«Daddy, daddy, buy it!» Lisa was about to cry when her father finally gave in and approached the saleswoman.
«Let’s just get this bear for her. We pass by every day, and she always ends up in tears.» The saleswoman smiled and handed the girl the bear.
Lisa grabbed it, hugged it tightly, pressed it to herself, and closed her eyes. She truly cried every day. No, Lisa wasn’t a spoiled girl who wanted all the toys in the world.
But this bear… Either it was a flaw, or it was meant to be, but the bear’s eyes looked so sad that it seemed about to cry. Whenever Lisa saw those eyes, she felt incredibly sorry for the bear. And she believed that only she could make sure the bear wasn’t sad.
As they approached the tent, her father remembered he had planned to walk around it, but it was already too late. Lisa would start whimpering immediately. Their route home from the kindergarten had always been the same, and just a week ago, they had put up this toy tent on their way.
They were walking home. Lisa clung tightly to the bear, whispering to it. «Now you’re not alone; now you have me. I will take care of you, and you will sleep with me.»
Ruslan walked and listened to his daughter. She had already told the bear about all her dolls. She told it where it would sit while she was at kindergarten.
It turns out his daughter was very perceptive and logical. She had thought everything through to the smallest detail. She even set up a schedule for who the bear would play with when she was not at home.
«Don’t be lonely, Misha. I’ll only eat, sleep, and play a little bit at kindergarten.» And then I’ll come right back to you.
«I would always be home, but my parents go to work. Don’t be mad at them either. If they didn’t work, daddy wouldn’t have been able to buy you for me.»
They entered the house, where they were greeted by mom. She threw up her hands. She had finally convinced dad; he couldn’t resist…
Ruslan smiled, listening all the way home about how good life would now be for the bear. Lisa went into her room. She got busy introducing Misha to the rest of the toys.
Anastasia peeked into the room. «Sweetie, time to eat?» «Mom, let’s do it later, I’m busy right now.» Lisa looked so serious at her mother that she just waved her hand.
«Alright, come when you’re ready.» Lisa came after an hour, but with the bear. The girl knew her mom didn’t like it when she came to eat with toys, so she immediately said.
«He’ll quietly sit on the neighboring chair.» Anastasia smiled. It seemed the daughter had a new friend, and all the other toys would be temporarily forgotten.
But, as it turned out, it was not temporary at all. Lisa hardly ever parted with the bear. Her mother was surprised at what she found in it.
Just a small plush toy. Lisa had many toys. Some were very expensive, but they all faded into the background.
Lisa ate with the bear. She watched cartoons with it, and it waited, sitting on the edge of the tub, while the girl bathed. It always sat on her lap when they went to the country house.
And, of course, the bear always slept with Lisa. First, the bear would get settled, and then Lisa would lie down next to it, in the little space that was left. A year had already passed.
The bear was not at all the same as when it was bought. But Anastasia, while her daughter was at kindergarten, periodically washed and cleaned it. That was the only thing that allowed the bear to still look presentable.
This summer, Anastasia decided to take her daughter to a sanatorium. It would do them all good to have a rest. They bought a ticket and were getting ready for the trip.
Ruslan and Anastasia didn’t even hope that the bear wouldn’t go with them. Of course, they couldn’t leave it behind. The first day at the sanatorium flew by unnoticed.
They hadn’t met anyone yet, while they were settling in, unpacking. They only managed to go to the sea in the evening. They walked along the water.
Nearby, a woman was walking with an eight-year-old boy. Naturally, Lisa immediately ran to meet them. Anastasia saw how the woman crouched down and explained something to Lisa.
They also approached and heard the end of the conversation. Roma can’t speak, so he shows everything. If you want, you can learn sign language.
But he can hear you. The woman smiled and stood up. They got acquainted.
It turned out that Ludmila was also from their city. Such coincidences do happen. Luda had a child at forty.
She and her husband had been unable to have children. For this reason, her husband left her when Luda was thirty-eight. He said a lot of nasty things, calling her defective, truly believing that it was her fault.
By the way, he convinced Luda of this. Well, how else? Someone had to be blamed, so it would be Luda. How she cried then…
She begged him not to leave, said they could adopt a child from an orphanage. To which her husband replied. You’re not only sick inside, you have no brain either.
