Vera had been prepared for a hectic day at work, but nothing had prepared her for the chaos that awaited her at home. After dealing with a particularly difficult client, she was exhausted, longing for a quiet evening with a warm shower, tea, and her unfinished book. Her husband, Valeriy, was supposed to return from his business trip today, and she hoped for some peace, knowing he’d likely sleep through the day. She was looking forward to some time alone to unwind.
When she opened the door to their apartment, however, she immediately sensed something was off. A large bag, reminiscent of those used by traveling vendors in the past, sat in the hallway. A woman’s coat hung on the rack, and boots were scattered on the floor. Her husband's belongings were still in place, so he was home. Vera took off her coat, hung it up, and froze when a woman stepped out from the kitchen. At first, Vera didn’t recognize her—it was her mother-in-law, but she looked so different now. Plumper, untidy, and no longer the well-groomed woman she had known.
“Aha, you’re back,” Ada Nikolaevna said, grinning widely. Vera immediately noticed her mother-in-law had lost several front teeth. "I made dinner, come join me," she added, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
“What are you doing here?” Vera asked, her voice shaky with confusion.
“I’m staying! I’ll be living with you now,” her mother-in-law announced proudly.
Vera’s mind spun. Just three years ago, Ada Nikolaevna had kicked her son and daughter-in-law out of her apartment, leaving them with nowhere to go. At the time, Vera had been starting her own business, while Valeriy had lost his job, and they were expecting a baby. But Ada had insisted they needed to figure things out on their own, claiming it was time for her son to become independent.
Back then, Vera’s grandmother had been ill and had given Vera her small studio apartment, but Vera couldn’t bring herself to move there. She had visited her grandmother daily, cooking and helping her, but she didn’t want to disrupt her grandmother’s peace. Ada Nikolaevna had refused to allow them to stay for even a day, bringing home a man slightly older than her son and introducing him as her new partner. Vera and Valeriy had hastily packed their things and found a small, rundown place to stay. The whole ordeal had caused Vera to lose her baby, and she had been unable to conceive again for years.
Now, after everything, Ada Nikolaevna was in her apartment, acting as though she owned the place.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t like it at your own place?” Vera retorted, trying to hold back her frustration. “Decided to grace us with your presence here?”
“Don’t mock me!” Ada Nikolaevna snapped. “My apartment is gone, and it’s never coming back. Anyway, just throw a mat in the kitchen for me, and that’ll be enough!”
Vera was taken aback. “The kitchen isn’t a place for someone to sleep!”
Valeriy emerged from their bedroom, stretching lazily. “Hello, darling!” he greeted Vera with a kiss on the cheek, then turned to his mother. “What’s going on here?”
“Your wife is kicking me out!” Ada Nikolaevna said, her voice dripping with disdain.
“Vera, I brought her here,” Valeriy explained with a sigh. “She’s homeless and had nowhere to go. I met her at the station. You know I couldn’t just leave her on the street.”
Vera’s frustration boiled over. “And what about our home? We can hardly make space here for all of us!”
“She’s not a stranger, Vera!” Valeriy shot back. “She’s my mother!”
“And she never considered us when she kicked us out three years ago!” Vera yelled, unable to hold it in any longer. “I was pregnant, Valeriy! She didn’t even care about the child I lost. You don’t understand how this feels.”
Valeriy looked at her with an apologetic expression. “Please, Vera, we can’t just leave her on the street. She’s family!”
Vera glared at him, her eyes full of bitterness. “She doesn’t think of us as family, and I won’t let her ruin my life again. I’ve already been through enough.”
“I understand you’re upset,” Valeriy said, his voice softening. “But we can’t just turn our backs on her.”
“I’ve helped her enough, Valeriy!” Vera’s voice trembled with anger. “She’s made her choices, and I’ve paid the price. I’m done!”
“I don’t think you should be this harsh,” Valeriy pleaded. “She’s going through a tough time.”
“No, I’m not being harsh,” Vera retorted. “If you can’t make her leave, I’ll go. I’ll find a place for myself. I won’t stay here and be treated like this.”
Valeriy sighed heavily. “I don’t want to lose you, Vera.”
“Well, I don’t want to lose myself either,” she replied, her voice unwavering. “I won’t allow you or anyone else to make me feel small.”
After a long silence, Valeriy finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll talk to her. But please, don’t leave.”
Vera walked out, leaving Valeriy to deal with the situation. She didn’t know what would happen next, but she was determined not to let anyone dictate her future anymore.
That night, Vera reflected on everything that had led her to this point. She knew she had a long road ahead, but she was ready to fight for her peace and happiness. No one would take that from her.
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