Katya struggled with the heavy stroller down the street. Rain was imminent, and she didn’t even have an umbrella. She needed to move faster. No one was there to help her. Her mother worked double shifts, and the father of her child had passed away last year. If not for that tragic accident, everything would have been different.
It happened last autumn. Katya was preparing for her wedding then. She had bought a lavish dress for her marriage to Sasha. She was so happy… Her mother, Arina Nikitichna, was also joyful for her daughter. She hoped at least her daughter would have a prosperous life. Her own marriage had not worked out. Her husband had left for another woman and never returned.
«Mom, have we invited all the guests from our side?» Katya asked her mother.
«Yes, we just need to invite Aunt Zina,» she sighed. «I can never find her at home. She doesn’t use a phone.»
«How wonderful it is to marry the one you love!» Katya exclaimed, embracing her mother. «I love him so much…»
«You will be happy, my daughter. I feel it in my heart,» Arina Nikitichna said, stroking her hair. «The main thing is not to jinx this happiness.»
But then the unexpected happened. Some people called. They said that Sasha was gone in a major accident. A man had hit him, and he lost his life instantly.
Katya burst into bitter tears. She hated herself, the man who destroyed her happiness, and the whole world… Then she fell into depression. And then… she found out she was pregnant.
«So, are we keeping the baby?» the doctor asked during a consultation.
«Yes, yes,» Katya nodded. «Of course.»
«And you are brave! Deciding to have the baby without a husband.»
«I love this child,» the young woman replied. «Do you understand? I love…»
Only her own mother did not understand her.
«How will you raise him alone?» Arina Nikitichna wondered. «He won’t have a father.»
«Mom, I love this baby,» the daughter cut off the conversation, not wanting to continue.
Katya was indeed determined. Convincing her otherwise was hard, so her mother stopped asking unnecessary questions.
Several months later, Katya gave birth to a boy. She named him Sasha – after his father. However, Arina Nikitichna protested, saying it was wrong to name children after the deceased. But Katya insisted…
«Maybe I can help?» a woman kindly asked, opening the entrance door.
«Thank you,» Katya smiled. «It’s great that there are still kind people like you.»
The stranger helped her get the stroller into the elevator. They struck up a conversation.
«If it were a bit later, you would have definitely been caught in the heavy rain,» the woman said.
«Thank you,» Katya replied, adjusting her little one’s cap. He had already woken up and was opening his mouth. It was time to eat.
The woman introduced herself as Natalya. She mentioned she worked as a lawyer somewhere and left Katya her business card.
«Thank you so much!» the young mother replied. «I would like to seek your services.»
Katya had long wanted to punish the person who destroyed her Sasha. That man had never gone to jail. They say he got off with a light fine. It was not his fault. The unfortunate bride felt it was unfair… after all, criminals were walking free. That’s what she thought.
They said goodbye to Natalya, and Katya pushed the stroller into her apartment.
«How much you look like your father!» she exclaimed, undressing the two-month-old baby once again. The boy indeed strongly resembled his father. The same nose, lips, big eyes. Even his long figure was taking shape like his father’s.
Katya did not regret having this child. On the contrary, she felt happiness. It seemed as if Sasha was still with her.
After feeding the baby, Katya put him to sleep. Then she remembered Natalya. The lawyer could help her with her issue. Of course, it would require some money, but Katya was ready to take out a loan just to put a definitive end to this matter.
She decided to call Natalya.
«Hello!» the lawyer answered.
«Hello,» Katya said. «I need to have a serious talk with you. When can I come over?»
The next day, Natalya invited the young woman to her place.
«Did Alexander have any enemies?» she inquired.
Katya sat opposite her, holding the baby in her arms.
«I don’t know,» she shrugged. «Not that I’m aware of.»
«We need to find out about this. We also need to know his close circle. In general, all the facts. It would be better still…»
Natalya suddenly hesitated.
«What else?» Katya blinked her long eyelashes in confusion. Her son was starting to wake up in her arms.
«We could also meet the person who hit your husband,» the woman continued.
