Three thousand rubles,» Pavel said, without taking his eyes off his feet. «I got it at ‘Sunlight,’ there was a good discount.»
«Thank you,» she whispered, trying to hide her disappointment. «It’s very beautiful.»
Marina felt a strange emptiness in her chest. Of course, she hadn’t expected anything special—what diamonds could there be at their age? But this mundane nature, this business-like tone… It was as if he was reporting on buying bread.
Marina spent the whole evening in front of the mirror, critically examining her new haircut. No, Luba had overdone it—it was too youthful a look. At fifty-seven, it was time to forget about such experiments. Although the hairdresser assured her that she now looked at least ten years younger.
«And who needs that?» Marina asked herself, adjusting a wayward strand. Pavel used to always touch her hair, saying it smelled of summer. And now… When had he last paid attention to her appearance?
Today they were celebrating their thirtieth wedding anniversary. A significant milestone. Marina had gotten up early to prepare something special for dinner. She took out her favorite apron—white with daisies, a gift from her daughter many years ago. And began to mix the dough for a ‘Napoleon’ cake, without which no family celebration was complete.
Thirty years together. How quickly the time had flown. It seemed only yesterday that they had a modest wedding in the factory canteen where Pavel worked. She in a simple dress, sewn by her mother, he in a tapered suit. But what dreams they had! They dreamed of distant travels, a big house, how they would grow old together.
«Pash, remember how you once promised to take me to Paris for our thirtieth anniversary?» she asked him casually, not to betray her hopes.
Marina smiled, looking at the small ring in a red velvet box. Silver, three cubic zirconias—modest, but tasteful. Just like the last years of their life together.
Pavel muttered something in response, not even lifting his eyes from his phone. His fingers feverishly slid across the screen—another work email, it must be. Lately, the phone had become a real barrier between them.
Marina vividly remembered when the distance between them began. A year ago, Pavel suddenly took up a healthy lifestyle: expensive fitness club, diets, new suits, elite perfume, and constant «business meetings» after work. At first, she was happy about the changes—it’s good for a man his age to take care of himself. But gradually, she began to notice troubling signs.
«The main thing is that he didn’t forget the anniversary,» Marina consoled herself, trying on the ring. The size was perfect—thirty years of married life had taught him to guess such things accurately. But the stones somehow strangely shone under the chandelier light. Marina looked closer…
«Three thousand rubles,» Pavel said again, still not looking up. «Got it at ‘Sunlight’ with a discount.»
«Thank you,» she quietly replied. «Very beautiful.»
Something painfully stung in her chest. Of course, Marina harbored no illusions about diamonds—at their age, such dreams seemed unrealistic. But it was this businesslike manner, this dry report about the purchase… As if he was reporting the cost of a grocery set.
Memory brought back another time. Twenty years ago, Pavel gave her a simple pendant, which he bought on credit, just to please her. Then they lived modestly, counting every penny, but every Thursday he brought flowers—ordinary carnations, but always fresh and touching. And now, when financial stability had become the solid foundation of their life…
That evening they spent separately: Pavel had «urgent matters» requiring his immediate presence at a meeting. The cake remained untouched, and the champagne was never opened. Marina sat at the table, mechanically moving a fork over the cooled pilaf.
Later, after the house fell into silence, she pulled out an old photo album with a worn leather cover. Its pages had yellowed, some photos had faded, but the memories remained vivid, as if they had happened just yesterday.
There they were—young, happy, by the sea. Their first joint vacation, for which they scrimped and saved. In one photo, Pavel embraced her shoulders, and she laughed—she had accidentally caught a jellyfish and was terrified.
And there was their first car—an old ‘nine’ that caused a real delight. They worked nights at a goods station to save up for the first payment. How many plans they had made then!
Between the pages, a note fell out, folded in four. Pavel’s handwriting, full of emotion: «Love you, Marisha!»
Her phone quietly beeped. A message from Tanya: «Quick, turn on ‘Capital’!» Tanya was always so impulsive. Pavel used to be jealous of this friendship: «What are you always whispering about?» Now, it seems, he didn’t care at all who she talked to.
The screen showed a report about fashionable restaurants in the capital. The camera glided through the hall of an expensive establishment, and the narrator talked about the new head chef. And then she spotted him. Pavel was sitting at a table by the window, in that same burgundy tie she had given him for his last birthday. Opposite him was an attractive middle-aged blonde in a tight red dress. She gesticulated, clearly engrossed in conversation. A gold bracelet twinkled on her wrist.
«Stop. The bracelet.»
