How don’t you understand, we have real feelings, and you just have a habit! He told me himself that you are more of a friend to him than a wife.” The stranger pulled a handkerchief out of her tiny purse and dabbed at a tear that had formed.
“My dear, am I against your real feelings? Aren’t you in a hurry? I’ll quickly pack Mitya’s things for you now and write a list of recommendations on how to take care of him properly!” Larisa jumped up and disappeared into the room before the girl could ask what kind of recommendations she meant.
Lara was throwing her husband’s things into a suitcase, overwhelmed with joy. She tossed them without caring if the crease on the pants or the collar of the shirt got wrinkled. She was afraid to scare away this delighted doll who had come to Larisa half an hour ago asking to let Mitya go to her.
“Oh my God, maybe those horoscopes aren’t nonsense after all. I didn’t believe that today I would get such rare luck. What a joy! I never hoped to shake off this yoke from myself!” she muttered as she sat at the table to write the “other woman” a list of Mitya’s main requirements. She didn’t want the girl to realize her mistake too quickly and bring Mitya back. Larisa wanted to have at least a couple of weeks of vacation alone.
Larisa had lived with Mitya for ten years. Ten years of constant stress, repeatedly redoing tasks already done, trying to please her husband, and constantly dreaming of running away from this man. Before meeting her husband, Lara didn’t believe in horoscopes, but now the phrase “September Virgo” gave her a nervous tremble. Her friends sympathetically advised her to leave such a husband, but Lara understood—Mitya wouldn’t let her go so easily. He would whine, shame his wife, and in the end crawl back in by gaining trust with old, age-old promises that everything would soon change.
Lara honestly tried to leave several times but then realized she didn’t even want to anymore. She had gotten used to it. And then, like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, came this wonderful creature with a confession that she loved Mitya and the feelings were mutual. Barely hearing the phrase “We want to be together, but you are interfering with our happiness,” Lara bit her palm to keep from jumping for joy.
Well, she hadn’t considered such an option. Mitya could leave on his own! Find himself another patient woman and free Lara from this nightmare called marriage. Seating the visitor in an armchair and brewing some tea, Lara listened carefully to the love story of this doll and Mitya, who was her boss and almost fifteen years older.
“You understand, I’m embarrassed to tell you this, but he himself can’t say it to you. In the end, everyone suffers: you, me, Mitya. But we could all be happy. Mitya and I would be together and you in a new relationship. You deserve someone who sincerely loves you!” the girl spoke emotionally. It was clear she had prepared and read many stories on the internet about similar situations.
“Oh, right, I deserve a decent man next to me. You deserve that too, and I even feel sorry for you. Sorry, but not as much as for myself. So—take him!” Lara wanted to say but changed her mind in time and replied:
“It will be hard for me, but I’m letting him go. I wish you happiness. Here are his things, and here is the list of recommendations you must follow.” Larisa handed the list to the confused girl, who skimmed the neat column and naively asked:
“Why does he need all this? Porridge in the morning, washing the floor every day, ironing clothes and hanging them in the closet by color… What is this?”
“These are the rules of life Mitya is used to. You will get used to them too, in time. I don’t want to sound rude, but if that’s all, I would ask you to leave me alone—I have a lot of important things to do. Will you call Mitya yourself?” Larisa took the girl by the elbow and gently guided her to the door, grabbing her husband’s suitcase.
“But we didn’t talk properly. I want you not to be mad at me, to forgive me. I believe you can’t build happiness on someone else’s misfortune…” The girl clearly expected a different reception.
“I forgive you! I assure you, I have no grudges and sincerely wish you happiness. It’s time for you to go. Goodbye, be happy!” Closing the door behind the guest, Lara threw slippers in different corners of the room and went to choose a vacation tour.
For two whole weeks, Lara enjoyed her vacation. She turned off her phone, only occasionally checking it in the evenings to make sure nothing had happened to the apartment. She saw many missed calls and messages from Mitya, which she mercilessly deleted without opening. For the first time in ten years, she had the opportunity to enjoy a rest without restrictions, reproaches, and headaches, so she allowed herself to enjoy it fully.
Returning home, she found several envelopes in the mailbox without postal stamps. Apparently, they had just been thrown in. Lara knew who they were from just by looking at the handwriting. The letters flew straight into the trash bin without even entering the apartment. Lara hoped for at least a month of solitude, but a few days after her return, she found her ex-husband on her doorstep.
“Lara, what have you done? Where were you? I broke all my phones calling you. How can you be so irresponsible?”
“And hello to you. Mitya, I filed for divorce myself, don’t worry if that’s the only reason you came!” Larisa sincerely hoped her husband’s visit was only about this.
“What divorce? What are you talking about? I don’t plan to divorce you. What kind of circus have you arranged? I never intended to live with that Marusya. She fantasized God knows what, and you believed her? Lara, come on, you’re an adult woman!” For the first time in all their years of marriage, Larisa listened to her husband and knew for sure: whatever he said, she wouldn’t take him back. She played her trump card right away: she went on vacation to show herself how good it is to be alone.
“Mitya, I won’t live with you. That’s it! Enough. I wanted to ask you to leave myself. And here’s such a lucky chance.”
It seemed her words insulted her husband. He turned and left, muttering something about Lara’s lonely old age and forty cats.
A few days later, shortly before the end of Larisa’s vacation, the same girl came back. Lara didn’t even remember the doll’s name. After three weeks of “happiness” with Mitya, the girl had changed a lot. Her hair was carelessly tied up, her makeup was faded, and dark circles were under her eyes.
“Looks like you stayed up late ironing shirts or washing floors,” Lara concluded, looking at her “rival.”
“Larisa, I’m here again. Can I come in?”
“Come in. Tea, coffee?”
“Double coffee. I haven’t slept for several days. Mitya is a terrible person. How didn’t I see it before! He’s a real tyrant. I’ve already rubbed my hands raw washing everything in the house three times. He loves cleanliness, but only if someone else creates it. He loves coziness, but does nothing himself! I’m more tired with him than ever before in my life! Thanks for your advice—they helped me not go crazy on the first day.”
Lara listened silently, seeing herself in that girl. She waited for the unhappy one to get to the reason for her visit.
“Larisa, please take him back! I’ve already quit his company, but I can’t throw him out of the house, he won’t leave. Forgive me, I was wrong when I thought we would be happy together.”
Larisa wanted to sympathize and support the girl, but she decided she now chooses only herself. After showing the girl the door, she blocked the phone numbers of her husband and that Marusya, so the past would not interfere with her boldly moving into a bright and truly happy future.
The apartment locks had long been changed, and for the first time Larisa realized the neighbors were right to insist on a concierge and security at the building. The dear husband was no longer allowed not only on the doorstep but couldn’t even approach the house. The checkpoint wouldn’t let him through. These are the times we live in… Wonderful!
