— Alright, I get it. You won’t sign. Then maybe you’ll lend me money?
— How much?
— A million.
— Are you serious?
— I’ll pay it back,» Olga insisted.
Alina opened the door without even being surprised. Olga stood in the doorway, shifting nervously from foot to foot, wearing a gray coat that once belonged to Alina herself. Her sister had never known how to take care of things, and now the soft wool was covered in pills, the sleeves stretched out. She always did that — took things, used them, and forgot about them.
«Hi,» Olga tried to smile, but her lips trembled like a child wanting to hide behind an adult.
Alina held her breath and let her in.
«Come in.»
The hallway was narrow and cluttered with strangers’ jackets — relatives of Alina’s husband were visiting. Olga walked inside, threw her bag on the floor, which smelled of something sharp. She looked around tiredly, as if weighing how best to start the conversation.
«Sorry for coming without warning…»
Alina just nodded. They moved into the living room. It was too crowded — her husband’s nephews were building a construction set, her aunt was talking about a new store near the house, and from the kitchen came the voices of Andrey’s parents.
«To the bedroom,» Alina said quietly, going ahead out of the room.
Closing the door behind her, she leaned her back against the dresser. Olga carefully sat on the bed and fluffed a pillow as if hoping to create an illusion of home comfort.
«You look… good,» she started uncertainly.
Alina didn’t answer. Her sister always said what she thought but never thought about what she said.
«What happened?» she finally asked.
Olga sighed, reached into her bag, and pulled out some folded papers.
«Here… well, documents. If you sign, the bank will approve my mortgage.»
Alina looked at her for a long time.
«In my name?»
«In your name. But I will pay. Really,» Olga hastily added.
She always said that word — «really,» as if trying to convince not only Alina but herself.
Alina took the papers, unfolded them, and quickly skimmed through.
«Your parents gave you money. Where did you put it?»
She knew Olga didn’t want to answer, but she asked anyway.
Olga dropped her shoulders, looked away, avoiding eye contact.
«Things… happened.»
«Where?»
«I don’t really understand,» she smiled tightly, trying to make a joke out of it.
«You want me to take out a mortgage in my name, and you don’t even know where three million went?»
«Not exactly…» Olga grimaced. «I don’t know how to explain.»
Alina flipped the contract page without reading, staring at one spot.
«Try.»
Her sister bit her lip, then suddenly stood up and began pacing the room.
«At first, I thought I would buy an apartment, but then I realized there wouldn’t be enough for furniture. I decided to wait a bit. Then… a friend suggested we fly to Barcelona. You know, once in a lifetime. Then I needed money for courses… And then it just happened.»
«It just happened?» Alina felt a hot irritation rising inside her.
«There’s three hundred thousand left.»
She expected anything. But three hundred thousand? That’s not even a third of the amount.
«Are you serious?»
«Alina, don’t start…»
«I’m not starting. I’m just trying to understand.»
Olga stopped by the window, staring into the darkness outside the glass.
«I didn’t come for a lecture. I just came for help.»
Alina folded the papers slowly.
«You want me to take out a mortgage in my name because you blew through three million?»
«I will pay!»
«You couldn’t hold onto a finished apartment, but you plan to pay a loan for twenty years?»
«I’ve changed,» Olga said quickly. «I realized how important responsibility is.»
Alina looked at her long and slowly.
«When? When did the money run out?»
Her sister twitched as if she had been hit.
«You were always the right one, I know. But I really need your help now. If our parents find out…» She stopped.
There it was, the main argument. Olga was always afraid of their disappointment.
Alina looked at the papers again.
«I need to think.»
«But…»
«Olga, I need to think.»
Her sister pressed her lips but stayed silent.
Voices came from the living room. The air smelled of cinnamon and roasted meat. Family warmth. The kind Olga always avoided but tried to hide behind when she came for another favor.
Alina got up, went to the door, and slightly opened it.
«Shall we go have dinner?»
Olga hesitated, then nodded.
Entering the living room, she immediately put on a light smile, easily fitting into the conversation, pretending everything was fine.