Why would I want someone else’s children, I need my own. If you’re like that, I’ll find someone else, and she will bear my children. The husband slammed the door.
Luda remained kneeling in the hallway for a long time and cried. She was so afraid to be alone. Her husband had been the first and only man in her life.
She didn’t work, although she had a higher education. Right away, her husband said that her place was at home and to provide comfort, while he would earn the money. And so it was.
Money was often tight; his salary wasn’t that great. Then Luda would secretly call her mother, and her mother always sent money. But two years ago, her mother passed away.
What now, Ludmila? Good thing at least this apartment was hers. Her husband had his own, but he rented it out, saving up for a new car. Everything collapsed in an instant.
Luda didn’t leave the house for a week. But then she had to look for a job, as there was very little money. Where to go, Luda didn’t know.
So, to start, she decided to take a walk and buy a newspaper with job listings. She entered a café, ordered a cup of coffee, and flipped through the newspaper. She marked the ads she needed to call about.
«Luda, is that you?» A man stood in front of her, something about him was vaguely familiar. Vasya! It was Vasily. They had been classmates.
In the last two years of school, Vasya had followed her around. He had been so in love with Luda that it sometimes even scared her. After school, Luda entered an institute and almost immediately got married.
Vasily had disappeared from the scene. Vasya had changed a lot. The once shaggy teenager who never missed a street fight had turned into a handsome man.
He was in an expensive suit, and his watch alone was worth more than all the clothes and jewelry Luda was wearing. They even hugged. Vasya ordered himself a coffee, and they started reminiscing about school life.
Vasya noticed the newspaper in her hands. Are you looking for a job? «Yes, I had to.» Luda’s eyes started to fill with tears.
«Luda, what’s wrong? Come on, tell me what happened.» And Luda, wiping her tears and sniffling, laid it all out. «Luda, why are you crying over him? You wasted so much time on him, and he? He’s just not a man, and I’ll help you find a job.
Didn’t you study to be a translator?» Luda nodded. «Luda, if you say you can translate from French and back, I’ll be floored. Including French.»
«Why floored?» «You see, I’ve signed a contract with a French company. The business negotiations are handled by a staff translator, but there are some details that no one should know about. So I need a personal translator I can trust completely.»
Luda agreed. Vasya gave her such a salary that she couldn’t even dream of. Somehow, Luda and Vasya quickly started dating.
Vasya was a real gentleman, flowers, gifts, attention. And then one time at a restaurant, they were served an exotic salad. Luda loved exotic things…
But then I stirred things up so much that she ran to the restroom. Luda didn’t understand what was happening to her. She suddenly felt weak and asked Vasya to take her home.
Vasya insisted that she see a doctor the next day. When the doctor said that Luda was pregnant, she nearly fell off her chair. «Doctor, that’s impossible, I’m infertile.»
«Really? Do you have any test results?» «No.» «Then why do you say you’re infertile?» My husband told me. «We lived together for nearly 20 years, but it never happened.»
The doctor then laughed. But Luda already realized how her words sounded. «Doctor, but I’m turning forty in three months.»
«That does complicate things a bit, but not enough to refuse the child. Don’t worry, your tests are good, your body is healthy, everything will be fine.» In the evening, Luda told Vasily everything.
She was shocked by his reaction. «You said you were infertile.» «You deceived me; children weren’t in my plans yet.»
Luda didn’t immediately understand that Vasya thought she had deliberately deceived him, that she got pregnant on purpose. She was outraged. They had a big fight, and the next day, Luda left her resignation on his desk.
He signed it immediately. Luda listed her apartment for sale that same day, and then moved to their small town. She gave birth to a boy.
She named him Roma. They lived modestly, not richly, but they didn’t ask anyone for anything. Then, when Roma was four, they went to that same city to visit her mother’s grave.
And on the street, they encountered her ex-husband. When he saw her, and especially with a child, he was so enraged he almost choked. «So, you didn’t want to have kids with me, but you had them for someone else?» And he hit her with a swing.
Then he hit her again and again. Roma screamed, a terrifying scream. As bystanders pulled the ex-husband away, and then the police arrived, Roma clung to her and cried.
Since then, he doesn’t speak. At all. Doctors say it all depends on the case.
He might speak, or he might not. The treatment is just positive emotions. Ludmila told all this to Nastya over a cup of tea in the evening when the children and Ruslan were already in bed.