«No,» Katya laughed and shook her head. «That option is definitely out. I won’t do that.»
«It’s your choice. But with the second method, we could find out what happened faster,» Natalya sighed. «Getting to know this guy closer would give us a chance to punish him, as you wanted.»
Katya returned home, unsettled. Why should she get close to a criminal? Little Sasha slept in his crib, and she mulled over all of Sasha’s close relatives. No, he had no enemies. Peaceful, calm relationships with relatives. No one needed to get rid of him. No inheritance either. A young guy with his whole life ahead…
Her mother came home late. Arina Nikitichna always returned late. There was a lot of work today. By this time, Katya had already put her little son to bed and also lay down. Every evening, she went to bed with thoughts that she had to prove the driver’s guilt, who had forever ruined her happiness. Her mother discouraged her from this idea. Why waste strength and time when the loved one was no longer around? However, Katya was persistent. If she started something, she would see it through to the end.
She was somewhat familiar with that guy. She first saw him near the police station. She even knew his address. Once she visited him. It was in her last month of pregnancy. Neighbors said Pavel, the culprit of the accident, was not home. Then there was no time to deal with him. Childbirth, chores, and all that.
In the morning, Arina Nikitichna indignantly said to her daughter after she confessed that she met Natalya:
«You’re back to your old tricks? Stop engaging in nonsense. Think about Sasha better. What if you suddenly run out of milk? Whom will you blame then? Your boy needs you now, but you run around lawyers.»
«But, mom! I’m doing this for us, for my son, for Sasha, who is now in heaven. Understand, this is very important to me. How would you have acted in my place?»
«I would have forgotten everything!» the mother cut her off and went to her room, not achieving agreement from Katya.
The daughter smiled after her.
«She would have forgotten,» Katya quietly repeated. «But I won’t…»
She returned to her bedroom and fell asleep. Beside her, her little son quietly snored. Completely unaware of the events swirling around him…
A week passed before the young mother decided to go to this Pavel. Packing her child, she went to him. To her surprise, the man was home.
«I’m here on business,» she said when he opened the door to his apartment. «I heard you’re selling a mini washing machine? I need one.»
Katya deliberately made up this pretext to somehow get to know Pavel.
«I’m not selling anything, miss. You’ve got the wrong place!» he threw and was about to close the door. But Katya put her foot forward.
«What do you want from me?» the man rolled his eyes. «All I’m selling used is an old TV and headphones.»
«Oh!» exclaimed the young guest. «Headphones – that’s exactly what I need. How much are they?»
He named the price.
«Deal!» she smiled, giving Pavel the required sum.
He brought out the headphones.
«You don’t understand how much I needed these headphones, especially at such a funny price!» she said joyfully. «The thing is, I have a little child, as you can see. I don’t want to wake him up when he’s sleeping. Now I’ll have the opportunity to listen to music!»
Pavel shrugged, then replied:
«What nonsense I hear from an inexperienced mother. When your child is sleeping, you shouldn’t listen to anything, or the baby will wake up and cry his lungs out.»
«Thank you!» she thanked him for the advice, deciding not to argue with him.
Soon she left the building, glad that she had established some contact with the man. The future would tell. Although deep down, she was uncomfortable interacting with him. Past feelings, emotions immediately surged. She should not have come here. This thought now came to Katya’s mind.
Today was sunny outside, and the young mother went for a walk with little Sasha to the playground. Once, she and her child’s father dreamed of walking down the street like this… Katya suddenly became sad at the thought. No, she cannot let Pavel’s crime go. She must punish him.
Sasha quietly slept in the stroller, and his mother continued to think about how she would deal with this guy.
At home, she unwrapped the headphones and immediately put them back. Why did she need them… Because of them, she wouldn’t hear her little one crying. Of course, she wasn’t as frivolous as that Pasha thought. Katya put the headphones back in the bag.
The next day, she visited the owner of yesterday’s purchase. He didn’t open immediately. Seeing Katya through the threshold, the man was greatly surprised.
«The headphones work intermittently,» extending the device, she declared dissatisfied. «Can I get my money back?»
