“Larisa, just a little more… Come on, dear, you can do it!”
She barely moved her legs. Every step was taken with tremendous effort, as if heavy weights were strapped to her feet.
“I want to take a shower…” Larisa whispered, feeling her strength finally leaving her. “Gleb, I can’t anymore. Honestly, I can’t!”
Her husband looked at her with feigned concern, but there was a strange coldness in his eyes. How had she not noticed that icy gleam before?
“You can, darling, you’ll manage! Look, there’s our goal — the little house!”
Larisa followed his gaze. In front of them stood a building that looked like a mix between an old shed and a fairy-tale hut on chicken legs.
“Are you… really sure the healer lives here?” Her voice betrayed her exhaustion and fear.
“Of course, dear! Come on, just a bit more!”
Larisa climbed onto the crooked porch almost mechanically, as if in a dream. Gleb laid her down on a wooden bench and suddenly smirked smugly. That smile cut through her heart.
“Now you can rest… for a long time.”
She surveyed the gloomy room: cobwebs, dust, dampness. She looked at her husband fearfully.
“Gleb… Nobody lives here!”
“That’s right!” He laughed. “Nobody has lived here for about twenty years. And no one’s been here for a long time. If you’re lucky — you’ll die your natural death. If not…” — he paused — “wild animals will find you.”
“Gleb! What are you saying?! Snap out of it!”
He straightened up, and the mask of a loving husband vanished forever.
“I asked you — register the business under my name! But you were stubborn as a mule!” He spat. “Do you even realize what it cost me to put up with you? To sleep with you? You disgust me!”
“And my money doesn’t disgust you?” Larisa whispered.
“Those are MY money!” He growled. “They’re mine, just need to finish the paperwork. Everyone knows how obsessed you are with all this witchcraft nonsense. I tell everyone you’re crazy and ran off to some quack in the sticks. I tried to convince you, but…” He theatrically threw up his hands, “you’re stubborn! Like my plan? I don’t even need to buy a coffin!”
His laughter sounded like a dog’s bark. Larisa closed her eyes — this was a nightmare, just a nightmare…
But the door slam was all too real.
She tried to get up — she needed to run, this must be a joke! But her body wouldn’t obey. Lately, she grew tired quickly, as if someone was draining the life out of her.
“Now I know who…” flashed through her mind.
She had no strength left. Larisa gave up and sank into a restless sleep.
Five years ago they got married. Gleb appeared out of nowhere — penniless, but with charm that made her lose her head. Tired of loneliness and work, Larisa fell madly in love.
But they had warned her… Everyone around said he only wanted money, that he spent her funds on other women. She found out the truth a year ago. After that, health problems began — sometimes her heart, sometimes her stomach, sometimes everything at once. Doctors blamed nervous breakdowns.
She tried not to worry. Really tried! But how not to worry when you love someone who betrayed you?
And now she was a wealthy, successful woman, but so sick she couldn’t get out of that ruin in the woods. Her death would remain a secret.
Half-asleep, Larisa heard a rustle. Someone was standing nearby. Her heart stopped — could it really be wild animals?
“Don’t be afraid!”
She startled.
“A girl?! Where did you come from here?”
In front of her sat a child about seven or eight years old. The girl crouched beside her.
“I was here before. When he brought you here, I hid.”
Larisa lifted herself up.
“You’re alive? How did you end up here?”
“I come by myself. When I fight with Dad — I hide here. Let him worry!”
“Does he hurt you?”
“Nope! He just makes me help. But I don’t want to. Why should kids work? If I don’t listen — he makes me wash the dishes. A whole mountain!” The girl spread her arms.
Larisa weakly smiled.
“Maybe he’s just tired. Trying to give you manageable chores. I would do anything for my dad if he were alive.”
“Your dad died?”
“Yes, long ago.”
“Everyone will die,” the girl stated with childlike philosophy.
“Are you saying your dad will die too?!” The girl perked up.
“People die when they get old. That’s how it is.”
The girl thought.
“Mom was sick… She went to the angels. I often cry because I miss her. I’ll help Dad so he won’t die!” She looked at Larisa. “Did they bring you here to die too?”
“Looks like it…”
“Why not in a hospital?”
A tear slid down Larisa’s cheek.
“He decided so himself… So they wouldn’t cure me.”
“Bastard!” The girl was outraged. “I’ll run to Dad! You know what he is? He heals everyone in the village! Except Mom… ” Her voice trembled.
“How come?”
The girl went to the door, then turned and whispered:
“My dad is a wizard!”
Larisa involuntarily smiled.
“Sweetie, there’s no such thing…”
“But there is! Your husband said you believe in that. Okay, don’t be sad, I’ll be back soon!”
“What’s your name?”
«Dasha!»
“Dasha, aren’t you afraid to stay here? What if animals come?”
