Andrey, promise that you won’t leave Larisa,» his dying wife pleaded. «You know about her health. She needs constant care. I understand it’s not easy, but I’m very afraid that she won’t cope on her own. You’ll still be her guardian for two more years. Please, do everything properly.»
Andrey nodded, but deep down he thought that all this would soon end. When Nina first fell ill and received her terrible diagnosis, he was in shock. Then he hoped to cure her, but over time he simply grew tired. Moreover, when there is a constantly sick stepdaughter in the family, who essentially has no relation to you, it’s hard. Larisa lived quietly in her own room.
At some point, it became difficult for him: he wanted a normal woman by his side, not a living skeleton. Thoughts of leaving Nina came, but society would judge him. He couldn’t lay down his own life on the altar of another, when he had only one life. But then, when the doctor said Nina had no more than a year left, he decided to endure.
At stake was a large four-room apartment, which Nina had inherited from her husband. True, there was still Larisa, but she was always like a sickly shadow. Therefore, it would not be hard to get rid of her, without any crime.
Nina’s funeral passed quickly. Over the time she was ill, all friends had drifted away.
At the funeral, he was not alone: he met a single woman whom he drove home. It turned out she had argued with her man, and he didn’t even give her money for a taxi, so she was catching a ride. Liza, despite her 30 years, took life easily and carelessly. Andrey longed for such lightness and gradually became infatuated.
He didn’t notice how Liza occupied all his thoughts. In a month, or even less, he brought Liza to the apartment. And then it started: Larisa behaved provocatively, sat with them for a long time, was rude to Liza. She herself could no longer get off the couch, but still there – she was rude.
One day Liza declared:
«Either you do something, or I will leave.»
«I wonder what I could do with her,» Andrey thought.
«Are you suggesting we kill her?» Liza looked at him thoughtfully.
«And you couldn’t even do that for me?»
Andrey looked at her frightened. Liza smiled:
«Come on, relax, such sacrifices are definitely unnecessary. I remember, you said that your little wife has a house somewhere, you went there once?»
«Well, yes, we went a couple of years ago. She got nostalgic then; her grandmother lived there, it seems.»
«And what’s with that house now?»
«How should I know?»
«Can you find the way there?»
«I can find it. The address is written down. We first thought about selling it, then somehow forgot. I don’t understand what you’re getting at.»
Liza sat on the couch, crossed one leg over the other, and continued:
«You’re dumber than I thought.»
Andrey was offended:
«Liza, speak if you have something to say.»
«Look, everything can be done very successfully: tell all the neighbors that the doctor prescribed country air for Larisa. Well, and you hired a caretaker and took her to the countryside for a few months. And better for no one to know about what kind of village it is and that Larisa will be there alone.»
«You want her to be there…»
«What I want, only I know. And what will happen there is up to the powers above. Maybe her mother is waiting, and she’s overstayed her welcome here. Well, what’s there to think about? I don’t understand. You yourself perfectly realize: you can’t make a normal person out of her anyway. Just need a little help, and she’ll free herself from suffering and free us too.»
Andrey looked at Liza and pondered her perceptiveness. After all, it wasn’t a crime — everyone would think that he really cared about Larisa. Three days later, everything was ready.
«Larisa, we are going to the countryside,» he informed her.
The girl, lying down, carefully sat up in bed.
«To the countryside? Why?»
«The doctor said that fresh air and sun would help you the best. They will replace any medicine.»
Larisa smirked.
«Is the doctor’s name by any chance Liza?»
Andrey looked at her displeased.
«Why are you so hostile towards her? She only wishes you well.»
«Yes, I thought so, you quickly forgot about mom.»
«Larisa, this is none of your business. If you remember, I am still a man and not that old, and your mom was sick for over a year.»
Larisa grimaced as if from a toothache, but said nothing.
Three hours later, they were on their way. Andrey patiently waited while Larisa got ready. More accurately, he packed the bags, and she only suggested what to take. She even took an old doll – probably because of her constant illness and worsening memory. What does she need dolls for at 16?
The journey was long, and they were likely to arrive at night or in the early morning. Honestly, Andrey didn’t remember how long it took when he and Nina drove there – it seems they stopped at a hotel.
When it got dark, it started to rain, and they had to pull over to a rest area. They spent several hours in the car, and as they approached their destination, Andrey stopped at a roadside market to buy water. He stretched his legs, turned around, and saw an old woman talking to Larisa. Approaching closer, Andrey noticed that the elderly woman was showing Larisa some dried herbs and telling her about their healing properties.
«No herb can cure your illness,» the old lady suddenly said, looking at Andrey.
«What kind of illness do I have then?» he was stunned.
«Cowardice and greed,» she replied.
«Tsk, you old fool,» he muttered, out of his mind at such a response, and forced himself to say, «Larisa, I understand you think I want to get rid of you, but show a little compassion. Live with someone, at least. I’ll get you a caretaker, like this old woman.»
He initially wanted to say that he was taking her to improve her health, but then he thought better of it: they wouldn’t meet again, why lie.
«Hey, grandma, will you come with us? You’ll live with Larisa, help each other out. I’ll even pay.»
The grandmother immediately agreed.
«I’ll go, what have I got to lose. No one needs me, maybe I’ll be of use to the girl. My house burned down, I have nowhere to live.»
Before Andrey could turn around, the old woman with a basket of herbs was already in the car. He disapprovingly looked at the herbs spilling onto the seat, but kept silent. They just needed to get there.
