The dinner I had spent all evening preparing sat untouched, instantly losing all meaning. I slowly lifted my gaze to Andrei, who sat across from me at the kitchen table. Our cozy kitchen, which I had lovingly arranged over the past three years, suddenly felt like a suffocating, cramped roach nest.
«Do you seriously think I would sell my apartment for you?» My voice was hoarse, as if sand had been poured down my throat, but the words came out sharp and prickly, like thorns.
Andrei rubbed his nose— a gesture that appeared when he was deeply agitated. His broad shoulders slumped, and his gaze, usually warm and confident, darted across the table, not daring to meet mine.
«Galia, understand, I would never have raised this question if it weren’t about Vasily,» he said, looking deeply at me. «My son is in trouble. Real trouble.»
I set the plate aside, my fingers trembling ever so slightly. Vasily, Andrei’s son from his first marriage. Twenty-seven years old, ambitious, sometimes reckless. We were never close, but I tried to maintain a good relationship— for Andrei’s sake.
«What happened?» I asked, though my inner voice had already told me that I wouldn’t like the answer.
«He took out a loan. A large one,» Andrei finally met my eyes, confusion and almost despair in them. «He was planning to start a business, but something went wrong. Now the collectors are threatening… And if he doesn’t pay within a month, they’ll press charges. He could end up in jail, Galia!»
Silence hung in the kitchen, only broken by the ticking of the clock on the wall— an old one, from my grandmother, which I had taken from my parents’ house after my mother passed away. I stared at it, watching the second hand tick, almost hoping that if I waited long enough, this whole conversation would turn out to be a bad dream.
«And… how much does he need?» I finally broke the silence.
Andrei named an amount that took my breath away. Such a sum was completely out of the question for our family budget. No way.
«Vaska promises to return everything as soon as he’s back on his feet,» Andrei hurriedly continued. «But right now… he needs help. My apartment is mortgaged, so I can’t sell it quickly. But yours… it’s entirely yours. We could sell it, help Vasily, and then buy something smaller. Temporarily.»
The word «temporarily» hung in the air like a false note.
«But that’s my apartment,» I felt a lump rise in my throat. «I grew up there. My mother left it to me before she died.»
«I understand,» Andrei reached across the table and placed his hand over mine. His palm was warm, familiar, but the touch didn’t bring the usual comfort now. «But this is about Vasily’s freedom. About my son!»
He said the last part with force, as if reminding me: you, Galia, may have been my wife for five years, but Vasily is my blood. And I involuntarily felt like an outsider. A stranger in this family drama.
«I need to think,» I said, pulling my hand away.
«Of course,» Andrei nodded, but a shadow of disappointment crossed his face. As if he expected me to agree right away. «But… time is running out. Very little time.»
Outside, rain began to fall. The drops tapped on the windowsill, creating an anxious, irregular sound. I wrapped my arms around my shoulders, suddenly feeling cold.
For Andrei, this was about saving his son, about family and duty. For me, it was about betrayal. Betraying my mother’s memory, betraying myself. And I didn’t know which was worse— refusing to help the person I loved, or losing the only reliable refuge I had.
With a heavy heart, I opened the door to my apartment. The old parquet in the hallway creaked underfoot— a familiar, comforting sound. I ran my hand along the wall with the floral wallpaper, which I had chosen so carefully. Every corner here held memories.
This was the window in the living room— I replaced the frame myself last spring, saving on the cost of a contractor. And this chandelier with carved glass shades— a flea market find I spent an entire day cleaning. The shelves with books I had collected piece by piece, the rocking chair passed down from my grandmother…
Everything was mine, familiar. And now Andrei was asking me to sell it for his son?
My mother’s words, spoken not long before her passing, echoed in my mind with piercing clarity: «Galia, remember: the apartment is your protection. Never throw it away. Men come and go, but the roof over your head must stay.»
I had only laughed then. My mother had always been a little old-fashioned about such things. Besides, Andrei and I had just gotten married— what doubts could there have been?
My phone vibrated in my pocket. Vasily’s number. I answered after the third ring.
«Galia Sergeevna, hello,» his voice sounded unusually polite. «Dad said you’re… thinking about the apartment.»
I closed my eyes. The pressure had already begun.
«Yes, Vaska. I’m thinking. It’s a serious decision.»
«Of course,» he hurriedly agreed. «I just wanted to say… I’ll return everything. I swear. As soon as things get better. This is just a temporary problem, but if I don’t solve it now…»
He didn’t finish the sentence, but the ominous continuation hung in the air.
«I understand,» I replied, though inside I was tightening with doubt.
«And one more thing,» Vasily added after a pause, «Dad is really worried. You know how he feels about… well… family values.»
It was a low blow. «Family values» in Vasily’s words sounded like an accusation— if I didn’t sell the apartment, it meant I didn’t consider them family. It meant I didn’t truly love Andrei.