“What animals?!” The girl snorted. “No one visits this forest except hedgehogs!”
And with those words she slipped out the door as if she had wings on her shoulders.
“Counting on a child — stupid beyond reason,” Larisa thought, closing her eyes. “She’ll run around the forest, meet a squirrel or the same hedgehog — and forget about me…”
She began to drift off when a whisper woke her:
“Dad, is she dead?”
“No, sunshine. She’s just sleeping.”
Larisa snapped her eyes open.
“Dasha! You’re back!”
The hut was dimly lit, and she couldn’t make out the man’s face.
“Hello. Sorry things turned out this way…”
“It’s okay. Can you stand? Go outside?”
“I… I’m not sure.”
The man touched her forehead with his palm, and warmth spread through her body like spring sun after a long winter.
“You can. I promise.”
And she really could! With his help, she stood up, took a few unsteady steps. Outside the hut was a… motorcycle with a sidecar? Her vision blurred, legs wobbled, but strong hands supported her and gently laid her in the sidecar.
Where they were going and how long it took — Larisa didn’t remember. She came to only on the bumps, saw stars above — and fell back into darkness.
She didn’t care. What difference did it make where to die?
But then it got warm. Cozy. And even… hungry!
She opened her eyes. High ceilings, bright log walls — nothing like that ruin. On the wall… a TV?!
“Some kind of strange afterlife,” crossed her mind.
“Awake? Great! Dinner’s ready. Today’s special — Dasha volunteered to help for the first time! I don’t know what you told her, but I’m very grateful.”
Larisa smiled. She would never tell what exactly had moved the girl. Shameful — an adult woman saying such things…
The man helped her sit up, placed pillows behind her. On the table — potatoes with gravy, fresh salad, milk… And bread. But what bread! Loaves like fluffy clouds, with big holes inside.
“This… bread?” Larisa was surprised.
“Eat up!” The man laughed. “I bake it myself. Can’t eat store bread. Maybe you’ll try someday.”
Larisa smiled sadly — “someday” seemed too far away. But the potatoes were so tasty, it felt like the best dinner of her life.
She didn’t finish — drowsiness overtook her. Before sleep, she whispered:
“What’s your name?”
“Aleksei.”
Day by day it got better. Appetite returned, strength, desire to live. Larisa rejoiced but understood nothing: no medicines, no treatments, no IV drips…
Once, when Dasha ran off to play, she asked directly:
“Are you the one treating me?”
Aleksei looked at her with clear blue eyes:
“Me?”
“Yes! I feel better. Much better! And I was supposed to die… Dasha said you’re a wizard.”
He laughed — so sincerely that Larisa couldn’t help but laugh with him.
“Oh, Dasha the dreamer! Our granny was one who knew herbs. She passed a little to me. But I’m as far from a wizard as China is on foot!”
Days passed. And then — she walked outside on her own, without support.
“Larisa! Well done!”
Aleksei picked her up in his arms and spun her around. She clung to him and cried — from happiness, relief, and the fact she was alive…
Half a year later
Gleb was pacing the office like a wounded beast:
“I need all rights! Without me, the company can’t work!”
“The company works like clockwork,” someone cautiously noted. “Larisa Sergeevna kept everything in perfect order.”
“Stop calling her ‘Larisa’! She’s gone! Ran off to the woods to quacks, got eaten there! I’m the rightful husband!”
“Gleb Sergeevich,” one of the attendees said softly but firmly, “the body hasn’t been found. And your behavior… raises certain questions.”
“What difference does it make?!” He exploded. “I’m a man who lost his beloved wife!”
An elderly employee stood up:
“I won’t work under your leadership.”
“Who else?” Gleb looked around. “All of you can leave!”
But at that moment the door flew open.
“I wouldn’t rush to hire a new team.”
Gleb collapsed into a chair. Larisa stood before him — alive, blooming, eyes shining. Beside her — a tall man, and behind them — police officers.
“You… how… you were supposed to…”
“To die?” She finished calmly. “Your plan failed again. As usual.”
As they led Gleb away, yelling and cursing the world, Larisa turned to the staff:
“Hello! I’m back. I have many ideas. Let me introduce my husband — Aleksei. And I invite you all for a barbecue this weekend — get to know nature and the new family!”
Everyone smiled. Everyone was happy.
“And a heads up: now I have a daughter. Dasha was with us, but Svetochka lured her away with her makeup suitcase.”
Everyone laughed heartily — Larisa’s secretary did always carry a suitcase full of jars and tubes.
“Semyon Arkadyevich,” she addressed the lawyer, “please take care of the divorce and adoption.”
“Of course, Larisa Sergeevna. Welcome back!”
“Thank you,” she replied, squeezing Aleksei’s hand tightly.
Sometimes, to find true happiness, you have to lose everything. And meet a little girl in the forest who believes in miracles…
