After Varvara found out the results of her latest exam, anxiety started to take over: her chances for a tuition-free spot were fading with each passing day. Despite her high scores, it was clear they weren’t enough for the coveted specialty.
Varvara had a clear agreement with her parents: if she got into a free program, the money saved for her education would go toward buying a one-bedroom apartment in the regional center. Her parents planned to purchase the apartment by the time she graduated. However, if they had to pay for her tuition, the dream of the apartment would be forgotten. In that case, Varvara would have to solve her housing problems on her own, since the three-bedroom family apartment was going to be left to her older brother.
Varvara saw the terms as fair and agreed. Her parents kept their promise, paying for her tuition. She left her hometown, moved into a dormitory, and successfully completed her first year. But when she returned home for the holidays after the exams, her parents immediately said they wanted to talk about something important.
«Dear Varvara, we need to discuss your studies,» her father began.
«What happened?» Varvara asked, surprised.
«Unfortunately, we can no longer finance your education at the university,» her father explained.
«How is that possible? Why?» Varvara asked.
«The thing is, the situation has changed. Your brother Anton decided to get married, and we need money for the wedding and for buying him a home,» her father explained.
Anton, Varvara’s older brother, was two years older than her. He barely finished the ninth grade, then attended college, and only received his diploma last year.
«Dad, Anton is only twenty! Why the rush?» Varvara was confused.
«His girlfriend Alla is pregnant. So, soon you’ll be an aunt,» her mother replied.
«Why should I suffer for his mistakes? Anton doesn’t even know where the nearest pharmacy is, and because of that, you’re taking away my education!» Varvara protested.
«You’re to blame,» her father said sharply. «If you had gotten into the budget program, we wouldn’t be facing these problems now.»
«But if I had gotten into the budget, I wouldn’t have gotten the promised apartment! Now it’s going to Anton. If I don’t pay for my second year by September 10th, they’ll just expel me. Do you understand that?» Varvara exploded.
«We understand the situation perfectly,» her mother said coldly. «And we have a solution. You can take your documents and apply to another department where your scores will be enough. You’ll start studying again in September, but for free. Yes, you’ll lose a year, but it’s not that big of a deal. You’ll still get a higher education.»
«Great! So you’ve made all the decisions for me as if I don’t have my own opinion!»
«Isn’t it surprising?» Varvara exclaimed bitterly. «Listen,» her father raised his voice, clearly irritated, «stop throwing tantrums. This money is ours, and we have the right to decide how to spend it. Right now, it’s more important to help Anton with the baby than to follow your plans. We’ve given you an alternative, and there will be no other choice. That’s it.»
After the conversation with her parents, Varvara couldn’t hold back her tears. She spent the whole evening trying to figure out what to do.
The next morning, she made a decision: she would work all summer to save money for her education.
It took a few days to find a job, but eventually, Varvara got a position at a fast food restaurant. To increase her income, she took as many shifts as possible, sometimes coming home only for a short nap before her next shift.
Varvara decided not to attend her brother’s wedding, despite her parents urging her to come and give an appropriate gift to the newlyweds.
«How could you not come? Your brother is getting married, and you don’t even want to congratulate him? What will I tell the relatives?» her mother asked.
«Tell them the truth. You spent the money meant for my education on Anton’s wedding. And I’m not at the celebration because I’m working to pay for my education.»
Despite all her efforts, by the middle of summer, Varvara realized that she wouldn’t be able to gather the required amount. She decided to move to the regional center and transfer to part-time studies.
On August 25th, she packed her things and set off. In the remaining days before the start of the school year, Varvara found a place to live.
She rented a small room in a communal apartment, which she shared with another girl, also struggling to deal with life’s difficulties on her own. She was lucky with the job: the schedule was flexible, and her salary depended on the number of shifts. Varvara worked hard and handled any challenges that came her way.
She decided not to tell her parents about her life. She didn’t call them first and didn’t show interest in their affairs. Her mother called about twice a month. When she asked how Varvara was doing, she would reply, «Everything’s fine,» but without giving any details.
Her mother often expressed dissatisfaction that her daughter didn’t visit home for holidays or breaks. Varvara didn’t outright refuse, but for three years, she never visited her family home.
In her fourth year, her mother called with a proposal: «Varvara, Olya Kochetkova told me you’re studying part-time. Your father and I thought: why pay for rent when you could live at home and come for classes twice a year?»
«That’s a strange suggestion. Why the sudden interest?» Varvara asked.
«The thing is, Alla is about to have their second child, and it’s already difficult for her to manage with just one. She needs help,» her mother explained.
«Why don’t you help her yourself? Aren’t you working now?» Varvara was surprised.
«I’m working. We’re paying the mortgage for Anton’s apartment. After the wedding, we only had enough money for half the apartment’s cost, the rest had to be taken on credit. So, I’ve been working for two years,» her mother replied.
«So, you want me to come back and help Alla? Who will pay for my education if I can’t work?» Varvara asked.
«Doesn’t part-time study also require payment?» her mother asked, surprised. Varvara was already balancing her studies with work in her field.
She had so many things to do that there was simply no time for a personal life.
In her group, there was a guy named Mikhail. He was a bit older: he finished college, then served in the army, and only afterward entered university. Mikhail grew up in an orphanage and never knew his parents.
After graduating from the orphanage, he was given a one-room apartment, where he lived alone.
Varvara had long caught his attention, but her seriousness and constant busyness kept him from approaching her.
However, they were paired up for a school project. Now, they spent a lot of time together, and soon Mikhail decided to invite her on a date.
They dated for about a year, and six months before graduation, they decided to get married. They didn’t plan a grand celebration: Mikhail had no relatives, and Varvara didn’t want to invite hers. They simply registered their marriage and marked the occasion at a café with a few friends.
As soon as Varvara graduated and received her diploma, her mother called again. «Well, you’ve finished university, it’s time to come home. We finally need your help. Anton and Alla still can’t manage with the kids, and I’m exhausted.
I work during the day, and in the evenings and weekends, I’m with the babies. Come home, at least for a while, to replace me. You’ll find a job easily, and we’ll figure out the housing situation.»
«Mom, it’s been five years since I was home. Do you really think nothing has changed in my life during this time?
Why do you think that after you stopped helping me, I’ll suddenly forget that and come back to take care of Anton’s kids?
In these years, I’ve earned my degree, gotten married, and in six months, my husband and I will have our own child.
You have to understand that I now have my own life, and I’m not going to fulfill your demands.»
