— That’s it! I’m leaving for a younger woman and we’ll split the apartment. How much longer are you going to keep spending my money! — said Yuri to his already unloved wife. But he didn’t expect what happened next.
— Yur, where are you going? — Svetlana peeked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel and looking at her husband with surprise.
Yuri, a 45-year-old man and manager at a large construction company, decided to act. He packed his suitcase while his wife was busy in the kitchen preparing breakfast for him. Now he stood in the hallway of their large, cozy apartment.
Svetlana always cooked in the morning and fed the family. She believed that a proper and hearty breakfast was not only the foundation of good health but also the key to a successful day. While the children were young, she got up earlier than everyone and cooked for the noisy crowd. They had three children, so the wife did not work but focused on raising the kids. Fortunately, Yuri’s income had always allowed them to live comfortably without requiring his wife to work.
Yuri was silent. He looked at Svetlana, with whom he had lived for twenty-five years, and realized — he was right, it was time to act decisively and immediately.
His wife had let herself go lately — she had become flabby and unkempt, the fire and lively spark in her eyes that attracted men had disappeared. She no longer attracted him as a woman.
For that, Yuri had Nelya, a young energetic brunette he met at one of his company’s corporate outings. She was beautiful and smart, which immediately impressed Yuri. Besides, she was brave and decisive, traits that he admired. He was the same — brave and decisive. And that was why he now stood in the hallway with a suitcase.
It was time! Enough already, how long could this go on? Why should he live with a woman he didn’t love and keep spending his hard-earned money on her? The children had grown up and lived on their own.
Vanya and Petya already worked, having received higher education. Varya was still in her fourth year at university, but he was always ready to help her. So that was all in order.
But the wife… Why should she hang around on his neck? Nelya told him the same. And he understood — his beloved was right. Yuri worked hard, without sparing himself, while his wife stayed home. And spent his money.
— You should have left her a long time ago. Just look at her — a lazy good-for-nothing! — Nelya said, hugging him. — And we need to split the apartment. Let her live in the one-bedroom flat and earn a living herself.
— Yes, Nelya, you’re right. Nothing ties us together anymore. So it’s time to decide.
— Are you leaving somewhere, Yura? — Svetlana asked surprised. — Why didn’t you tell me? I would have made you some sandwiches. You can’t just leave hungry. Especially since you don’t know when you’ll get to eat. Is it a business trip?
— Listen, why do you keep nagging me about food? Sandwiches! What nonsense! Don’t you know you can grab a decent bite at every corner now — breakfast, lunch, even dinner? I’ll open your eyes — it’s been possible for a long time! Chicken! You’re always stuck in your kitchen as if nothing else exists.
Yuri was angry with his wife because he couldn’t get to the main point — to proudly and firmly say he was leaving her, going to another woman.
— Did something happen? Why are you so tense, Yuri? — Svetlana asked gently and kindly.
She had long known that her husband had a lover. And she suspected that someday he would want to leave her. Probably today was that day. But Svetlana was a wise woman. That’s first. And second, she knew her husband well.
— Because! Because I’m leaving you, got it? I’m fed up with this life!
— Got it. But where? — the wife asked simply, as if he told her it was raining outside.
— To another woman. She’s nothing like you, a beauty and a smart one! And she’ll never be like you, always stuck in the kitchen! She has many other interesting and important things to do.
— Oh, you managed to find such a woman? Congratulations, Yuri.
— Yes, so what? Am I not worthy of that? — Yuri couldn’t believe how surprisingly easy this difficult conversation was going.
— You? Worthy? — Yuri asked skeptically.
— Yes. I think so. Who knows you better than me? You work hard, earn well, you’re smart and, to be honest, handsome!
— Well, you understand, I’ll still have to split the apartment, — Yuri said more softly, almost apologizing.
— I understand. And that’s fair. I absolutely support you in that desire. We’ll split the apartment. Everything as the law requires, — Svetlana smiled and said.
— Well, thank you for understanding. Honestly, I thought you’d make a scene. But you handled it like a decent person. After all, that’s why I married you once, — the man said proudly.
— Ha! What’s there to make a scene about? Well, we fell out of love. So what? Should we live together for life? Who invented that? We’re not the first, — Svetlana continued.
— Well, that’s good. It’s nice you think that way. There’s another question… You should probably find a job or something. I’m going to stop giving you money. You have to understand that legally we’ll become strangers. Or will you sue for alimony? Let me warn you, you’ll lose the case. You’re a capable, healthy woman, Svetlana. You just stayed home for many years.
— Stayed home? So that’s how you see it? And our three children grew up all by themselves? Well, okay, I won’t argue. But about work, here’s what I say — I won’t. I have no need to look for one.
— How come? Why? What will you live on? Or do you expect your sons to help you? They just started working, probably can barely make ends meet themselves.