«Meaning, they don’t work? I checked. Everything’s perfect,» he replied, not understanding.
«You didn’t mishear. I’m telling the truth,» the girl insisted.
«Yes, yes,» Pavel nodded. «I’ll bring out the money now.»
He disappeared behind the door, then came out.
«My name is Katya,» she decided to introduce herself. «And you?»
«Pavel,» he was confused.
«Sorry for the trouble,» Katya tried to smile sincerely so that he wouldn’t suspect anything.
«No, it’s you who should be sorry,» the man shook his head. «Maybe you’ll come in?»
She didn’t expect such an offer.
«But I’m with a child. We won’t bother you?» she asked him.
«What! He’s such a tiny one. Let me help with the stroller.»
Pasha turned out to be quite hospitable. There was no one else in his apartment. Just him and Katya with the baby.
«You know, my ex never bore me a child,» the man confessed, pouring tea into cups. She only liked to run around bars. A lover of the easy life.
Katya inwardly smirked. As if this scoundrel would have a good wife. Only the likes of him deserve similar. That’s what she thought, watching the host bustling around the kitchen.
«Do you want honey or jam?» Pavel inquired.
She said she liked both.
It seemed the man was so glad to have a guest that he was ready to fetch her a star from the sky. Katya had no doubts now: Pasha liked her. The main thing was not to miss the moment to avenge her broken happiness.
«Why did you split up with your ex?» asked his guest.
«A long story… I’ll tell you some other time,» he mumbled.
Katya nearly choked on her sandwich. Could this man, having seen her only a couple of times, expect a long-term relationship? But she kept silent. Sometimes men fall in love at first sight. Maybe this was his case.
Pasha talked a bit about himself. He boasted of a wonderful job. He had achieved good results in selling goods through an online store. He already had his own customers, a reputation. Katya, listening to him, nodded her head.
Soon she left. Pavel escorted her to the park. Thanked her for coming. Said he rarely had guests. He was always busy. No time for socializing.
They said goodbye. For some reason, Katya felt like looking back. She didn’t understand what had stirred in her. What attracted her to this man, whom she considered a scoundrel… He looked ordinary. Not tall, but not short. A face with pimples. A haircut like many men. And the way of speaking – the simplest. Such people are everywhere. Katya caught herself thinking that she had fallen in love. Could that be possible… She could hardly believe it.
She didn’t explain anything to Natalya. This was her personal matter. Katya would answer for him herself.
In the evening, after putting her son to bed, the young mom looked out the window for a long time. Children scurried around the building, tenants hurriedly returned from work, elderly people wandered alone. Katya’s gaze fell on two pigeons that had landed on a tree branch. They cooed about something together. The girl smiled. «Just like people… And life is just as short,» she thought, admiring the pair of birds. She remembered her unfulfilled wedding again. Once, they planned to release two doves into the sky on their wedding day. A symbol of prosperity, kindness, peace.
Katya sighed heavily. Only now she somehow didn’t blame Pavel, as before. Perhaps she really fell in love… She didn’t understand anything.
Mom Katya didn’t notify about getting to know Pavel closer.
The next day, she received a message on her phone: «It’s very interesting with you. When will we meet again?» Clutching the mobile in her hands, the young lady rejoiced. Then she suddenly stopped: «Lord, he’s a criminal…» Her feelings mixed. She felt bitter. Katya thought she was betraying Sasha.
But then dates started, trips out of town for picnics, flowers, walks under the night sky. Pavel wasn’t bothered by the presence of the baby in his life. He even slipped up, saying he would like to have three children in the future, if his lady agreed. Katya had fallen so deeply in love that she was ready to follow this man to the ends of the earth. And he had fallen in love with her…
Their feelings for each other grew stronger. The man considered little Sasha his own son. Even told his relatives and friends that this was his child.
Eventually, Katya told her mother that she was moving in with Pavel. Naturally, she took the baby with her.
One day, Katya left the house. She needed to pick up baby food from the dairy kitchen. Sasha was at work that day.