Marina moved closer to the TV. Yes, indeed—the same as in the photo on Pavel’s phone. She had seen that picture a month ago, when she was looking for documents for work. He quickly grabbed the phone: «It’s just a watch ad.»
Her hands trembled, and her temples throbbed. On the screen, Pavel smiled at his companion with that special smile Marina hadn’t seen for many years.
A new message from Tanya: «That’s Victoria from the fitness club. She’s thirty-eight, works in a cosmetics company. Told everyone her lover gave her a ticket to Paris for the May holidays.»
The May holidays. In a week.
Marina sank into the chair, clutching the phone. One thought swirled in her head: «Three thousand. With a discount.» And for her—Paris.
When Pavel returned late at night, Marina was waiting for him in the kitchen. In front of her was a cup of cooled tea.
«Why aren’t you sleeping?» he tried to kiss her on the cheek, but she moved away.
«How was the meeting?» she asked, and her voice sounded too loud to her own ears.
«Fine. Just tired,» he muttered.
«At ‘La Mare’?»
He froze. For a moment, something like fear flickered in his eyes, but then the usual calm returned:
«Ah, you mean the report? Yes, there. It was a business meeting.»
«With a partner,» Marina hissed, rising. «When are you flying to Paris? For the May holidays?»
«What absurdity? What Paris?»
«Don’t pretend, Pasha,» her voice trembled. «I know everything. About Victoria. About the ticket. About everything.»
He was silent. Then he heavily sat down on the chair:
«So what now? A scandal? A tantrum? At our age, it’s pointless.»
«Too late for what?» her voice shook with indignation. «Too late to respect your wife? Too late to be an honest man? Three thousand rubles, Pasha! You spent that much on a ring for your wife, but you’re giving your mistress a romantic trip to Paris?!»
«What did you expect?» for the first time in a long time, he raised his voice. «Thirty years in one apartment, in one bed! Look at yourself—old robe, curlers always on your head…»
«I raised your children! Cooked for you, washed and ironed your shirts!» each word she spoke with pain.
«Exactly!» he sharply rose, towering over her. «You weren’t a wife, but a maid! And Vika… She sees a man in me. It’s interesting to talk with her, she doesn’t just talk about grandchildren or health problems!»
Marina silently watched him. Thirty years of her life turned into one short word—»maid.»
«Know what?» her voice became surprisingly calm. «Fly to your Paris. But before that, sign the divorce papers.»
«Come on, Marin,» he tried to take her hand. «I got a bit heated. Forgive me. Let’s forget all this?»
She resolutely shook off his hand:
«No, Pasha. Not anymore.»
A month later, Marina sat in a cozy café with Tanya. No longer on her ring finger was neither that cheap ring nor a wedding band.
«Imagine,» her friend recounted, «that very Victoria came back from Paris and immediately rushed to our fitness club. In tears! It turns out your ex spent the whole trip on his phone, dealing with work. He didn’t even take her to the Louvre—’too much work.’ And there was only one restaurant, and even that was some shabby place.»
Marina laughed:
«Indeed, a real romantic.»
«And how are you? Coping?»
«You know,» Marina replied thoughtfully. «The first week I cried. The second—I was angry. And then… I signed up for Spanish language courses. Always wanted to, but never had the time. Now I go swimming. And you know what’s strange? It seems I’ve started living again.»
She paused, looking out the window:
«Yesterday my granddaughter asked, ‘Granny, why have you become so beautiful?’ And indeed… I got a new haircut, bought myself a dress. For the first time in many years—just for myself, without any ‘for someone else.'»
«And Pavel?»
«What about Pavel?» Marina indifferently shrugged. «They say Victoria left him. He called recently, begged to come back. I refused.»
«Pity him?»
«I did. But now…» she smiled. «You know, I bought a ticket. To Paris.»
«Alone?!»
«Alone,» her smile widened. «I’ve always dreamed of it. I’m only fifty-seven—it’s time to start living for myself.»
For the first time in many years, she felt genuinely unbound and full of inner lightness.
Half a year later, Sergey appeared in her life—a man who had lost his wife and taught Spanish. Their paths crossed at language courses, where they struck up a conversation. One day, he suggested meeting in a cozy café.
«Listen, Marina,» he said, looking intently into her eyes, «why don’t we go to Paris together next time? I’m planning to attend a professional conference there.»
She laughed in response:
«Agreed. Just not in May—too many tourists then.»
They say that life only blossoms after fifty. Now Marina knew this statement to be absolutely true. The key was to decide to open your eyes and start living for your own happiness.
That modest ring for three thousand rubles she passed on to her granddaughter—to play with dolls. There could be no better use for it.
