Philip had loved Elizabeth since school, and they planned to get married in the future.
Philip’s mother, Angelina Semyonovna, who managed a maternity ward at the hospital, disapproved of her son’s choice. She had long favored a nurse named Christina and hoped her son would marry this girl, who was liked not only by the hospital staff but also by the patients—a girl from a family of doctors.
After graduation, Philip enrolled in medical school, and Elizabeth in a school of foreign languages to become an English translator like her mother and grandmother. Their classmates decided to celebrate this occasion in nature and went to Philip’s family’s country house.
They spent almost a whole month there and didn’t want to go home. But soon, classes were starting, and they needed to prepare.
In the fall, Liza told Phil:
«I’m pregnant. How will you react?»
«What do you think? Of course, I’ll carry you in my arms to the registry office.»
«I’m not alone and I’m heavy.»
«Scare a sportsman? I used to wrestle at school. You are light as feathers to me,» joked the delighted Philip.
«But we need to figure out what to do about school?»
«About school, yes, Lizochka. Looks like you’ll need to take a break for a year after childbirth.»
«I’ll switch to distance learning, like my mom. She had me at nineteen and managed everything. But let’s agree, Phil, right away. After the wedding, you’re moving in with us. Respect your mother from a distance. I’ve known for a long time she won’t accept me. She’s quite a character.»
«Only for your peace of mind, Lizochka,» agreed Philip.
Elizabeth and Philip filed their application at the registry office and went their separate ways home. There were guests at Liza’s apartment. A friend of her father’s came with his wife and son Alexander, sixteen years old but looking older.
At home, Philip told his parents about the new event in his life and warned them to prepare for the wedding.
Angelina Semyonovna disliked this and went in the evening to Elizabeth’s parents to create a scandal. She pressed the doorbell several times, but no one opened. They were setting the table in the living room, and music was playing, similar to the doorbell melody, and no one paid attention as they weren’t expecting anyone. Guest Alexander was taking a shower at that time and was surprised that no one was reacting to the doorbell. He wrapped a towel around his hips and opened the door.
Angelina Semyonovna was initially bewildered but, realizing she had a phone in her hand, pressed record and started filming the hallway, starring Alexander in such attire.
«Are you here to see Anna Nikolaevna?» Sasha, not understanding the movement of this woman’s phone, asked.
«Not anymore,» and Philip’s mother hurried down the stairs.
At home, she showed Philip the recording, emphasizing that they took a long time to open the door.
«Recognize Liza’s hallway? It’s still unknown who she’s pregnant by.»
«I get it, mom. You were right. She’s not the one for me.»
Philip sent an angry message to Elizabeth on her phone, then turned it off completely. Liza didn’t understand anything but couldn’t get through to Philip, so she went to him despite the late hour.
Angelina Semyonovna anticipated that Liza would run to her son for clarification and watched her approach from the window. When she saw the girl, she rushed to the hallway and opened the door herself. Not letting Liza in, she stepped out onto the stair landing.
«And what did you want from Philip? He’s already asleep. And you, playing both sides? Continue to entertain yourself with other guys, two-faced,» and, returning to her own apartment, she slammed the door shut.
Elizabeth didn’t understand anything and started crying, sitting down on a step. After some time, she returned home. In the kitchen, Anna Nikolaevna was washing dishes, and her tearful daughter hugged her.
«Lizonchka, what’s wrong? The wedding is soon, and you should be happy.»
«Mom, there won’t be anything anymore, except that I’m carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred things up after learning that we applied for marriage,» and she showed her mother the fiancé’s message about the unknown Liza cheating on Philip.
«If Philip behaved like this, he will continue to obey his parents. God has kept him away from you. We’ll raise the child ourselves,» her mother tried to console her.
After the fallout with Philip, Elizabeth struggled to recover and had a difficult pregnancy. She was rushed to the maternity ward while her parents were at work. She gave birth to a son under anesthesia as it was the only way. Later in the ward, she was informed that the baby was stillborn.
After the paperwork, the deceased newborn’s body was given to the parents, and they buried him. Elizabeth was still in the maternity ward, so she missed the ceremony.
After this incident, Philip’s parents quickly sold their apartment and moved out of the area.
«It’s for the best, daughter. You struggled with random encounters with Philip, and he just walked past with a haughty look.»
«I also hope, mom, that I’ll forget him faster.»
Eight years passed.
Elizabeth worked as a translator in a small firm, and suddenly, Philip entered her office.
«Why have you appeared in my life again? I’ve long forgotten you.»
«I’m sorry, but tragedy has brought me to you.»
«That’s strange to hear, Phil. You have a cool mom. Go to her with your troubles. I don’t have time for you. Please leave my office.»
«Liza, I beg you to listen to me. It’s important for you too. I’ll wait at the café across the street after work.»
«I’ll come out of curiosity only,» Elizabeth turned her gaze to her computer screen, signaling to Philip that the conversation was over.
In the evening, Elizabeth and Philip met.
«I’m sorry, Liza, but my son is ill, and he needs a donor.»
«You’ve got the wrong address, Philip. Your mother has more resources in this area.»
«We’ve been waiting, and no donor is available. I’ve even put up my apartment for sale. You’re a mother, and you have a better chance of helping our son.»
«Is this some kind of joke, Philip? Our son was born dead. My parents buried him.»
«He’s alive, and he’s already eight years old.»
«How did that happen?»
«Remember the day we filed our marriage application?»
«I’ll never forget your nasty message.»
Philip repeated the story his mother told him about who she saw in her apartment.
Liza explained who Sasha was, and Philip turned pale. He still loved Liza and had not married. She also remained unmarried, fearing she could not bear a living child again and did not want to go through that grief a second time.
«Phil, let’s get back to our son. What did your mother do?»
«When you were in the maternity ward, Liza, my mother was there and saw you being wheeled through the corridor to the operating room. She had a 50/50 hunch that you were pregnant by me. The test confirmed my paternity, but she didn’t want to give you the son. I’m to blame for agreeing to this. My grudge against you haunted me. Apparently, God punished me, as our son Sergey is ill.»
«Let’s go to him. Let them check me for compatibility. If you’re not a match, then he must have the first blood group, like me.»
«Yes, Liza, I have the third.»
Elizabeth’s hands trembled and her heart pounded as she saw her boy in the clinic’s ward.
«Sergey, I’ve found our mom. We’ve been lost for a long time, but people helped us meet,» Philip said, while Liza was speechless.
«Mom, I’ve been waiting for you and imagined you just like this. Although we don’t have your photos in our apartment.»
«Sonny, everything will be alright. I’m here and will do everything to make you healthy,» Elizabeth cried, hugging her son.
«Son, let your mom go. She needs to talk to your doctor.»
Elizabeth turned out to be a match, and Sergey was cured. Philip sold the apartment and paid off the clinic for the treatment. They now live together in an apartment with Liza’s parents.
«Lizonchka, forgive me, but we need to get married, and you need to have another child. I want everything to be alright with our son, but his doctor warned me that siblings are better donors than parents.»
«I’ve read about that, Phil, and for the health of our children, I’m ready for anything.»
Philip and Elizabeth got married and now, besides Sergey, they are raising two more children: a son and a daughter.