Anastasia, bake me some cabbage pies for tomorrow. They turn out so wonderful when you make them.» Viktor, having finished a hearty bowl of broth, was in a good mood and decided to joke with his wife and praise her, something he rarely did. However, Anastasia wasn’t in the mood to listen to his compliments with a sweet smile.
«Vitya, I just have no strength left. I’m exhausted, I can’t even make it to the bed. Let’s not cook tomorrow, and you can eat the leftover broth from today. I still need to clean the apartment…»
The plate with the leftover broth flew just inches from her head, striking the wall with a loud crash and shattering into several pieces. A greasy stain spread across the wall.
«What’s going on?» Anastasia turned pale.
«Now you’ll have something to do. And the pies better be ready! And no more whining about how tired you are… You’ve been sitting at home doing nothing. I’m the one in charge of this house, and everything will go as I say. I provide for you! And you just sit there, getting lazy and complaining.» Viktor slammed his fist on the table, making sure his words were clear to her.
Anastasia wanted to stand up, grab her husband by the collar, and throw him out of the apartment. But after several years of marriage, she had lost all confidence in herself.
The next day, when her husband returned from work, he found a pile of fragrant pies on the table.
«Now that’s more like it! Enough with the ‘I’m tired!’ How can you be tired, sitting at home?»
Anastasia didn’t argue. She had made the decision to quit her job and stay at home after the wedding. Her husband had sworn that he would take care of everything financially.
«Besides, we need to have a child. You don’t need the stress.» Viktor had persuaded her, and she even liked the idea that her husband wanted to take full responsibility for their financial well-being. But later, she realized that he didn’t want to provide for her; he wanted to suppress her, taking away her source of income and her independence.
Despite their great desire to have a child, pregnancy still didn’t come. Anastasia secretly went for an examination and found out she was completely healthy.
«You should check your husband,» the doctor remarked during the consultation. «Male infertility is becoming more common these days.»
When Anastasia mentioned this to her husband, it sparked their first major argument:
«Check me? Are you out of your mind? I’m a normal man! My father and grandfather managed to run around from wives to lovers, and no one complained! And I’m no worse than them.»
«Really? You manage to run around too, while I’m still content with everything?» Anastasia retorted sharply.
«You’ve misunderstood me. What can I expect from you? You’ve become so dull sitting at home! Soon, there will be nothing left to talk about.»
Later, Viktor apologized for his rudeness, but the first alarm bell had already rung.
«Oh, yeah? In that case, I’m going back to work!» said Anastasia, but her husband did everything to ensure she stayed at home. She worked for a week in the company where Viktor worked, but she didn’t fit in. It seemed like everyone, from the boss to the janitor, was against her. So she quit.
A few months later, biting, sarcastic remarks had become the norm in their communication. Viktor forbade Anastasia from even thinking about working, constantly demanding that she be the perfect wife and housekeeper for him.
«Stay at home. Stop jumping around the offices. Your calling is to serve your husband.»
The first couple of years, Anastasia loved her husband deeply and was willing to put in the effort to meet his demands. But over time, he had convinced her of her complete incompetence and uselessness, so much so that she no longer had the courage to start working again or regain any sense of independence.
«Vitya, leave me some money tomorrow, I need to go to the store and buy groceries, and then I wanted to stop by the beauty salon — I haven’t done my nails in a while, and I need a trim.»
Taking out several bills from his wallet with an important look, Viktor said:
«This is for the groceries. For anything else, you don’t deserve it. The house is a mess, the food is disgusting, and you have the audacity to ask for money for yourself? While you haven’t contributed a single penny to the family budget in years? Don’t make me laugh!»
«But you promised to provide for me if I quit and stay at home, giving you a reliable support.»
«Support? What can you provide? Just admit it — you’re useless, lazy. They would’ve fired you anyway. You’ve been riding on my back, happily accepting my offer!»
Viktor went to bed, and Anastasia stood at the window for a long time, looking out at the night city. Cars rushed by on the highway. Some people were driving somewhere, living their lives. And what about hers? Cleaning, cooking, washing, and ironing? And her eternally dissatisfied husband? She had once been a promising interior designer. Somewhere on the attic, there was a folder with her sketches. After graduation, she married, and her friend, for whom Anastasia had done her diploma project, had started her own business and now became one of the best specialists in the city.
«And I’ve sunk to the bottom and can’t climb out,» she told herself. But then, an excellent idea came to her. She took her phone and messaged her old friend. Her friend replied immediately, arranging a meeting for tomorrow at a café.
Marina barely recognized the unconfident, overweight, and poorly dressed woman as her former classmate.
«Anastasia! No offense, but marriage clearly hasn’t done you any favors. What have you turned into?» Marina said after listening to Anastasia complain about her husband.
Anastasia honestly told her friend everything that had happened in her life over the past six months.
Her friend listened carefully, occasionally making unflattering remarks about Viktor’s behavior.
«So, I’m asking you to hire me. At least part-time. For now, I can work remotely, but eventually, when I gain some experience, I could become a full-time employee. I need to start earning. Otherwise, I’ll just dissolve into household chores and nothing else.» Anastasia was surprised by her own boldness.
«I remember how you studied! And how you draw… I was sure you had already moved to Moscow and were making millions! I’ll take you in, work, and gain experience. Maybe you’ll get away from your husband.»
Since then, Anastasia felt like wings had sprouted behind her. She worked while her husband wasn’t home, ordering ready-made food for when he returned. Viktor noticed that his wife had become different — she no longer reacted to his barbs, didn’t get upset, didn’t cry, and didn’t ask for money. At the same time, she looked much better: there was a spark in her eyes, she was constantly humming, had lost weight, and wore makeup.
No matter how hard he tried, Viktor couldn’t understand the reason for these sudden changes in his wife. At first, she stopped reacting to his sarcastic remarks, and then she started to assert herself, cooking less, cleaning less, citing her constant busyness.
One day, Viktor, as usual, made a comment about how the soup had turned out poorly.
«Oh, it didn’t turn out? Well, next time, you cook a better one!» Anastasia stood up from the table, took her husband’s plate, and dumped its contents on his head. Then, she grabbed the suitcase she had already packed and left. Viktor, who was speechless from the surprise, couldn’t stop her. Soon, he received a summons for a divorce hearing.
Attempts to win her back with threats or pleas failed. Having tasted freedom and financial independence from her husband, Anastasia could no longer tolerate his abuse and exploitation.