Nastya wiped away tears. It was all so hard to hear. «And Vasily? Have you seen him again?» «No, he once called, said he wanted to talk, but I didn’t want to.
Especially since I was already living in another city, and the next day I changed my SIM card.» «So you didn’t give him a chance? That’s how it is. Let him build his career, he needs it more.»
«Luda, maybe you were wrong? You’re already forty-eight, you look very good, of course, but do you really intend to live your life alone?» «Why alone? I have Roma, and we’re very happy together.» «You can’t do that, you deprived Roma of a father, Vasya of a son.» «No, Nastya, he deprived himself of everything, just himself.
At least he has money, let him enjoy that.» They went to their rooms and never returned to that conversation. Liza and Roma became very close friends.
Although Liza was younger, she took Roma under her wing. They even went to buy ice cream together. Strangely enough, but Liza understood Roma very well.
Apparently, it was easy for him with her, so he always smiled when he saw her. Nastya even jokingly called him her fiancé. The vacation flew by unnoticed.
Tomorrow, Ludmila and Roma are leaving, and in two days, Liza and her parents will leave. Liza and Roma sat on the shore. Their departure was scheduled for early morning.
Liza would still be asleep at that time, so they were saying goodbye now. The girl cried. She didn’t want Roma, her best friend, to leave. And Roma was upset too.
He so enjoyed spending time with Liza. She understood him, it was easy for him, and she was not annoying at all, unlike other little girls. Liza handed her bear to Roma.
Roma’s eyes widened. It was her most beloved bear. The toy she never parted with.
Roma shook his head no. «Roma, take it, it’s my most beloved bear, he will protect you. Whenever you look at him, you’ll remember me, and I’ll know he’s with you, that you won’t hurt him.»
Liza’s father, who had come to get her, heard her words. They struck him right in the heart. A child, yet so much wisdom in her, she didn’t hesitate to give up her bear, all for a friend.
«Liza, let’s go, it’s time to sleep.» Liza and Roma hugged tightly. Roma showed her that when he grows up, they would definitely meet again.
Liza smiled sadly. She was young, but she understood that such fairy tales don’t happen. When they arrived home, Liza became sad.
She played little, spoke little, spent more time in her room. Worried, her father approached her. «Liz, let me buy you the same bear.»
Liza looked at her father in surprise. «Why?» «Well, so you don’t feel sad.» «Dad, my bear is one of a kind.
Another one wouldn’t be the same. Don’t think I regret giving the bear, I just miss Roma.» Ruslan found nothing to say…
He left the room and closed the door. Just wait, and everything will fall into place. That’s how it turned out; Liza soon returned to her usual self.
Today, Nastya has been busy in the kitchen since morning. Her girl is coming back. Finally, six years of studies are behind.
Liza is now grown up, almost independent. She was still studying but already interning at a company where she proved herself knowledgeable and responsible.
Therefore, her boss invited her to work after she graduated. Nastya was proud of her daughter. And Ruslan was so proud.
As they walked down the street, Ruslan saw how boys looked at Liza. The girl had grown into a real beauty. Liza knew this and fully used her appearance to her advantage.
«Nobody could ever deny her a request, including Ruslan. By the evening, Lisa was home. They sat in the kitchen, talking and eating salads.
Her father even brought a bottle of champagne. Lisa was very tired, so she went to her room at ten in the evening. And at night, she dreamed of Romka.
She had been thinking about him a lot lately. She wondered where he was, what he was doing, and how his life had turned out? She would have liked to meet him. Once, she even asked her parents if they remembered his address or last name.
But who thinks about such things while on vacation? Of course, no one. Lisa stretched. Bright sunshine was streaming through the window.
She had overslept. She looked at the clock. Twelve noon.
Her parents were nowhere to be heard. They were probably sitting quietly to let Lisa sleep in. She got up, threw on a robe.
The window was open. It was already hot outside, but how nice it was at home. Lisa was just about to leave the room when something flew in through the window.
Something big thudded onto the floor, and Lisa screamed in fright. Her father immediately ran into the room. He saw Lisa sitting on the floor, holding something.
It couldn’t be. In Lisa’s hands was the very same Teddy bear from her childhood. Yes, life had worn it down, but one could still recognize sad Teddy.
A shout came from the street. «Lisa!» Lisa jumped up and rushed to the window. She leaned over the sill, and below stood a young man, smiling broadly.
