Nadezhda sat in the kitchen, thoughtfully sorting through sugar grains on the table. Silence surrounded her, only interrupted by the hum of the refrigerator, which disrupted the strange, oppressive atmosphere. Life should have been perfect. She and her husband had their own apartment — though it was initially a down payment, it was their own space where they built their life together. Yet, this «togetherness» wasn’t as simple as she had imagined. There was always tension between her and her mother-in-law, which only intensified over the years.
Nadezhda and Kostya had been married for several years, and all this time, Galina Stepanovna seemed unable to accept her daughter-in-law. Relations with the mother-in-law were difficult from the beginning, although Nadya tried to show patience.
Kostya tried to remain neutral. He loved his mother but also loved his wife. Often, sitting in the kitchen in the evenings, he tried to explain to Nadezhda that it was all about motherly care and there was no need to worry about what his mother would say, as she did it “only out of love for him.”
«You see, she just worries about me,» he said, spreading his hands. «She’s not against you,» Kostya deceived either himself or his wife. «Mom only wishes the best for me.»
Nadezhda listened to these explanations, but each time she only felt insulted. «Wishing the best,» apparently, meant having Nadya absent from Konstantin’s life. She saw that her husband was somewhat a hostage to his mother, but that did not ease her situation. On the contrary, with each passing year, the situation became more complex. Galina Stepanovna never missed an opportunity to remind everyone that «a woman like Nadezhda could not give him everything needed for true happiness.» These words were not always spoken directly, but the subtext was clear.
The cold weather and autumnal gloom meant only one thing — soon it would be Kostya’s birthday. Nadezhda was preparing for this day with a certain trepidation. She had chosen a gift in advance and carefully thought through the details of the celebration, hoping to spend this day in a calm and cozy atmosphere. Their life lacked such warm moments. Living together was increasingly slipping into mundane relations, from which Nadya tried to escape whenever possible. She wanted to make this day special… But everything changed when she accidentally overheard a conversation between her husband and his mother.
Kostya was usually in the living room, engrossed in his laptop, solving work problems. Nadya was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.
«Now we’ll sit down at the dining table together, like a real family, and spend the whole evening in heartfelt conversations,» thought Nadya, pulling the chicken out of the oven. She headed to the living room to call her husband to the table, but as she approached the door, Nadezhda heard voices. Listening in, she realized that Kostya was talking to Galina Stepanovna on the phone. Her breath caught when she heard her own name in the conversation.
«Kostik, don’t invite your wife to the birthday, we don’t want to see her,» Nadya heard her mother-in-law’s words.
After that, she continued:
«You know what Aunt Lyuda thinks about her, right? It will be very uncomfortable in front of her. Nadya will ruin everything with her presence, and our guests will feel awkward.»
«Mom…» Kostya tried to object, but his voice was weak and uncertain. «She’s my wife, how can I not invite her?»
«Why can’t you? Of course, you can,» his mother interrupted. «Tell her to go to her parents for a couple of days. I don’t want to see her — she’ll only spoil the mood! We’ll have a proper celebration without her.»
The mother-in-law’s words, spoken so easily, deeply wounded Nadezhda. She froze in place, feeling tears rising in her throat. How could someone be treated like this, someone who had lived with her son for several years, cared for him, and tried for their family? But what was even worse, Kostya did not object. He just muttered that he would think about it, and the conversation ended.
Nadezhda, without waiting for her husband to speak to her about what she had heard, entered the room. Kostya looked up at her, clearly not expecting that she could have heard their conversation.
«Did you hear?» he asked quietly, as if hoping she would say «no.»
«Yes,» Nadezhda answered, trying to keep her voice steady. «I heard everything.»
A moment of awkward silence hung in the air. Kostya sighed heavily and tried to explain:
«Listen, don’t worry about it, okay? I don’t want to upset Mom, she’s getting older, you understand…» he said, awkwardly looking away, «And I thought you really could go to your parents for a couple of days, then we could celebrate together. It’s nothing serious.»
«It’s nothing serious?» her voice trembled with hurt. «Are you serious? Your mother doesn’t want to see me on your birthday, and you suggest I just go away?»
Kostya couldn’t find the right words. He felt torn between two fires — on one side his mother, on the other — his wife. And, as often happened, he chose the path of least resistance, not realizing how deeply he hurt Nadezhda by this.
«Nadya, don’t be upset, it’s just for a couple of days,» he continued. «You’ll relax, spend time with your parents, and then I’ll pick you up.»
Her patience snapped.
«You don’t understand!» she nearly shouted. «You’re choosing your mother over me again! I am your wife, I should be with you on such holidays, not hiding at my parents’ place as if I’m a stranger to you!»
They argued all evening. Nadya couldn’t believe that her husband, the man with whom she shared literally everything, was ready to neglect her feelings for his mother’s peace of mind.
Deep down, she always hoped that Kostya would one day tell his mother that he was no longer her little boy, but a grown man who was building his life with his beloved wife. But that moment never came. Instead, Kostya tried to maintain a shaky balance, torn between Nadezhda and his mother. It seemed easier for him to give in to Galina Stepanovna than to defend his wife and stand up for their family.
Tears accompanied Nadya until late at night. She realized that she needed to leave not to fulfill her mother-in-law’s wish, but to be alone with herself, contemplating all the nuances of her relationship with Konstantin.
Nadezhda arrived at her parents’ house late in the evening. Her mother, Tatyana Viktorovna, greeted her warmly, as always, while her father, Dmitry Sergeevich, furrowed his brows, seeing his downcast daughter. He immediately understood that something had happened.