«I’ll think about it,» I repeated, and hung up the call.
Sitting down on the sofa, I cradled my head in my hands. The wedding ring on my finger felt heavier than usual. Five years of marriage. Almost happy ones. And now, this test.
In the evening, I called Lena, my old friend.
«Are you out of your mind?» she exclaimed after listening to me. «Don’t sell it, not for anything!»
«But he says it’s just temporary…»
«Temporary, huh!» Lena scoffed. «My cousin sold her one-room apartment for her husband. He promised they’d buy a new place once his business took off. Guess where she lives now? In a rented shack on the outskirts, alone with a kid. And the husband took off to Thailand with a young lover.»
«Andrei’s not like that,» I tried to argue, but my voice betrayed me.
«All men are ‘not like that,'» Lena cut me off mercilessly. «Until they become ‘like that.’ Galia, if you sell the apartment now, you risk ending up with nothing. I’m telling you this as a lawyer.»
I hung up the phone and went to the balcony. The evening city spread out before me— the neon lights, the windows of buildings, each holding someone’s story. How many happy families were there? And how many shattered illusions?
Andrei returned late. I heard him take off his shoes in the hallway, then quietly walk to the kitchen. The kettle clicked on. Then the cautious steps down the corridor.
«Not sleeping?» he peered into the bedroom.
I shook my head, sitting on the edge of the bed.
«Sorry about today,» he said, sitting beside me. He smelled of evening coolness and faintly of cigarettes, though he had quit smoking three years ago. «I understand I put you in a difficult position.»
His hand rested on my shoulder, and I felt my inner resistance melt away. This man had become part of my life. His joys were my joys, his pain was mine. Wasn’t that what a real family was supposed to be?
«How much time do we have?» I asked quietly.
«Two weeks,» he squeezed my shoulder a little tighter. «Maximum. After that, the legal problems will start.»
«Are there no other options? Maybe borrow from friends, take out a loan?»
«I’ve already considered everything,» his voice sounded tired. «The amount is too large. Selling the apartment is the only way.»
He pulled me close, and I buried my face in his sweater.
«We’ll get through this, Galia. These are just temporary hardships. The important thing is that we’re together.»
I closed my eyes, trying to believe his words. I wanted to believe. I really did.
«I’ll think about it some more,» I promised.
That night, I couldn’t fall asleep. Andrei’s steady breathing was beside me, and I stared at the ceiling, where shadows played from the passing cars outside. And somehow, I began to understand more clearly: something was wrong. There was something off about this situation, this pressure, this rush.
My mother’s words rang in my ears: «The apartment is your protection. Never throw it away.»
The next morning, I had made up my mind. Andrei was sitting at the table, scrolling through the news on his phone when I walked into the kitchen. The sunlight filtered through the curtain, casting an unpleasant yellow light on the room. Like a movie about shady losers from the ’90s. Before me sat not my husband, but a stranger, the person I had slept beside, shared food with, and built memories with for the past five long years.
«I won’t sell the apartment,» I blurted out in one breath, gripping the doorframe.
Andrei looked up, his eyes full of hope that immediately turned to irritation.
«What?» he threw his phone on the table. «Galia, we agreed on this!»
«I understand what it means to you and Vasily. But I can’t. It’s my apartment, my parents’ memory.»
Andrei got angry. «The apartment is just property! But Vasily is my son. Are you really that selfish?»
His words stung worse than a slap. Five years of marriage, and he called me selfish so easily.
«Are you not selfish?» I asked quietly. «Demanding that I lose my roof over my head for your grown son who got himself into trouble.»
Andrei slammed the door and left. I was left alone, staring at our photos on the phone. Could a single argument about money really erase years of love?
When the doorbell rang, I expected to see Andrei. But it was Vasily— pale, with dark circles under his eyes.
«I know you refused,» he said. «And I understand.»
We talked for a long time. He told me about his problems, the dubious business venture that had failed.
«Dad always pulled me out,» Vasily confessed. «Maybe it’s time to grow up.»
At that moment, Andrei appeared in the doorway.
«I’ve made up my mind,» he said, looking at both of us. «Galia is right— you can’t solve one problem by creating another. We’ll find other ways.»
I looked at Andrei in disbelief. His words were so unexpected that I thought I must have heard wrong.
«What did you say?» I asked.
«I said you’re right,» Andrei came into the room and sat in a chair opposite Vasily and me. «Selling your apartment is not the solution.»
Vasily jumped up.
«Dad, but how… you said there was no other way!»
«I was wrong,» Andrei rubbed his face tiredly. «When you called me yesterday, I panicked. I was only thinking about how to get the money quickly. But today, when I left… I walked the streets for a long time, trying to calm down. And I realized I can’t do this to Galia. I have no right to ask her for such a sacrifice.»