She recognized him. It was Romka. Lisa, still in her robe and holding Teddy, dashed out of the apartment to the street.
She almost knocked over her mother, who jumped aside in fright. «Lisa, what happened?» But the girl was already running down the stairs, while Nastya turned to Ruslan. «Can someone explain what’s happening in our house?» Ruslan smiled.
«Set the table for tea, mother. The groom has shown up.» «Ruslan, what groom? I don’t understand.»
«Remember Romka, to whom our Lisa gave Teddy?» «What? Where is he?» On the street below the window, Lisa ran to him. «Unbelievable. Go call them into the house, Lisa is in just a robe.»
Lisa opened the front door and immediately found herself in strong arms. «Lisa!» Roma twirled her around, and she didn’t understand how. «Romka!» «You’re talking!» «Yeah, I’ve been able to for a while!» «I’m so happy to see you, so happy!» She wanted to say more, but the front door opened.
Ruslan came out. «Hello, Uncle Ruslan.» «Hello, hello.
Everything good with you?» «Yes, everything’s fine.» Ruslan hugged the young man. «Let’s go inside for some tea.»
Mother had already caused a panic, upset that her daughter was running down the street in a robe. Only now did Lisa realize that she was standing in a robe, with people passing by and looking at her, but she laughed. «Rom, let’s go, mom won’t leave us alone anyway.
Let’s go, and later you can tell me everything.» But Lisa’s mother had already started questioning at the table. Romka told everything.
When they returned from vacation, the mother finally decided to talk to Vasily. She found out that he never married. One evening, when Romka was already asleep, she dialed a number.
«Hello. Did I wake you?» «Lyuda?» «No, you didn’t wake me.» «How are you?» «Where are you?» They talked for a whole hour then.
Vasya begged for forgiveness for a long time. It turns out he had a daughter. She died when she was just five.
By a foolish accident. He then went dark with grief, and his wife couldn’t live without their daughter. When Vasya recovered a bit, he met Lyudmila.
When he saw her, he realized that all the feelings he had for Lyuda in school came rushing back. But when Lyuda told him about the child, he got scared. He feared he would have to endure such pain again.
He wasn’t ready, he was afraid. He said some things, even some nasty things. He hoped that Lyudmila would get rid of the child.
Then he realized what he had done. He understood that he wanted to be with both Lyudmila and their child. He went to her to stop her, to not let her make a mistake.
But she had already left. Vasya called her, wanted to talk, but Lyuda wouldn’t talk to him. Then her phone was always unreachable.
It had been nine years. And then Lyuda herself called. She forgave Vasya, decided that there wasn’t much joy left in life…
Vasily rushed over the next day. With flowers, with toys, and immediately took them to the sea. It was there, probably from happiness, that Romka started talking.
They returned to the town where his mother once lived. She and Vasily got married, and Romka lived in a full family. Romka served.
He stayed on contract after the army and even had a medal. He came on leave to his parents, stumbled upon Teddy in the closet. And suddenly decided to find Lisa.
He had promised, after all. The rest was just a matter of technique. Dad, of course, helped.»
«He knew people everywhere, and now Romka was here and had no regrets. Roma finished his story. Nastya sat and was almost crying.
Ruslan glanced at the young people. Judging by the looks they were giving each other, this wasn’t just a simple friendship. Lisa got ready, and she and Roma went for a walk around the city.
Nastya, did you see how our daughter looked at Romka? No, how did she look? Oh, Nastya, we might have to start preparing for a wedding. And we will prepare. It’s time for Lisa, and Romka is a very good guy, I feel it.
Lisa and Roma walked along the promenade. They chatted as if they had never been apart. Roma was increasingly pleasing to the girl, and how Lisa pleased Romka.
He had never met such beautiful, moreover, smart girls before. Roma stayed in her city for two weeks. By the second day, they decided that they would get married.
They immediately informed their parents. But Nastya cautiously said. Isn’t it too early, you hardly know each other.
They laughed and said in unison. Since childhood. It was time for Romka to leave.
He said he would tell everything to his parents, and then they would start preparing. The wedding day was set. Romka said they would immediately contact Lisa’s parents to discuss the details.
Romka needed to return to his unit, but he would come back a week before the wedding. He left and disappeared. No one called the parents, no one answered the phone.