Alina didn’t rush to answer. She stretched out that uncertainty like a torn thread on a sweater, although deep down she knew she wouldn’t sign those papers.
She thought about it at the supermarket, pushing a cart down narrow aisles while her husband grumbled by the grains shelf that buckwheat had gone up in price again. She thought while helping her nephew assemble the construction set, brushing off his questions: «Why do you always have such sad eyes, Aunt Alina?» Even when her sister wasn’t around, her presence hung in the air like an unresolved mystery.
But she truly understood her answer the day she met Olga in a café.
Her sister picked a spot by the window in the far corner where fewer people were. Her fingers drummed on the edge of the table — nerves giving her away. Alina sat down, feeling a tight knot form in her chest.
«Well, have you thought about it?» Olga asked without waiting for a greeting.
«I have.»
She took the folded papers from her bag and placed them in front of her sister.
«I won’t sign.»
Olga didn’t immediately understand. Or didn’t want to.
«Why?»
«Because I know how it will end.»
«But I…»
«You say you will change, but I’ve heard that hundreds of times. You promise, but I know it won’t happen.»
Her sister frowned, pushed the papers aside, crossed her arms.
«You know, you never believed in me.»
«No, Olga. I just know you too well.»
She wanted to explain it wasn’t about disbelief but reality. But Olga already turned away, pressed her lips, as if trying to hold back angry words.
«Fine,» she said quietly. «I understand.»
Alina expected her to start persuading, getting angry, accusing. But her sister was silent.
After an awkward pause, they stood and went outside. The wind blew, the sun was already setting, and the sky above the houses was painted a warm copper shade. Olga fixed her hair, looked at Alina, then suddenly stepped forward and hugged her.
«I still love you,» she whispered before turning and leaving.
Alina watched her go, knowing this conversation wasn’t over.
She was wrong.
Three days passed, and Olga didn’t call. Didn’t write. Didn’t appear at the door as usual.
«Maybe she’s really offended?» Andrey asked when Alina got distracted again during dinner, staring at her phone screen.
«No, that’s not like her.»
«Then maybe she’s up to something?»
The thought haunted Alina.
She remembered how Olga once disappeared from home as a child because their parents forbade her to go to a festival with friends. They searched all night, the police were about to file a report, until the girl returned home herself, happy as if nothing had happened. «Well, I knew you’d find me anyway,» she said then.
Olga was always like that. She didn’t accept no for an answer.
Alina found her in the old yard behind the supermarket where they used to play as kids.
Olga sat on a crooked bench, smoking, thoughtfully drawing shapes on the ground with the tip of her boot.
«You didn’t even try to convince me,» she said without looking at Alina.
«What’s the point?»
«I thought you’d save me anyway.»
Alina closed her eyes.
«Olga, you’re an adult. You’re twenty-six. Maybe it’s time to learn to save yourself?»
«I didn’t ask to be born younger than you,» Olga snapped.
«But you always used that.»
Her sister abruptly stood up, threw the cigarette butt in the trash, and looked Alina straight in the eyes.
«Alright, I get it. You won’t sign. Then maybe you’ll lend me money?»
«How much?»
«A million.»
Alina laughed. Not because it was funny. It was just beyond reasonable.
«Are you serious?»
«I’ll pay it back,» Olga insisted.
«No, you won’t.»
«Why are you so sure?»
«Because you didn’t even ask if I could afford it.»
Her sister froze.
«I… You always helped me.»
Alina exhaled.
«I can’t anymore.»
For a moment Olga just looked at her as if she hoped she misheard. Then her face changed — the vulnerability and plea vanished, leaving only coldness.
«Fine then,» she said, looking away. «Since you’re so righteous.»
Two months passed.
Olga didn’t write, didn’t call, didn’t remind anyone of herself, and that worried Alina more than her constant requests. Olga didn’t know how to be silent, didn’t know how to back down. If she disappeared — it meant she either planned something or got into another mess.
Alina didn’t ask about her sister to their parents, knowing they didn’t suspect anything. Olga probably kept them convinced she was in control, and they always believed her.
