Semionovna, are you not aware?» the neighbor asked with surprise.
Maria Semionovna lifted her bewildered eyes.
«It seems Vasya didn’t manage to inform you. Or maybe the letter got lost.»
«What letter, Semionovna? Everyone has phones these days. He should be kissing your feet for what you’ve done for him. And he’s getting married!» The neighbor barely held back her anger, recalling what her friend Maria’s son had done. Seven years ago, her no-good Vasya, who never distinguished himself with good deeds, broke into a city store, smashed a window, stole things, and fled. He returned to the village to his mother, where the police caught him.
Maria Semionovna quickly understood what had happened and took all the blame upon herself. She received a four-year sentence, and those years became a separate life for her.
Initially, Vasya visited her, assuring her that she was the most important person to him and that he would always be by her side. However, during his last visit, he asked, while avoiding eye contact, if she could find some money.
«What have you gotten yourself into again, my son?» she asked, crying.
«It’s nothing. It’s just that living is expensive, things are expensive.»
«You could find a job, and that would be enough to live on.»
«Work every day from morning to night? No, thank you. Let others live like that.»
«And how will you live without money?»
«I’ll sell the house. You sign the papers, and when I come back, I’ll live in my grandfather’s old shack. After prison, a shack will seem like paradise to you.»
Maria didn’t sign the papers. How Vasya yelled at her then! Luckily, no one heard. After he left, she fell ill and ended up in the prison hospital with a heart attack. The doctor there was wonderful; they even became friends. He was a bit older than Maria and very attentive.
One evening, just before her discharge, they talked. The doctor shared his life story: a widower raising a daughter with his mother’s help, dreaming of leaving his job at the prison hospital because his daughter was ashamed of his workplace.
Maria smiled sadly, understanding the sacrifices made for their children, and shared her own story. The doctor was shocked:
«How could he? He should have broken his own life over this, not yours.»
«It’s alright; I’ll find work on a farm. And he’s just starting to live. God willing, he’ll come to his senses.»
Vasya never came to see her again. When she was released, she learned that he had found a job. She didn’t know the details, but he regularly sent products to his mother.
«Why do you indulge him so much, Semionovna?» Nikolayevna exclaimed. «He’s a healthy man, nearly thirty, and you still do everything for him.»
«Nikolayevna, don’t talk nonsense. While I have strength, I’ll help. And when I can’t anymore, he will help me.»
«You’ll be waiting a long time for help from your Vasya… He only causes trouble.»
Maria sat, amazed that her son had said nothing about the wedding. «Well, he could have just registered the marriage, but now a wedding at a restaurant. Maybe he asked someone to pass the message, and they forgot, and it’s not his fault at all.»
She hurriedly began to prepare, trying to withdraw all her money to gift the young couple.
«I have to hurry,» she rushed, running around the room.
Nikolayevna sighed:
«Leave some for yourself, otherwise you’ll end up borrowing money.»
Maria Semionovna, rummaging through her closet, turned around:
«Stop lecturing me, do you have decent shoes? We wear the same size.»
«I do, my dear.» Nikolayevna smiled. «I’ll bring them tonight. You never buy anything for yourself, always for your Vasya.»
By morning, Maria realized she wouldn’t sleep. How could she sleep peacefully knowing her son was getting married? She got up at five in the morning, checked everything again. Her clothes still suited her, and she looked no worse than the city ladies.
Packing a bag of treats, she struggled to carry it to the bus. The driver asked:
«Will you pay for luggage space?»
«Don’t try to spoil my mood,» Maria laughed. «I’m going to my son’s wedding.»
Tolik, a driver she knew, raised an eyebrow.
«What, Vasyka decided to get married? Why didn’t he meet his mother or at least send a taxi?»
«Why would I need a taxi? I can get there myself,» she dismissed. «He’s busy, we’re not little kids.»
Maria Semionovna settled by the window, anticipating meeting the newlyweds. She wondered what her son’s wife was like — probably kind and beautiful, otherwise Vasya wouldn’t have chosen her. Rocking in the bus, she dozed off but was soon gently awakened.
«Aunt Masha, wake up!»
«My God, I hope I haven’t overslept!»
«You made it on time to the bus station,» Tolik reassured her.
She took out the piece of paper with the restaurant’s address and time.
«Not far,» she told herself. «I’ll make it in time for the congratulations.»
She paused nervously in front of the restaurant door and, gathering her courage, entered. An administrator approached her immediately, and though Maria felt a bit out of place, she felt she belonged.
The restaurant hall was full — about thirty people, all in sparkling outfits. Her dress, although beautiful, wasn’t as glamorous as the others’.
«How should I introduce you?» asked the administrator.
«I’m Vasya’s mother, the groom,» she replied shyly.
The administrator disappeared for a moment and returned after a couple of seconds.
