Mom, are you working tonight again?» Katya asked, watching her mother intently. There was worry in her voice, as if she hoped for a different answer.
«Yes, sweetheart. You and Yura will behave, won’t you?» Marina gently stroked her daughter’s palm, trying to soothe her.
«Of course, Mom. But you never get any rest,» Katya insisted, never taking her eyes off her. «You need more time for yourself.»
«Don’t worry, darling. Work is necessary so we can have everything,» Marina replied, striving to maintain a light smile. «Don’t you want to be the prettiest at graduation?»
Katya sighed heavily.
«I just wish you were home more often.»
«Soon, you will be, Katyusha. Only one year left, and we’ll finally pay off that damned loan,» Marina said, wearily closing her eyes.
Her thoughts carried her back to the past. Once, her life had seemed stable: a strong family, a loving husband, and two children. But everything changed when her husband decided to start his own business. Marina didn’t delve into the details; she simply supported him as best as she could. However, the loan had to be taken out in her name.
And if only that had been it… Soon her husband confessed that he had fallen in love with another woman but promised to help with the payments so that she wouldn’t worry. Marina hadn’t yet recovered from that blow when another tragedy occurred—he died in a car accident.
She was left alone with two children and an enormous debt. Standing by the grave, she wondered how to go on living. The children demanded attention, work drained all her strength, and there was barely enough money for the essentials. There were moments when she thought about the unthinkable—the debt seemed insurmountable. All she had left was a share of the apartment.
Five years passed. Marina had been through so much, but now, with only a year left of payments, she allowed herself to hope. All her income went toward the loan—child benefits, part of her salary. They lived on what little remained. Fortunately, Katya helped with her younger brother, Yura.
«Okay, Katyush, I have to go to work now. Don’t worry; check Yura’s homework and make sure he’s home by nine,» Marina said, kissing her daughter on the forehead. «What would I do without you!»
Marina’s hospital was far away—on the other side of the city. She had to take several transfers, spending over an hour on the road. Sometimes she thought about finding a job closer to home, but after so many years, she had grown accustomed to this place.
«Good evening, Marina Nikolaevna,» a calm male voice greeted.
It was Sergey Andreevich, a new doctor who had started at the hospital just three months ago. He had retired but, as he said, couldn’t sit idle. Marina noticed that he often paid her attention, and she found herself blushing like a schoolgirl. After all, he was a widower and she was free. Sergey turned out to be polite, tactful, only three years her senior. There were already rumors in the hospital, but they remained nothing more than whispers behind their backs.
«Hello, Sergey Andreevich,» Marina replied, trying to walk by quickly to avoid the curious looks of the nurses watching them.
In the doctors’ lounge, her colleagues greeted her over tea.
«Join us, Marina Nikolaevna. How are things?»
«Quiet for now, but as they say, it’s the calm before the storm,» she answered.
The beginning of the shift was indeed quiet: they only had one patient with appendicitis and a worker whose hand wound needed stitching. The weather was beautiful, and Marina, stepping out into the hospital courtyard, sat on a bench to catch her breath.
She jumped when Sergey Andreevich sat down beside her.
«Marina, I want to invite you to the movies. I haven’t thought of anything better. A restaurant is too cliché, a theater isn’t to everyone’s taste. And I still don’t know you well enough. But I can’t let this chance pass!» He smiled as he looked at her.
Marina, having prepared to politely refuse, unexpectedly burst into laughter.
«Are you reading my mind?»
Sergey shrugged.
«What’s there to read? You always try to slip away as soon as I show up.»
«Is it really that noticeable?» she asked in surprise.
«Absolutely. We’re both grown-ups and free. It’s hard to deny that there’s some kind of connection between us.»
Marina sighed deeply.
«I’m long past that kind of talk.»
«But life goes on,» Sergey remarked gently.
«Alright, I’ll go to the movies with you. I just don’t have much time.»
«I’ve noticed you’re constantly busy. You work without rest,» Sergey shook his head.
«It has to be. My husband left me with nothing but bad memories,» Marina said bitterly with a wry smile.
Sergey nodded understandingly.
«It happens. If you want, you can tell me more.»
And suddenly, Marina felt an overwhelming urge to unburden herself. She detailed her situation, and Sergey listened without interrupting.
«That’s why you should think twice before inviting a woman with so much ‘baggage’ to the movies,» she concluded with a sigh.
«Nonsense. There’s always a way out, even in the toughest situations,» Sergey replied confidently.
«Maybe you’re right. I think too much about the past. I had a best friend, but after my wedding, we had a falling out. It turned out she was in love with my husband too. Sometimes I wonder: what if things had turned out differently?» Marina mused thoughtfully.
«But it’s pointless to dwell on what cannot be changed. And you never made up with your friend?»
«I don’t know where she is now. She left immediately after my wedding; so many years have passed…» Marina answered.
Sergey glanced toward the gates.
«Today is unusually quiet. That’s not normal; maybe work is about to pick up.»
Marina got up and headed into the hospital building. A few minutes later, a nurse approached her.
«Marina Nikolaevna, you’re needed urgently in the operating room!»
In the operating room, Marina first reviewed the test results without even looking at the patient.
«How are you feeling?» she asked, lifting her eyes.
On the gurney lay her husband, Kostya, whom she had thought was dead. He looked at her with terror and quickly turned away.