I remained silent, afraid to believe the sincerity of his words. Was this a trick? Was this an attempt to lull my guard down so he could return to this conversation later?
«And what now?» I asked cautiously.
«We’ll have to look for other options,» Andrei looked at his son. «I talked to my boss. He’s willing to give me an interest-free loan against my car. It’ll cover part of the debt. The rest… we’ll have to borrow from friends, relatives. Maybe the bank will give us a loan.»
«But that’s… a whole pile of debt,» Vasily looked confused.
«Yes. And you will help pay it back,» Andrei said firmly. «You’ll find a decent job. No more shady schemes or quick money.»
«But…» Vasily began.
«No more ‘buts.’ It’s this way, or figure it out on your own,» Andrei’s voice sounded unusually harsh. «I’ll help you one last time. But the condition is— you take responsibility for part of the payments. And no pressure on Galia. We’ve been building our relationship for five years, and I won’t let you destroy it.»
I looked at my husband, not recognizing him. Where had the man gone who was ready to sacrifice our marriage for his son just hours ago?
«Do you really think that?» I asked when Vasily, head down, went to the kitchen to call his friends— looking for money.
Andrei moved beside me on the couch and took my hands in his:
«Galia, forgive me for everything I said today. I was beside myself with worry for Vasily. But then… then I realized that I almost lost something far more precious— you, our marriage, our trust in each other.»
«Did it take you getting to the edge to realize that?» the bitterness in my voice was hard to hide.
«Yes,» he didn’t deny it. «I’ve been saving Vasily all my life. Always rushing to help him, no matter what risk I was taking. It’s probably the fault of a divorced father— the constant feeling that you didn’t give your child enough attention, love… And it became such a reflex that I never even thought about whether what I was doing was right.»
I remained silent, listening to a confession I had never heard before.
«But today,» Andrei continued, «when I saw that I was ready to sacrifice you… I got scared. Scared of what I could become. I realized that one problem isn’t worth destroying what we’ve built together over all these years.»
«How do I know that a new problem won’t come up tomorrow?» I asked. «And it’ll all repeat?»
«It won’t come up,» Andrei said firmly. «At least not in the same form. I talked to Vasily like a man. I explained that I won’t keep helping him at this cost. That he’s an adult now and needs to take responsibility for his mistakes. And, I think for the first time, he really heard me.»
I said I wasn’t rushing to believe promises.
«Galia,» Andrei pulled me close, «I can’t say that Vasily will stop being important to me. He’s my son. But you— you’re my wife. And if I have to choose between his irresponsibility and your well-being, I’ll choose you. Always.»
Tears stood in his eyes— I had never seen him like this.
«Give me a chance to prove it,» he whispered.
I closed my eyes, trying to sort through the whirlwind of feelings. Hurt, mistrust, exhaustion… but beneath it all— love, which isn’t so easily crossed out.
«Okay,» I nodded. «But under one condition.»
«Anything.»
«No secrets. No one-sided decisions. And your son… he has to understand that I’m not his enemy. But I’m not an ATM.»
«He’ll understand,» Andrei hugged me tighter. «I’ll do everything to make sure he understands.»
A month later, Lena and I were sitting in a café. My friend looked at me with curiosity.
«How are things? Did you make it through the crisis?»
I smiled.
«You know, strangely enough— yes. Andrei sold the car, took out a loan. Vasily got a job— not great, but at least it pays his share of the debt.»
«And do you believe him?» Lena raised an eyebrow skeptically.
«Andrei? Yes,» I thought for a moment. «You know, that situation changed something in him. It’s like he finally grew up. He stopped being just a father, and remembered he was also a husband.»
Lena shook her head.
«I would still be cautious if I were you. Men— they’re like that. Today one thing, tomorrow another.»
«Maybe,» I took a sip of my coffee. «But I feel like I made the right choice. Not just keeping the apartment, but keeping myself. My dignity.»
«And your relationship with Vasily? Is it better?»
«Let’s say— we’re moving in the right direction,» I allowed myself a slight smile. «He no longer sees me as the wicked stepmother who won’t let Daddy help his beloved son. And sometimes he even asks me for advice on work-related matters.»
Lena shook her head skeptically.
«Miracles do happen, then.»
«Not miracles,» I replied. «Sometimes you just need to reach the edge to see the truth. Andrei almost lost me— and that opened his eyes. And I… I realized that love isn’t just about compromises. Sometimes it’s about firmness and staying true to yourself.»
We said our goodbyes, and I went home— to my apartment, where Andrei was waiting for me. Our relationship hadn’t become what it once was— it had become something else. More mature, more honest. And who knows, maybe the storm that nearly destroyed our marriage actually strengthened its foundation.
Climbing the stairs to my door, I remembered my mother’s words: «The apartment is your protection.» She was right. But the protection wasn’t so much the property itself, but my ability to defend my right to it, to my own space, to respect.
And that was worth more than any money.
