Marina entered the house and, setting down the heavy bags of groceries in the kitchen, heard sounds coming from the living room. It didn’t take a psychic to guess: Vitaly was once again absorbed in his computer.
«That tank game again?» she remarked irritably, spotting the familiar scene on the laptop screen.
«Yeah, don’t distract me,» he grumbled, not taking his eyes off the monitor.
Exhausted after a long workday, Marina started unpacking the groceries. Her head was pounding, and all she wanted was to lie down and forget everything. Meanwhile, Vitaly poked his head into the kitchen, rubbed his belly, and asked:
«Are you gonna feed me or what?»
«Of course, but you’ll have to wait a bit. I need to cook first,» she replied, trying to hide her fatigue.
«By the way, Mom called. She’s expecting us at her anniversary on Saturday. Don’t forget to buy a gift,» he said, already heading back to his laptop, snagging a piece of sausage along the way.
Marina only sighed heavily. The thought of meeting her mother-in-law filled her with dread. From the very beginning, the woman’s attitude toward her had left much to be desired. She constantly found reasons to criticize, thinking Marina was unworthy of her son. Marina had once tried to win her over but soon realized it was pointless. Now they only met on special occasions.
While meals simmered and fried on the stove, Marina stepped outside to check on her small farm. She kept chickens, geese, and rabbits, all of which she cared for alone. Vitaly, although he took no part in the work, gladly devoured everything homemade. She did it all for him.
When she returned to the house, she saw Vitaly blissfully finishing the last cutlet.
«That’s why I love you, Marishka! You’re an amazing homemaker!» he exclaimed, mouth full.
She smiled, made herself a sandwich, brewed some tea, and sat down across from him.
«Vitaly, I seriously want to have a child. We’ve been together for five years, and you’re still not ready. Why?» she asked.
«A kid?! Marina, we’re barely making ends meet. I’m jobless, and you’re carrying everything alone. How can we have a kid now?» he snapped.
Talks about children had become more and more frequent. Marina had long dreamed of becoming a mother, but Vitaly always dodged the topic.
«You’re looking for a job, right? When you find one, things will get better. The main thing is to start,» she said, looking at him hopefully.
«I want to live, not just survive!» he barked and left the room.
Marina held back her tears, but in the bedroom, she let herself cry. She had to wake up early for work—she was a warehouse clerk at a company. Meanwhile, Vitaly stayed glued to his computer, playing all night. Marina barely slept, thinking about her marriage.
Did she love Vitaly? Yes. But lately, she felt more and more that he was taking advantage of her feelings, dumping all responsibilities on her. He had become passive, yet Marina still believed: once he found a job and they had a child, everything would change for the better. Though her dreams were increasingly at odds with reality.
When the alarm went off, Marina saw Vitaly asleep in the armchair. She quietly covered him with a blanket and got ready for work.
She spent all Friday evening picking out a gift for her mother-in-law. She knew the woman would still be dissatisfied, but she didn’t want to show up empty-handed. On Saturday, they set off for the celebration. As soon as Marina crossed the threshold, she felt her mother-in-law’s cold stare. It was clear she wasn’t welcome, and truthfully, Marina would have preferred to stay home. But Vitaly insisted.
At the party were Vitaly’s sister, her husband, and their daughter. Marina spent the whole evening with the little girl. No one invited her to the table or paid her any attention. Wanting a glass of water, she went to the kitchen and accidentally overheard a conversation.
«Son, why did you choose her? I told you from the start: she’s not right for you. A country bumpkin! And don’t even think about having kids with her!»
«Oh, come on. She keeps begging… I’m sick of it. There are plenty of beautiful women around, and this one…»
«Yeah, right. Who’d want you with no job and no money? She’s desperate. As soon as I find a decent job, I’ll find someone better,» Vitaly said.
Marina froze. Her mother-in-law’s words weren’t a revelation, but Vitaly’s betrayal shattered her heart. She silently went to the entryway, dressed, and left. Tears were choking her. She wandered aimlessly until she bumped into a man.
«Are you okay?» came a familiar voice.
Looking up, she saw Igor, an old friend of Vitaly’s. They struck up a conversation, and he invited her to a café for tea and a chat. Marina agreed.
Over coffee in a cozy café, they talked about life. He admitted he had never forgotten her. She remembered how she once had to choose between him and Vitaly—and chose wrong. Igor told her how he had moved to St. Petersburg, started a business, and recently returned because his mother had fallen ill. Seeing Marina again, he felt like fate had given him another chance.
When he drove her home, the house was already lit up. Inside, she heard:
«Where were you? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?»
«Goodbye to whom? To those who despise me? To you, who talks behind my back? You’re right, Vitaly. I don’t want a child with a man who calls me a country bumpkin. And I tried so hard for you!» she said through tears and went to sleep in another room.
The next evening, during her night shift, a coworker rushed in: her house was on fire. In a panic, she ran there. Flames were visible from far away. People were bustling around, waiting for the firefighters. Not seeing Vitaly, she ran inside. The last thing she remembered was a burning beam falling on her.
She woke up in the hospital. Her whole body ached; her face was bandaged. She feared hearing bad news. Suddenly she felt someone touch her hand—it was Vitaly.
«You’re alive…» she whispered.
«Why wouldn’t I be? I’m still young. But you… A scar on your face… How am I supposed to kiss you now? Gross! Anyway, get well soon,» he said and left.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking the bandages. A few days later, he came again, muttered a few words, and disappeared. Marina saw him from the window, embracing another woman and walking away with her. It hurt, but by then, nothing surprised her anymore.
Later the doctor told her: the scar could be removed. Modern plastic surgery works wonders. He also mentioned that someone had saved her. Following the doctor, Marina was led to the ICU, where she saw Igor. He had dragged her out of the fire but suffered serious injuries himself. From then on, Marina visited him every day. When he regained consciousness, he admitted he had long wanted to see her—and had risked his life to save her.
Sometime later, in a park, rocking a baby stroller, Marina heard a familiar voice. Vitaly stood before her—haggard and lost.
«How are you?»
«Great. Out with my daughter,» she replied, noticing Igor approaching with ice cream.
«Where’s the scar?» Vitaly asked, astonished.
«Love works miracles,» Marina said with a smile, hugging Igor. They walked away, leaving Vitaly behind, staring after them.