Then Roma’s phone was always off. Lisa didn’t know what to think. The wedding day was approaching, and there was no news from Roma.
Her father tried to calm her down. «Lisa, maybe something happened? Dad, what could have happened? A person can’t even call? Lacks the courage to say he changed his mind?» Lisa cried. Two months passed, and there was still nothing from Roma.
She went to work. Home, work, but there was something else she couldn’t tell her parents. But she could no longer delay.
Then she entered the kitchen. «Mom, Dad, you can think whatever you want of me, you can kick me out of the house, and I’ll understand.» Her parents looked at her puzzled.
«Lisa, what are you talking about?» «I’m going to have a baby.» Everyone was in shock. The parents were silent, and Lisa sat down and cried.
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Ruslan went to open it. A stranger stood at the threshold, about sixty years old.
The man was well-dressed, clearly well-off. There was some elusive resemblance between this man and Romka. «Hello.
Is Lisa living here?» «Are you Vasily?» «Yes, how did you guess?» Ruslan didn’t know whether to drive him away or let him in. But then Lisa came out.
Vasily immediately turned to her. «Lisa, I am Roma’s father. We need to talk.»
They settled in the room. Vasily began to speak. «I don’t know what your relationship with Roma is like, but he really needs you.»
Lisa smirked. «Great relationship. Our wedding was supposed to be two weeks ago.»
«Wedding?» «I knew nothing about this.» «Why didn’t your son tell you?» «Lisa, he couldn’t. I understand your indignation, but hear me out first.»
When Roma was returning, he took a taxi from the station. On the way home, there was a terrible accident. We only found out that Roma was in the hospital the next day.
Roma underwent several difficult surgeries, he’s still very ill. The doctors say he needs a push. Sometimes he’s delirious and keeps calling for you.
We, his parents, decided to ask you to come. If you can, please, I will drive you, bring you, even if just for a couple of days.» Vasily bowed his head.
The girl was so offended, but she knew nothing. They would have definitely contacted him. Lisa jumped up, tears streaming down her cheeks.
«I’ll go now, I’ll be quick.» Mom helped her get ready, while Ruslan was serving coffee to the guest in the kitchen. Yes, we thought badly of Roma.
I couldn’t understand, how could this be? Roma seemed so reliable, so honest. Vasya smiled. «And he is, I’m very proud of him»…
Lisa entered the kitchen. «I’m ready. Shall we go?» «Yes, of course, thank you.
I hope everything will be alright, and we’ll still walk together at the wedding.» Lisa cautiously opened the door. She immediately saw Roma.
He was lying on a high bed, with a woman sitting next to him. She recognized her. It was Aunt Lyuda.
Lisa approached, tears rolling down her cheeks. «Hello.» «Hello, Lisa.
Thank you for coming.» «I’ll go have some coffee.» She hadn’t slept at all.
She left, and Lisa took her place. «Roma, what is this? You missed our wedding, I waited for you, and then I decided you had left me. You know, Roma, you won’t be able to leave me alone.
We’re going to have a child. Who should raise him?» Roma’s eyelashes fluttered. Lisa saw his eyes open slightly.
«Roma? Romochka?» She jumped up so he could see her. Roma whispered. «Lisa?» Lisa hugged him.
Her Roma, her most beloved. Half an hour later, Roma’s mother returned. She nearly fell when she saw that Lisa was sitting on the bed by her son and talking to him.
And the son was looking at her and smiling. The smile was barely noticeable, but he was awake. The woman rushed for a doctor.
People bustled around, Lisa was pushed aside. Lyuda reached out her hand. «Lisa, let’s go eat, they won’t let us near Roma now anyway.
And you’ve been on the road, and you’re hungry. We’ll come back, maybe Roma will be without this crowd of people by then.» Lisa agreed.
Lyuda was so grateful to this girl. Soon Vasily joined them. Lyuda asked.
«Lisa, can you stay here a day or two? I’m really asking you.» «Of course, I’ll stay.» Then Vasily intervened.
«Mother, you don’t know anything. Lisa and Roma were going to get married. Roma missed his own wedding.»
Lyuda’s eyes widened. «So that’s what it is.» Lisa decided to tell everything right away.
She knew that she and Roma would definitely get married now, and everything would be fine with them. But that’s not all the news. Soon you will have a grandson or granddaughter.»