Having picked up the mixes, the girl carefully placed them in the stroller’s trunk and headed home. She walked and rejoiced in today’s sunshine, the clear sky overhead. It seemed her whole life was ahead. And she somehow didn’t want to think about her late fiancé anymore.
Pushing open the apartment doors, the young woman was very surprised. An unfamiliar woman in her thirties was looking at her.
«Who are you?» Katya was taken aback. The baby had already woken up and was starting to cry.
«Who am I? You better tell me who you are and what you’re doing here, in my living space,» the lady protested. «More specifically, sweetheart, I am Oksana, Pavel’s wife. I kindly ask you to leave the premises immediately. Otherwise, I’ll have to call the police.»
«Call anyone you want!» Katya snapped, picking up the waking child. «Pasha and I have been together for a long time, and he won’t kick me out from here.»
Oksana smirked:
«He sure will! He’s wanted to reconcile with me for a long time, so I came. Now you clear out. And take your screamer with you. My head hurts because of him.»
«The child is not to blame,» Katya replied. «After all, you came here uninvited. You shouldn’t have started this.»
Katya had no intention of leaving. After re-swaddling the baby, she fed him. Oksana paced from corner to corner, lamenting her bad luck today.
Pavel returned forty minutes later.
«What’s going on here?» he frowned, looking at Oksana.
«Darling, you explain to me what happened while I was away?» she screeched.
«Listen. We broke up a long time ago. You shouldn’t have started this,» the man said seriously. «It’s better for you to leave. Especially since we’re almost divorced.»
«Are you out of your mind?!» his ex-wife stared at him. «You called me here, and now you’re kicking me out?»
«I never called you!» Pavel said in a more threatening tone. «Leave immediately! Or I’ll call ’02’ myself.»
The woman rushed for her purse, then swung at him. He managed to grab her arm.
«You shouldn’t come back!» he declared and forcefully pushed his ex out of the apartment.
«Ah!» she could only scream.
Pasha closed the doors.
«What a stubborn woman!» he grumbled. «They tell her to leave, but she just won’t! After that incident, I can’t even look at her.»
«After which, Pash?» Katya asked him.
«After the one where I hit someone because of her.»
Katya tensed up.
«Someone?!» she exclaimed in surprise.
«Yes, it was last year. We were driving together then. She moved to the driver’s seat. In short, that person…»
Pavel hesitated.
«That person died because of my good-for-nothing wife.»
«Why wasn’t she imprisoned?» Katya’s pupils dilated even more.
«Because she got off with a psychiatrist’s certificate. Yes, she was registered with him at the time. The fact that she was driving was confirmed by witnesses, who appeared some time later.»
Katya listened attentively, then said:
«You know, that deceased was my fiancé. Sasha – his son.»
Pavel froze in astonishment.
«And you kept silent about this all the time?» he said, looking at her with wide-open eyes.
«Sorry. I didn’t want to say. Yes, I acted despicably then with those headphones. Yes, my purchase was a pretext, and then… then I fell in love with you.»
Pasha turned away.
«You won’t forgive me now, will you?» Katya felt ill. She walked into the room, took the child in her arms, and with tears, left the apartment.
She walked down the sidewalk and cried, not even wiping her wet eyes. Everything was clear as day… Pavel would never forgive her…
The little son also cried. Katya saw a bench nearby in the park and walked over to it. A sad sight. A mother and her child cried bitterly. They would probably have cried like this if someone’s hand hadn’t rested on the young woman’s shoulder. She turned her head and saw Pasha.
«No need,» he began.
«Was there no need for us to meet? Did you come to tell me that?» Katya sobbed.
«No need to leave me, silly,» the man smiled, taking the little one from her arms. «Everything will be fine, you’ll see!»
«Really?» she wiped her tears with her palm.
«Really, my dear!» Pavel said.
They left the park hand in hand. Later, they went together to Alexander’s burial and laid flowers at the monument. From that moment on, Pasha and Katya never parted from each other. They believed in the best, lived in the present and the future, and learned from the past.