«Just a minute, please.»
Then Maria saw her son — handsome, dressed up. For a moment their eyes met, and Vasya turned pale, whispered something to his bride, and hurried to his mother.
«Why are you here, Mom? Who invited you?» «Vasya, I came to your wedding…» she said, bewildered.
Vasily turned to the administrator and began to shout:
«Who let her in? She said she’s the mother, and you believed her?»
«Sorry,» the administrator replied, confused. «But… she is your mother…»
«So what? Yes, I was unlucky with my mother. We don’t choose our parents, but she… she’s a convict. Are you going to let her sit with everyone else?»
All the guests gathered around. Vasya was fuming, gesticulating wildly to draw attention.
«She’s shamed me!» He grabbed his head in despair. «I cannot accept her actions, the actions of someone who has crossed the boundaries of the law. I don’t want her shadow to fall on me. Go away, mother, no one was waiting for you here, don’t ruin my life and yours. I will never be like you.»
The surrounding crowd nodded understandingly.
Maria, shocked by her son’s words, backed away, gasping for breath. Her heart pounded like that time she felt ill in prison. She stumbled over a bag and nearly fell, if not for strong hands nearby. «Sit down,» said a voice next to her.
It was the prison doctor, the same man, once again by her side.
«Do you know what’s the worst thing in life?» he said to everyone. «Betrayal. But what’s even worse is to continuously betray the one who gave you life, your parent. Vasily, I’ll be honest, I didn’t like you from the start. I decided not to interfere because my daughter loves you, but now I cannot stay silent. To treat your mother this way just to live comfortably is unacceptable. Will you tell everyone how it really was, or shall I?»
Vasily stepped back, looking lost. The bride stood next to her father, looking at him in fear.
The doctor continued:
«Your mother, Vasily, took responsibility for the crimes you committed, not her.»
Half an hour later, Maria Semionovna found herself in the restaurant director’s office, with the same doctor by her side.
«I never thought we’d meet again under such circumstances,» he said.
«I’ve ruined everything…» Maria whispered bitterly. «Why did I even come?»
The man slammed his fist on the table:
«Why do you love yourself so little? You raised a son who, unfortunately, turned out this way. Your life is a feat, you deserve a monument while alive, and yet you blame yourself.»
«I still ruined Vasya’s life,» she sighed. «He’s now sobbing on his wife’s shoulder.»
«I don’t know what my daughter will decide, but I hope she knows what she’s doing.»
«May I leave?» she asked.
«I’ll drive you,» offered the doctor.
«No, you need to be here.»
«Who says? I’ll decide where I need to be,» he replied firmly.
They arrived at the house by car late in the evening. Mikhail, that was the doctor’s name, turned off the engine and smiled at Maria:
«Like it or not, our children got married today. I have some excellent wine with me. Shall we celebrate?»
Maria remembered an old saying and laughed:
«What a great idea! I’ll treat you to such delicious things, you’ve never tried anything like it!»
They got caught up in conversation over delicious food and didn’t notice dawn breaking. The table was filled with all the local delicacies one could dream of.
«I think I’m about to burst,» Mikhail laughed. «I never thought that eating lard with sour cream and washing it down with wine would be so great!»
«Help yourself, and I’ll make up the sofa for you,» Maria offered Mikhail. «Morning is near, and a village dawn is something to see!»
«I’ve never seen a village dawn,» responded Mikhail. «Let’s go outside.»
Maria felt something strange, as if the breath of youth had revived for a short while. Together, they stood at the gate and watched as the sky gradually brightened and the stars faded.
A car pulled up to the house.
«Dad, where did you disappear to?» a female voice from the car called out. «You’ve got everyone up and about, and you’re not picking up your phone.»
Mikhail turned with a smile.
«The newlyweds have arrived. The phone isn’t needed here, among the village beauty, daughter.»
Vasily stood nearby, hesitant to approach. Maria, with an ironic smile, addressed him:
«What, son, forgot the way home?»
Vasya approached, looking down.
«Mom, probably everything I say now will seem like empty words. But today I learned I’m going to be a father. I was initially happy, then I thought… what if he treats me the way I treated you? It became scary and shameful. If you can, try to understand me. I will try never to give you a reason to regret that I am your son.»
A moment of silence followed, broken by a neighbor’s voice:
«Are you folks here early in the morning, Vasily with his wife? What happened?»
Vasya’s young wife smiled:
«No, all is well. We just came to continue the celebration. At Vasya’s home, at his mother’s. You’ll come to us, won’t you?»
Nikolayevna looked at her bewildered, then at Maria.
«Oh, Semionovna, I guess I should congratulate you on such a good daughter-in-law. You’re lucky. I’ll come, and all the neighbors will come. We love good people like you here. Tell one, and they all come, and there’s no need to call anyone!