«Are you staying long?» he asked, looking at her attentively.
«I don’t know, Dad,» she replied evasively, not yet wanting to tell the whole story. «Kostya and I had a little quarrel because of his mom…»
Dmitry Sergeevich was a strict but fair man. He didn’t like problems in the family, but he always believed that a man should protect his wife. His look became even more serious when he realized that the reason for her visit was Kostya and Galina Stepanovna.
«Well then,» he replied shortly. «Stay as long as you need.»
Nadya used those few days to think about how to proceed further. She didn’t want to immediately cause grand quarrels or set ultimatums, but she firmly decided that Kostya needed to feel the consequences of his actions. He needed to understand that he had to make a choice.
Nadya decided that the best way to show Kostya how hurt she was would be through a symbolic gesture. He needed to feel the way she felt when she was driven away for Galina Stepanovna’s «peace of mind.»
Kostya’s birthday passed without Nadezhda. She didn’t call him or congratulate him. He tried several times to reach her, but she didn’t answer. All she wanted was for Kostya to understand what it was like to be rejected and alone. She knew he was waiting for her call, that he was troubled by her silence, and this was part of her plan. She needed him to feel the emptiness she had experienced over the years.
As the congratulations dwindled, the table began to empty, and his mother approached Kostya, nodding towards the kitchen, suggesting they talk.
«See how easy it all was? We celebrated perfectly without that…» she hesitated, choosing her words, «without unnecessary nerves.»
He looked at her with cold determination. Everything that had accumulated over the past few days weighed on his soul. He understood that this conversation was a turning point, and his response would have serious consequences. Now he felt that something had changed — he could no longer silently agree with her, as before. He looked at Galina Stepanovna with a smile and acceptance.
«She won’t understand, she never understood,» he thought to himself, looking at the woman who had given him life.
«No, Mom, I can’t be without her.»
Galina Stepanovna began to argue her «little Kostik’s» wrongdoing, but he was no longer listening.
On the third day, Kostya sent a message to Nade: «I’m coming to pick you up tonight. I hope we can discuss everything.» This message was simple, but it felt repentant.
In the evening, when Kostya arrived at his wife’s parents’ house, he expected her to be waiting for him at the threshold, ready to return home. But his expectations were not met.
When he knocked on the door, it was opened by Dmitry Sergeevich. There was no kindness or warmth in his eyes, which made Kostya wary.
«Good evening, Dmitry Sergeevich,» he began, trying to remain calm. «I came for Nade.»
Nadezhda’s father looked at him assessingly and nodded restrainedly.
«My daughter is currently having dinner with us,» he said, squinting his eyes. «If you want, wait for her here.»
Kostya froze, unsure of what to reply. He was not invited in, not asked to join them at the table — he was simply left at the threshold like an unwanted guest. It was a clear sign that he was not held in high esteem by his wife’s parents.
A few minutes later, Nadezhda came out of the room. She looked calm, but there was a coldness in her eyes.
«Nadya, forgive me,» he said, feeling the words stick in his throat. «I was wrong. My mother has no right to interfere in our relationship.»
Nadezhda looked at him intently, evaluating his words. She had waited too long for this acknowledgment. Nadezhda stood before him — strong, determined, no longer the confused and hurt girl she had been a few days ago. She realized that she was no longer willing to tolerate such treatment, and if Kostya truly wanted to preserve their family, he would have to change not only his behavior but also his role in this tripartite relationship between wife and mother.
«Let’s go,» said Nadezhda, taking a step towards the exit. «I need to pack my things.»
Kostya wanted to say something, but remained silent, simply following her. The evening light streaming through the windows illuminated their path through the corridor to her room. There, among ordinary things, on the shelf lay the gift Nadezhda had prepared for his birthday. The gift that remained unopened. She stopped in front of it, pausing for a moment, then picked it up.
«I wanted to give you this for your birthday,» she said, handing him a small box. «But now I don’t know if it matters.»
Kostya took the box, feeling its lightness and fragility, just like their relationship at that moment. He slowly untied the ribbon and opened the lid. Inside was a leather wristband he had long wanted but couldn’t find the right one. Nadezhda, as always, knew what he wanted, even when he himself had forgotten.
«This… is a beautiful gift,» he said quietly, unsure how to express his feelings.
Nadezhda sighed, watching him. Her father stood at the threshold, observing the scene from the side, not interfering but ready to support his daughter if needed.
«Kostya,» she continued, «if we really want our family to stay together, we need to set boundaries. Not just with your mother, but also between us. You can’t keep putting her interests above mine, otherwise, this will just repeat. I don’t want every conflict we have to turn into a struggle for your attention or for a place in your life.»
Kostya stood, head bowed, feeling each of her phrases penetrate his soul. He knew she was right, and understood that everything she was talking about should have been discussed long ago. But he always avoided this conversation, preferring to believe that the situation would somehow resolve itself. And now the consequences of his inaction were before him.
«I… promise I’ll change,» he said quietly. «I’ll try, Nadya. I love you and don’t want to lose you. I understand that I acted wrongly, but please give me a chance to make things right.»
Nadezhda looked at him with skepticism. She saw that Kostya sincerely wanted to change the situation, but she needed more than words. She wanted actions that confirmed his readiness to fight for their marriage.
«Alright, Kostya,» she answered, after a pause. «I’ll give you a chance. But if this happens again, I’ll leave for good.»