The house turned out to be large, and Andrey was surprised. Somehow, he had missed that last time. He noticed: on one side there was a lake about a hundred meters away, on the other — a forest. The front of the house faced the village. Suddenly it dawned on him: such a house could fetch a good price. Nowadays, everyone is obsessed with nature and clean air.
Andrey definitely wasn’t planning to bring Larisa back. The grandmother, though she looked like a real witch, briskly ran from the car to the house, like a wind-up toy. He only waited for her to grab the last bag, and immediately turned around to leave.
The grandmother squinted, watching the car.
«Your companion left quickly, didn’t even say goodbye.»
Larisa smirked.
«Why bother with formalities, he brought me here to die, not for my health as he claimed.»
The grandmother turned to her:
«To die, you say? Well, we’ll see about that. I’ve had goats that jumped less than this.»
Larisa looked at her in surprise.
«I need to lie down to rest, I’m very tired.»
«Let’s go, I’ll show you to your room. While you rest, I’ll cook something edible. I noticed a little shop on the way here, we need to buy some groceries. Or did that scoundrel leave you any money?» the grandmother asked.
Larisa shook her head.
«Of course not. Please bring the doll, it’s in the bag on top, an old one.»
The grandmother quickly found and brought the toy. Larisa unzipped the doll and handed her a thick stack of bills.
«Here’s some money to live on.»
«Oh, darling, these funds will last us here for about five years. Hold on a bit, we’ll even plant a garden. Not everything will grow, but something surely will,» the grandmother replied.
Larisa, as soon as the grandmother spread a clean cover on the couch, immediately fell asleep. Periodically, she heard the clattering of pots and the grandmother humming. These sounds somehow calmed her, rather than frightened or irritated her.
When someone called her, she opened her eyes, not immediately realizing where she was. Coming to her senses, she slowly sat up. So, this wasn’t a dream.
«Larisa, come to the table. You haven’t eaten in a day.»
She wanted to refuse out of habit, but suddenly realized that she was indeed hungry. While Grandmother Alyona — that was the grandmother’s name — was setting the table, she chatted nonstop.
«You know, Laris, such kind people here, a neighbor even came by. Brought some potatoes, treated me to lard, promised to bring some fresh milk in the evening. And she didn’t take any money, not a penny.»
Grandmother Alyona hadn’t finished speaking when a young man appeared in the doorway with a jar of milk in his hands. He looked at Larisa.
«Mom sent some milk. Wanted to ask, what time do you wake up? Need to mow the lawn, so I don’t wake you in the morning.»
«What’s your name?» asked Grandmother Alyona.
«Dimka,» the boy replied.
«Dimka, come in, have dinner with us, and we can discuss everything,» the grandmother invited.
Almost a month had passed. One morning, Larisa blushed as she looked at herself in the mirror, and Grandmother Alyona cheerfully said:
«What, you think it looks like you, but also not?»
Larisa, examining her reflection, pondered:
«Yes, I look and don’t recognize myself. And I have a good appetite. I think I can even walk to the lake now without collapsing from fatigue.»
Grandmother, setting aside her sewing, smiled:
«Do you understand why? Just keep drinking all my concoctions and eat everything on the table.»
«I’ll do everything you say. I really don’t want to die…» — Larisa cried for the first time since she had been brought here. Strangely, there were no tears before, only smiles or silence.
The door burst open, and Dimka appeared on the threshold.
«Laris, dad bought a new boat, such a beauty. Come on, I’ll take you out on the lake. Why are you crying? Just tell me who offended you,» he frowned.
Grandmother Alyona quietly smiled:
«There you have your protector. He’s still young, only nineteen, but you can already see he’s reliable.»
Two years had passed.
«Ah, you,» Liza scolded Andrey. «Can’t even sell a house without me?»
Having accrued debts, Andrey realized that it would be very difficult to pay them off. And he remembered that he owned property in the village!
«I forgot that the house documents aren’t here. Only later remembered that Nina showed them to me in the house. That’s where they all are… But if the girl wasn’t buried and she’s still there?»
«Stop making things up! She was there with that crazy old woman. All the neighbors know about it. Should have gone there long ago. I think she wouldn’t have lasted a month without help.»
«Ah… I should have left a phone with the grandma to call me when God takes Larisa…»
They stopped in front of the house, where paths had been cleared in the snow. Liza noticed:
«It definitely doesn’t look abandoned. Maybe the villagers took it over and fixed it up? Let’s take a look.»
As they got out of the car, smoke was coming from the chimney.
«Wait, someone’s coming here on skis,» Andrey noticed.
Two figures, indeed on skis, a young man and a woman, were quickly approaching. As they got closer, the female skier exclaimed:
«Look who’s graced us with their presence! Daddy with his young lady! What did you forget here?»
Liza’s eyes widened, and Andrey almost fell into a snowdrift.
«Larisa! How? You were supposed to…» he started.
«Manage without you, daddy. In two months I’ll be eighteen, so pack up with your Liza and get out of our house,» Larisa cut him off.
Liza looked confusedly at Andrey, then at Larisa, and at the young man, who kept a stern gaze on the guests. She muttered to Andrey:
«Let’s go,» and immediately returned to the car.
Andrey stood for a while, shuffling from foot to foot, not knowing what to do or say. His plans for the house and money had crumbled in an instant. Finding no words, he rushed to the car.
Grandmother Alyona stepped out onto the porch:
«Had a nice walk? I just made a big stack of pancakes. And it seemed like I heard a car coming.»
Larisa kissed her on the cheek:
«No, you must have imagined it, probably just the wind. Let’s go eat pancakes quickly, you know how much I love them.»
