Maria stared absently out the window. Her fingers were gently stroking the photograph in its frame. An old snapshot showed Tamara Ivanovna smiling back at her. Aunt Tamara had been the only person to support Masha after her parents died.
Even this apartment was the last gift from Aunt Tamara. Every corner reminded her of their tea times, their long conversations. Maria wouldn’t allow even her husband, Sergey, to make any drastic changes around the house. This place was Masha’s fortress, a symbol of her freedom and independence.
A noise in the hallway pulled Maria out of her thoughts. Sergey had returned from work and, judging by the sounds, he wasn’t alone.
“Maria, we’re home!” her husband’s voice called from the entryway.
Maria took a deep breath. She had never managed to improve her relationship with her mother-in-law, and to make matters worse, Valentina Petrovna was far too frequent a guest in their home.
Her mother-in-law entered the living room and smiled.
“Hello, Masha dear. How are you?”
“Hello, Valentina Petrovna,” Maria replied coolly. “Everything’s fine, thank you.”
Her mother-in-law cast a critical eye around the room.
“Oh, Masha, you ought to change these curtains. They’ve really faded. I saw some wonderful drapes in the store—perfect for your living room.”
Maria pressed her lips together, stifling her irritation. These were Aunt Tamara’s favorite curtains, and Maria had no intention of replacing them.
“Thanks for the suggestion, Valentina Petrovna, but I like these,” she said firmly.
Her mother-in-law pursed her lips in disapproval but said nothing more. Sergey, as usual, pretended not to notice the tension between the two women.
“Mom, will you stay for dinner?” he asked.
“Of course, son,” Valentina Petrovna said with a smile. “I even brought a pie.”
Maria thought to herself, “Not this again!” Another evening in the company of her mother-in-law was more than she could handle. But she knew Sergey wouldn’t back her if she tried to object.
During dinner, as usual, Valentina Petrovna started pontificating about how a young family ought to live.
“My friend Vera’s son and daughter-in-law get along famously,” she said, spreading butter on her bread. “They share everything, they don’t divide anything between them. Now that’s how it should be!”
Maria felt a lump forming in her throat. She knew exactly what her mother-in-law was hinting at.
“Valentina Petrovna,” Maria began, trying to keep her voice calm, “every family has its own rules and traditions.”
“What rules?” her mother-in-law scoffed. “In a family, everything should be shared. Take this apartment, for example…”
“Mama,” Sergey interrupted, “let’s not go there.”
But Valentina Petrovna was already on a roll.
“No, son, we need to talk about it. You’ve been married four years, but the apartment is still in Masha’s name only. That’s not right!”
Maria felt the blood rush to her face. She had explained many times—to both Sergey and his mother—that the apartment was her inheritance, a keepsake from Aunt Tamara. But they never seemed to understand.
“Valentina Petrovna,” Maria tried to speak firmly yet politely, “we’ve already discussed this. The apartment will remain my property.”
Her mother-in-law huffed indignantly.
“You see, Sergey? She doesn’t want to share anything with you! What if something happens? You’ll be left out in the street!”
Sergey shifted awkwardly in his chair, avoiding his wife’s gaze.
“Mom, why are you saying this…”
But his mother wouldn’t stop.
“No, son, you need to stand your ground! The apartment should be jointly owned! You’re a family, everything should be shared!”
Maria felt her anger boiling over. She stood up abruptly from the table. She couldn’t stand this behavior anymore.
“I’m going to get some fresh air.”
She practically ran out onto the balcony.
Alone, Maria calmed down a bit, taking deep breaths to gather her thoughts. How much longer could she endure this pressure? And why did Sergey never take her side?
But even the distance didn’t spare her from Valentina Petrovna’s nagging voice.
“Sergey, talk to your wife,” she insisted. “Convince her to sign the apartment over to you as well. That would be fair.”
“Mama, I’m not sure…” Sergey said hesitantly. “Masha values this apartment very much.”
“Exactly!” his mother exclaimed. “She only thinks about herself. And what about you? You have a right to this apartment too. You’re married—everything should be shared.”
Maria froze, barely believing her ears. Did Sergey really think this was an option?
“I… I’ll think about it, Mom,” Sergey finally said.
That was all it took. Maria felt something inside her snap. She returned to the room and looked at her husband and mother-in-law with new eyes.
“So that’s how it is?” she said quietly, drawing their attention.
They turned around, clearly not expecting her to appear.
“Masha, you misunderstood…” Sergey began, but Maria raised her hand to stop him.
“No, Sergey, I understood perfectly,” she said, steel in her voice. “I heard your conversation. And you know what? I’m tired.”
Valentina Petrovna tried to intervene:
“Masha dear, we were just discussing—”
“No, Valentina Petrovna,” Maria cut her off. “You weren’t just discussing. You were plotting how to take my inheritance away from me—the apartment left to me by the one person who was closest to me.”
She turned to her husband.
“And you, Sergey? You didn’t even try to defend me. You’re ready to betray me just to please your mother?”
Sergey looked flustered.
“Masha, that’s not what I wanted… But Mom has a point. Think of how I feel in this place—neither owner nor guest, what am I?”
But Maria was no longer listening. Years of pent-up resentment and disappointment finally burst out.
“You’re my husband. You’re supposed to be my rock, my support. But I’m beginning to doubt that. And you still don’t get it. Well, you know what?” She looked at both of them. “I’ve had enough. I’m not going to put up with this anymore.”
Maria strode to the big closet. Sergey’s clothes started flying out onto the floor.
“Masha? What are you doing?” Sergey asked, confused.