— I don’t intend to take money from the children, what nonsense! — Svetlana pretended to be offended. — I have another plan.
— And what’s that? Let me know.
— Are you really interested in my personal life after you leave me?
— Well, I’m just asking out of pure compassion and care. After all, we have a lot in common, like the children.
— I’ll get married. And the husband will support me, — Svetlana said and waited for Yuri’s reaction.
— Married? What do you mean? — the husband was taken aback.
— Literally. Soon I will be a divorced single woman. So I have every right to marry again.
— And are there candidates? Or do you think finding a worthy husband is like going to the store? Especially at your age, Svetlana, — the husband skeptically looked at his wife’s face and figure. — You need to realistically assess your chances.
— Oh, no problem with that! Don’t you doubt it! — the wife confidently said.
— Where does that confidence come from? — Yuri loosened his choking tie. He didn’t notice how he moved from the hallway to the kitchen, where he was mechanically chewing pancakes freshly made by his wife.
— Excuse me, Yuri, I’ll speak frankly. As they say, honesty for honesty.
— Well, speak, — Yuri was already chewing his second pancake. — Pour me some tea, will you? I’m choking here…
— I suspected long ago that you want to leave me, — Svetlana said as she poured Yuri tea, almost casually.
— Really? Where did you get that idea? — the husband was surprised.
— Let it be my woman’s secret. So then I thought — what awaits me in that case? And decided to act.
— Act? — Yuri was so surprised he stopped chewing.
— Exactly. I registered on a dating site. And you know, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of men wanting to meet me.
— Really? What made you go to such sites? I didn’t expect such energy from you, — Yuri said sourly.
— Well, now we’re on our own. So I decided to start selecting candidates for now. It’s not an easy business, as you understand, and not a quick one. You can’t make a mistake so that the chosen one doesn’t leave someday for a young and daring woman. Well, you know what I’m telling you.
— And are there candidates yet? Or are you just hoping?
— Oh, of course, there are! Quite a few! — Svetlana smiled softly and slyly.
— Really? Interesting, what could attract men to an aging woman like you?
— What? Women of my age are the most popular on the site now. We are in great demand among wise, mature men. Young ones are fickle, inconsistent, might even cheat. They’re always restless, always wanting something. We are different — calm, homey, cozy, we know everything, can do everything, understand what a man needs.
— That’s nonsense! Men are always drawn to younger women, — Yuri objected.
— True, no argument. But after such young ones, they are drawn to completely different women. And when I wrote that I cook wonderfully and have my own living space, independent of anyone — we’ll split the apartment, you said yourself — there was no shortage of interested men!
Yuri was silent. He was thinking over what his wife told him. For some reason, it was unpleasant to realize that she would do well after he left. Some feeling stirred in his soul. Jealousy, maybe? Damn, that was the last thing he needed.
— So you’re leaving? I think they’re already waiting for you, Yuri. It’s not nice to make a girl worry. And I, you know, have to go. I have a meeting planned today with the first candidate. I need to get ready. He’s been asking me to meet for a long time. So, since you decided and are leaving, why should I wait, right?
— You know, I just remembered. I have an important meeting with suppliers today. I’ll leave the suitcase for now. I’ll pick it up later. In the evening. Or tomorrow. And don’t go anywhere. You’re so quick, just look! It’s somehow disrespectful to me. The husband hasn’t left yet, and the wife is already out and about. Slow down on that.
Yuri went to work. All day vague doubts tormented him. Was he doing the right thing? Would the children judge him? Would he himself later bitterly regret what he had done? The questions tortured him and didn’t let him understand whether he was right or not.
Because Yuri himself imagined this option a little differently. He was leaving for Nelya, but if something didn’t suit him there, he could always come back to Svetlana. But now it turned out there was nowhere to return. Sveta would have another husband.
In the evening, Nelya finally called him.
— What’s up? I waited for you in the morning with your things? Why didn’t you come? I found a nice apartment for us in a very good area. Also, we need to go to the furniture store, I want you to approve my choice of bedroom set. Yes, and we need to stop by the travel agency with Zhorik — to pay for the Bali trip. Do you remember Bali, darling?
Nelya was babbling nonstop, not even listening if Yuri answered.
— Nelya! Be quiet for a second! — he shouted.
— Yes, — she stopped her stream of words.
— So, what’s for dinner today? — suddenly, out of nowhere, Yuri asked.
— Dinner? Nothing… — Nelya was confused. — I’m on a diet. And you need to lose weight, we talked about it. Well, if you want, we can order something from a restaurant…
She kept talking, but Yuri had already disconnected. He knew that a hearty dinner and a calm, measured evening awaited him at home. And he didn’t want to go to Bali at all.
No other man would call his Sveta his wife. It would never happen!
