Andrey, promise you won’t leave Larisa,» his dying wife begged. «You know her health is frail. She needs constant care. I understand it’s not easy, but I’m really scared she won’t manage on her own. You’ll be her guardian for another two years. Please, do everything properly.»
Andrey nodded, but deep down, he thought soon all of this would end. When Nina first fell ill and was diagnosed with a severe condition, he was shocked. Then he hoped he could cure her, but over time, he just grew tired. Especially when there was a constantly ill stepdaughter who, essentially, had no relation to him—it was hard. Larisa lived quietly in her room.
At some point, it became difficult: he wished for a normal woman by his side, not a living skeleton. Thoughts of leaving Nina came, but society would judge him. He couldn’t lay his 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 inherited from her husband. However, there was still Larisa, who always seemed like a sickly shadow. Therefore, it would not be hard to get rid of her, without any crime.
Nina’s funeral went quickly. During her illness, all friends had drifted away.
At the funeral, he wasn’t alone: he met a single woman whom he gave a ride home. It turned out she had argued with her man, who didn’t even give her money for a taxi, so she was hitchhiking. Liza, despite being 30, took life easy and carefree. Andrey yearned for such ease and gradually became infatuated.
Before he knew it, Liza occupied all his thoughts. Within a month, or even less, he brought Liza to the apartment. That’s when it started: Larisa behaved provocatively, sat with them for a long time, and was rude to Liza. She herself could no longer get up from the couch, but still—she was rude.
One day Liza declared:
«Either you do something, or I will leave.»
«Interesting, what could I do with her?» thought Andrey.
«Are you suggesting I kill her?» Liza looked thoughtful.
«And you couldn’t even do it for me?»
Andrey looked at her frightened. Liza smiled:
«Come on, relax, such sacrifices are definitely unnecessary. I remember you said your little wife has a house somewhere, you drove there once.»
«Yeah, we drove a couple of years ago. She felt nostalgic then, I think her grandmother lived there.»
«And what’s with that house now?»
«How should I know?»
«You can find the way there?»
«I can find it. But why look for 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 sofa, crossed her legs, and continued:
«You’re dumber than I thought.»
Andrey was offended:
«Liza, speak if you have something to say.»
«Look, it can all be done very successfully: tell all the neighbors that the doctor prescribed Larisa fresh country air. And you hired a caregiver and took her to the village for a few months. And better nobody knows what village it is or that Larisa will be there alone.»
«You want her to be there…»
«What I want is only for me to know. How it will be – the heavens will decide. Maybe her mother is waiting, and she’s lingered here too long. What’s there to think about? You surely realize: you can’t make a normal person out of her. Just need a little help, and she will free herself from suffering and free us as well.»
Andrey looked at Liza and pondered her shrewdness. After all, it wasn’t a crime — everyone would think he really cared about Larisa. Three days later, everything was ready.
«Larisa, we’re heading to the village,» he informed her.
The girl, lying down, carefully rose in bed.
«To the village? Why?»
«The doctor said that fresh air and sunlight will help you more than any medicine.»
Larisa smirked.
«Is the doctor’s name by chance Liza?»
Andrey looked at her displeased.
«Why are you so hostile toward her? She only wishes you well.»
«Yeah, I thought so, you quickly forgot about mom.»
«Larisa, it’s none of your business. Remember, I am still a man and not that old, and your mom has been 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. Rather, he packed things, and she just suggested what to take. She even took an old doll – probably because of her constant illness and worsening memory. What need does a 16-year-old have for dolls?
The trip was long, and they were likely to arrive at night or early morning. Honestly, Andrey didn’t remember how long they had traveled with Nina back then – it seemed they had stopped at a hotel.
When it got dark, it started raining, and they had to pull over to a parking area. They spent several hours in the car, and as they approached the 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 about their healing properties.
«No herb can cure your illness,» the old woman suddenly said, looking at Andrey.
«What kind of illness do I have then?» he was taken aback.
«Cowardice and greed,» she replied.
«Tsk, you’re an old fool,» he muttered, beside himself with such a response, and squeezed out: «Larisa, I understand you think I want to get rid of you, but show at least a little compassion. Live with someone at least. I’ll get you a caregiver, like this grandmother.»
He initially wanted to say he was taking her to improve her health, but then he changed his mind: they weren’t going to 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. Nobody needs me, maybe I’ll be of use to the girl. My house burned down, nowhere to live.»
Before Andrey could look 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. Just to get there.
The house turned out to be large, and Andrey was surprised. Somehow, he had missed this last time. He noticed: on one side there was a lake a hundred meters away, on the other – a forest. The front part of the house faced the village. Suddenly it dawned on him: such a house could fetch good money. Everyone is crazy about nature and clean air now.
Andrey definitely wasn’t planning to bring Larisa back. The grandmother, although looking like a real witch, briskly ran from the car to the house, as if wound up. He just waited for her to grab the last bag and immediately turned around to leave.
The grandmother squinted, watching the car.
«Something your companion left quickly, didn’t even say goodbye.»