Maria didn’t stop.
“Isn’t it obvious? Your mother decided the apartment is yours. Valentina Petrovna was mistaken!”
Valentina Petrovna jumped to her feet, her face red with anger.
“How dare you!” she shouted. “Sergey, say something to your wife!”
But Sergey seemed rooted to the spot. He’d never seen Maria like this before.
“Masha, let’s talk,” he managed. “Mom meant well…”
Maria turned sharply to her husband.
“Meant well? What did she mean when she suggested signing the apartment over to you? What did she mean when she said ‘everything should be shared’? Isn’t my care and love enough for you? Do you want to snatch my property too?”
Sergey looked helplessly at his mother, but Valentina Petrovna was already on the attack.
“Yes, I said it!” she cried. “And what’s wrong with that? You’re a family; everything should be shared!”
“No, Valentina Petrovna,” Maria said firmly. “This apartment is my inheritance. It’s a memory of my aunt, who replaced my parents. I won’t let you take it from me.”
Maria pulled out a suitcase.
“What are you doing?” Sergey asked, alarmed.
“I’m packing up your things,” Maria replied. “I’m done with a husband and mother-in-law who don’t respect me!”
“But where am I supposed to go?” Sergey muttered in confusion.
“To your mother’s,” Maria shot back. “Since you understand each other so well.”
Valentina Petrovna tried to object:
“Masha dear, you can’t do that! This is Sergey’s home too!”
“No, Valentina Petrovna,” Maria shook her head. “This is my home. I have the right to decide who lives here.”
Half an hour later, Sergey’s things were packed. Maria stood by the open door, waiting for her husband and mother-in-law to leave.
“Masha, please, let’s talk this through,” Sergey tried one last time.
“There’s nothing left to discuss,” Maria replied. “You made your choice when you sided with your mother instead of me.”
With a heavy heart, Sergey left the apartment. Valentina Petrovna followed him, casting Maria a look filled with hatred. Before leaving, she said:
“You’ll regret this!”
Maria slammed the door, cutting herself off from her husband and mother-in-law. She slid down to the floor in tears, finally letting out the tension that had been building for months.
A week passed. Maria was trying to focus on her work. But she was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sergey was standing on the threshold.
“Masha, we need to talk,” he said.
Maria hesitated but eventually let him in.
“What do you want to talk about?” she asked, folding her arms.
“I… I realize I was wrong,” Sergey began. “I shouldn’t have let Mom interfere in our affairs.”
Maria listened in silence, showing no emotion.
“I love you, Masha,” he continued. “I want us to be together again. I’m ready to change.”
“And what about your mother?” Maria asked. “Are you ready to put her in her place?”
Sergey hesitated, and Maria realized nothing had changed. She sighed wearily.
“I’ve learned a lot over this past week. You and your mother crushed my pride, humiliated me, and cornered me. But I deserve better—respect and support.”
“I’ll change! I promise!”
“I don’t believe you,” Maria said, shaking her head. “Because you’ll always be torn between your mother and me. And I’m tired of coming second.”
“What are you saying?” Sergey asked quietly.
“I want a divorce,” Maria replied firmly.
Sergey looked shocked.
“But… what about our family? Our marriage? Are you just going to throw everything we had away?”
“It’s for the best. Our marriage ended the moment you decided your mother’s interests mattered more than mine,” Maria said.
He tried to speak, but Maria stopped him.
“Please go. My lawyer will contact you about the paperwork.”
Finally, the door closed behind Sergey. Maria exhaled with relief. She walked over to her aunt’s photograph and smiled.
“You were right,” Masha whispered. “Sometimes the people we love can stifle us, pull us down. We have to know when to let go—of things and of people.”
Three months passed. The divorce was finalized, and Maria began a new chapter. She renovated the apartment, making it her own while keeping the mementos of Aunt Tamara.
One evening, the doorbell rang. Valentina Petrovna stood on the threshold.
“May I come in?” she asked, in an uncharacteristically quiet voice.
Maria hesitated, then nodded.
Valentina Petrovna stepped inside, looking around.
“It’s beautiful in here now,” she remarked.
“Thank you,” Maria replied coolly. “Why are you here?”
Her former mother-in-law took a deep breath.
“I came to apologize,” she said. “I was wrong. And because of me, my son lost a good wife.”
Maria looked at her in surprise.
“You know,” Valentina Petrovna continued, “when Sergey moved out from my place a month after the divorce, I realized what I’d done. I always thought I knew what was best for him, but in the end, I just destroyed everything.”
Maria said nothing, unsure how to respond.
“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” Valentina Petrovna added. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry. My son really did love you. Don’t punish him too harshly.”
She turned to leave, but Maria stopped her.
“Valentina Petrovna,” she said, “thank you for coming. It means a lot to me. But it’s too late—Sergey did nothing to win me back. I don’t need him.”
Before long, her former mother-in-law left. Maria was alone again, but she felt as though a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She glanced at her aunt’s photo.
“You were right, Auntie,” she said softly. “I really did manage to pull through.”
That evening, Maria met with a friend at a café.
“You know,” she said, “I think I’m ready to move on now. This whole story taught me a lot.”
“Oh? What did it teach you?” her friend asked.
Maria paused thoughtfully.
“It taught me to value myself and what’s mine. That I shouldn’t let others make decisions for me. And that sometimes, you need to let go of the past to move forward.”
Her friend raised her glass.
“To a new chapter in your life!”
Maria smiled and clinked glasses with her. She knew there were many new and exciting things ahead—and now she was ready for all of it.