«This can’t be…— flashed through her mind. — But he’s dead…»
The patient’s blood pressure was rapidly dropping, and the blood loss was so severe that the count was in minutes. Gathering all her willpower, Marina focused and began the operation. Every step was measured, every movement precise. When it was over, she had no doubt: before her was indeed Kostya, even though the documents bore a different name. How could such a monstrous mistake occur?
Stepping out of the operating room, she bumped into a woman whose question made her raise an eyebrow in surprise:
«How is he? How is my husband feeling?»
Marina instantly recognized her. Lena. The very friend with whom they had once been inseparable until life pulled them apart.
«Lena?» Marina whispered, barely containing her astonishment.
«Marina? I had no idea you worked at this hospital…» Lena stepped back slightly, as if unsure whether to meet her gaze.
She sighed deeply, as if gathering her thoughts before speaking.
«Did you operate on him?»
«That’s Kostya, right? I… I don’t understand anything…»
«Oh, Marina, it’s all so messed up… We wanted the best, but as always, it turned out this way. Perhaps we need to talk it all out.»
«Yes, I would really like to finally figure out what’s going on!» Marina’s voice trembled, barely holding back a surge of emotions.
At that moment, Sergey Andreevich peeked into the room.
«Is everything alright? Do you mind if I stay? I think you might need some support…»
Lena looked at him, then nodded. They settled in a small security office, where it was quiet and secluded.
«Well, start talking,» Marina demanded, not taking her eyes off Lena.
As it turned out, Lena had returned to the city after several years away and had accidentally met Kostya. Old feelings rekindled between them, and soon they concocted a daring plan: to take out a large loan and disappear to avoid repaying debts and child support.
«Kostya had the right connections; we tried starting our own business,» Lena explained, «but nothing worked out. We moved to another city, but the competition was too fierce. In the end, we were left with debts. We had to sell everything and return to my apartment. But the creditors found us quickly… Today’s attack was their doing.»
«And how do you plan to get out of this mess?» Marina’s voice was edged with barely contained anger.
«Maybe… maybe you could sell the apartment? After all, Kostya had a share in it…»
Marina almost choked on those words.
«Lena, are you even listening to yourself? Kostya left me with a loan that I’ve been paying off for years, denying myself everything for the kids! And now you suggest I end up without a roof over my head?»
Sergey Andreevich sighed heavily.
«I think the best course of action would be to contact the police. Yes, he will have to answer to the law, but at least he will have a chance to live, and you, Marina, will finally be free of this burden.»
Lena jumped up abruptly.
«Marina, don’t turn us in! He’s your husband, the father of your children!»
«You know, Lena, I don’t even pity you. Did any of you ever think about me when you started this circus? Who among you remembered the children? I still can’t believe that this is even possible. We mourned him at the cemetery, and he… Sergey Andreevich, please call the police.»
Sergey dialed the number, then turned to Lena:
«Stay here until the police arrive.»
Lena merely waved her hand and sank onto a chair. Marina left the room.
«Mom, what happened? You look so sad…» Katya asked anxiously as Marina entered the room.
Marina took a deep breath and sat down beside her.
«Katya, I need to tell you something. I don’t even know how to begin…»
She recounted everything that had happened. Katya listened in silence, then quietly said:
«So, while we were paying off his debts here, he was living his life? While we were placing flowers on his grave, he was out having fun? Mom, can I assume that my dad remains dead?»
Marina shrugged.
«I won’t try to convince you otherwise. For me, he died a second time.»
Six months later.
«Mom, is it a celebration?» The children, barely stepping over the threshold, rushed straight to the kitchen. «What a wonderful smell!»
«Get undressed quickly,» Marina fussed.
Yura inhaled the aroma and whimpered:
«I’m dying of hunger already!»
Marina laughed.
«Just wait a little longer. We’ll eat in half an hour.»
Katya, raising her eyebrows, approached her mother:
«Mom, are you getting married?»
Marina blushed.
«Oh, Katya, what are you saying… Although… today I want to introduce you to someone. His name is Sergey. Katya, Yura, don’t just stand around—help me set the table.»
She turned away, trying to hide her excitement, but noticed the surprised expressions on the children’s faces. Yet in the next second, they embraced her.
«Mommy, we’re so happy for you! Just as long as he’s a good man,» they whispered, and Marina couldn’t hold back her tears.
«He’s a good man, trust me,» she said firmly.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Yura dashed off to open it.
«It’s me!»
Marina closed her eyes for a moment. Now there was no turning back.
A month later, Marina and Sergey had a modest wedding, hosting a family dinner. Yura and Sergey quickly got along, and the boy looked at his new father with respect. Although Sergey asked not to rush things—relationships need time.
Kostya was treated, but he was immediately brought to court. It turned out that both he and Lena were involved in a series of fraudulent schemes. Marina had to be present at the hearing since her name was also mentioned in the case. Kostya looked shattered, Lena no better. They furiously accused each other, and Marina was repulsed by the sight.
The loan remained in her name. The court did not accept her arguments, as the debt was formally registered under her name. But Sergey helped pay off the remainder.
«That’s it, Marish, now we begin a new life,» he embraced her. «Although, now my wallet is empty too,» he added with a smile.
They laughed.
«The most important thing is that we’re all alive and well, and the money… we will earn it,» Marina replied, firmly believing that everything would be alright now.
