold her half to escape.

Meggie called a taxi and moved her belongings to the new house, confused but resolute. "Why rent an apartment when I can at least stay in a house that seems sturdy?" she thought.

When she arrived at the house, the door opened smoothly as if it were often used. The house was well-maintained, but there was something strange about it. There was only one door—no separate entrances. Inside, Meggie was surprised by the simplicity of the space. A large combined kitchen and dining area, a spacious room, and another room with an open door led to a bedroom, but one door remained closed.

As Meggie entered the closed room, her heart raced as she saw a man sitting there in front of a television. "Hello," he greeted her calmly. "Did they sell you half of my house?"

"Half?" Meggie asked in confusion. "Is this all of it? No partitions, no separate entrance?"

The man, Oleg, explained that the house had never been divided into two. "So now you own half of the house together with me," he said matter-of-factly.

Meggie was stunned. She had expected something else, but now she understood the situation—Lucifer had simply done what he always did. "I’ll temporarily occupy another room until I find housing," she said, trying to make sense of everything.

But Oleg wasn’t bothered. "Live, use the whole house. I never leave this room. No need to even go to the clinic—they come to me. By the way, my name is Oleg."

As Rachel spent time with Oleg, her curiosity grew. What was his story? How had he ended up in this situation?

A BOND FORMED IN ISOLATION

Over the next few days, Meggie couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility towards Oleg. Though he initially resisted, she began cooking meals for him and helping with basic tasks. The strange bond between them started to grow, and Meggie, still reeling from her recent divorce, found herself forming an unlikely friendship with Oleg.

Oleg explained that he had been in an accident two years ago and had been bedridden ever since. His wife, Elena, had left him after learning there was no chance for a full recovery, leaving him alone. The caregiver came every two days, but Oleg spent most of his time in the room, isolated.

Meggie, now in a similar situation, had nowhere to go but here. "We’re both trapped in this strange situation," she mused. "But at least we have each other."

Despite his physical limitations, Oleg remained stubborn and resistant to the idea of receiving help. Meggie couldn’t help but push him to take action— to fight for his life, even if it was just a little bit. "You can’t just wait around," she insisted. "You need to live your life, fight for it!"

"I can’t," Oleg had replied bitterly. "There’s nothing to fight for."

But Meggie didn’t give up on him. With her nursing skills and determination, she began helping Oleg with physical therapy, and gradually, she saw signs of improvement. Oleg began to gain strength, both physically and mentally. They grew closer, sharing their stories and comforting each other in their shared isolation.

A TURNING POINT: A SURPRISE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Months passed, and Meggie’s influence on Oleg became undeniable. The therapy, combined with Meggie’s unwavering support, started to yield results. Oleg’s muscles began to regain strength, and he even started sitting up in a wheelchair. The once-distant man had transformed into someone ready to fight for his future.

One day, Oleg surprised Meggie with a question: "Do you think I can stand again?"

Meggie smiled, her heart full of hope. "There’s no reason why you can’t. But you have to be ready to work for it."

As Oleg stood up for the first time, it was clear that their bond had transcended simple friendship. Love, care, and determination had brought them both out of their isolation. Meggie, now pregnant, was ready to face the future with Oleg by her side.