Larisa smirked.
«Yeah, what’s there to spread dampness about, he brought me here to die, not for health, as he told.»
The grandmother turned to her:
«To die, you say? Well, we’ll see about that. Not all my kids have turned out to be leaping goats.»
Larisa looked at her in surprise.
«I’d like to lie down to rest, very tired.»
«Let’s go, I’ll walk you. While you rest, I’ll cook something edible. I saw a little store on the way, need to buy some groceries. Or did that scoundrel not leave you any money either?» the grandmother asked.
Larisa shook her head no.
«Of course not. Please bring the doll, there’s an old one in the bag, on top.»
The grandmother instantly found and brought the toy. Larisa unzipped the doll and handed her a thick wad of bills.
«Here, you can live on this money.»
«Oh, dear, this amount will last us here for about five years. Just wait a bit, we’ll even plant a garden. Let not everything grow, but something will surely sprout,» the grandmother replied.
Larisa, as soon as the grandmother spread a clean cover on the sofa, immediately fell asleep. She periodically heard pots clanging and the grandmother singing. These sounds somehow calmed her, rather than scared or irritated. When someone called her, she opened her eyes, not immediately realizing where she was. Coming to her senses, she slowly sat up. So, it was all not a dream.
«Larisa, come to the table. You haven’t eaten for a day.»
She wanted to refuse out of habit, but suddenly realized that she was indeed hungry. While the grandmother Alyona—such was the grandmother’s name—was setting the table, she chatted non-stop.
«You know, Laris, there are such kind people here, the neighbor even came by. Brought potatoes, treated to bacon, promised to bring fresh milk in the evening. And didn’t take a dime, not a penny.»
The grandmother hadn’t finished speaking when a young man appeared at the door with a jug of milk. He looked at Larisa.
«The mom sent some milk. Wanted to ask, what time do you wake up? Need to mow the grass, so as not to wake you up in the morning.»
«What’s your name?» asked grandmother Alyona.
«Dimka,» the boy replied.
«Dimka, come on in, join us for dinner, we’ll discuss everything,» the grandmother invited.
Nearly a month had passed. In the morning, Larisa blushed, looking at herself in the mirror, and grandmother Alyona cheerfully said:
«What, you think – it looks like you, but also not?»
Larisa, looking at her reflection, pondered:
«Yes, I look and don’t recognize directly. And my appetite is good. And I can probably make it to the lake now, without falling from fatigue.»
Grandmother, putting aside her sewing, smiled:
«Do you understand why? Mainly, drink all my decoctions and eat everything on the table.»
«I’ll do everything you say. I don’t want to die…» Larisa cried for the first time since she was brought here. Strangely, there had been no tears before, only a smile or silence.
The door flung open, and Dimka appeared on the threshold.
«Laris, father bought a new boat, such a beauty. Come on, I’ll take you for a ride on the lake. Why are you crying? Just say who offended you,» he frowned.
Grandmother Alyona quietly smiled:
«There you have a defender. Let him be young, only nineteen, but already it’s clear that the boy is reliable.»
Two years passed.
«Ah, you,» Liza scolded Andrey. «You can’t even sell a house without me?»
Having taken out loans, Andrey realized it would be very hard to repay them. And he remembered that he actually had property in the village!
«I forgot that the documents for the house aren’t here. Only later did I remember that Ninka showed them to me in the house. That’s where they all are… And if the girl wasn’t buried, and she’s still there?»
«Stop making things up! She was with that crazy grandma. All the neighbors know about it. You should have gone there a long time ago. I think she couldn’t last a month without help.»
«Ah… Should have left the grandma a phone to call when God takes Lariska…»
They stopped in front of the house, near which paths had been cleared in the snow. Liza noticed:
«It definitely doesn’t look abandoned. Maybe the villagers took it into their hands and spruced it up? Let’s take a look.»
As soon as they got out of the car, smoke was coming out of the chimney.
«Wait, someone is coming here on skis,» Andrey noted.
Two figures, indeed on skis, were quickly approaching—a young man and a woman. Coming closer, the skier exclaimed:
«Look who deigned to visit! Daddy with his young lady! What did you forget here?»
Liza’s eyes widened, and Andrey nearly fell into a snowdrift.
«Larisa! How? You were supposed to…» he began.
«Get by without me, daddy. In two months I’ll be eighteen, so pack up with your Lizonka and get out of our house,» Larisa cut him off.
Liza looked bewildered at Andrey, then at Larisa and at the boy, who kept a stern gaze on the guests. She muttered to Andrey:
«Let’s go,» and immediately returned to the car.
Andrey stood for some time, shifting from foot to foot, not knowing what to do or what to say. His plans for the house and money crumbled in an instant. Unable to find the words, he rushed to the car.
Grandmother Alyona stepped onto the porch:
«Did you have a nice walk? I just made a big stack of pancakes. And I seemed to hear a car coming to us.»
Larisa kissed her on the cheek:
«No, you must have imagined it, probably the wind rustling. Let’s go eat pancakes quickly, you know how I love them.»