But one day, coming home from work, Alina got a message from her friend Sveta: «Did you know Olga is looking for an apartment?»
She stopped right in the middle of the street, holding the phone in her hands.
«What kind?»
«For rent. She says she wants to rent something downtown. Asked me for a loan.»
Alina stared at the screen for a few seconds as if hoping the message would disappear.
Olga was looking for an apartment. Downtown. After saying she didn’t have a penny.
She didn’t go home but turned onto the street where the real estate agency where Olga once worked was located.
The door was open; inside behind the counter sat a girl in a pink blouse nervously fiddling with pencils in a holder.
«Hello,» Alina approached. «Does Olga Sokolova work here?»
The girl looked away, then nodded hesitantly.
«She worked here. But she was fired.»
«When?»
«A week ago.»
Alina felt a sick tightening in her chest.
«Why?»
«She had problems with clients. She took an advance payment from someone, but the deal fell through, and the money wasn’t returned. The management didn’t want a scandal, but in the end…»
The girl hesitated, choosing her words.
«Better talk to her yourself.»
Alina nodded silently and went outside.
Olga had gotten herself into trouble again. Only this time, it looked much more serious than just lost parental money.
She found her sister in a small restaurant on the outskirts of town.
Olga was sitting at a table with two guys. She wore an expensive dress; her long hair was perfectly styled, and on her face was a light, serene smile. She laughed, leaning toward one of the men, her hand lightly sliding over his wrist.
Alina didn’t recognize her.
But when Olga looked up and met her gaze, her expression changed.
For a second, fear flickered in her eyes. Then irritation. And finally — indifference.
Alina stepped closer, ignoring the questioning looks of her companions.
«We need to talk,» she said quietly.
Olga pretended not to hear.
«Olya.»
Her sister sighed and smiled at her companions.
«One minute, boys.»
She stood, walked confidently outside, and only then dropped the mask of ease sharply.
«What are you doing here?»
«Looking for you.»
«Found me. Happy?»
Alina clenched her fists to hold back irritation.
«You took money from clients and didn’t return it. You were fired.»
«What, are you following me?»
«Do you even understand how serious this is?»
Olga snorted.
«Oh, stop it. They’ll get their money back, I just need time.»
«Are you gambling again?»
She wasn’t going to ask, but the question slipped out.
For a second, something like fear flashed in Olga’s eyes. Then she frowned, shrugged, and said evenly.
«No. Just… I was unlucky.»
Alina was silent for a long time.
She remembered how as a child Olga lost the money she had saved for a new phone. Then came student debts. How she always promised it was «the last time.»
And here they were again.
«You do realize this won’t end here, right?»
Olga tiredly rubbed her forehead.
«Alina, if you came to judge me, you shouldn’t have.»
«I came to help.»
«Really?» her sister smirked. «Then give me money.»
Alina gritted her teeth.
«I’m not pulling you out this time.»
«Why?»
«Because I’m tired.»
Olga looked at her carefully, as if trying to understand if this was really the sister who always saved her.
«Fine,» she said. «Then just leave.»
Alina sighed.
«I won’t be able to pull you out anymore, Olya. At some point, you’ll have to do it yourself.»
Her sister didn’t answer.
She turned and went back into the restaurant without looking back.
Alina didn’t call Olga. She stopped looking for meetings, stopped asking about her to acquaintances. It wasn’t a decision but more of an instinct — to save herself. But even if she didn’t ask, information found her anyway.
A week later, Sveta wrote again: «I heard Olga moved into a hotel. Debts are growing.»
A few days later, one of Alina’s colleagues who happened to know one of the agency’s harmed clients dropped a comment: «Is your sister a scammer? People are furious.»
Alina listened, nodded, but didn’t interfere.
Until one evening, her mother called.
«Alin, can you come?»
There was something anxious in her voice.
«What happened?»
«It’s Olga… She… Just come, please.»
The parental home greeted her with dark windows. She entered, took off her shoes, and moved toward the living room, knowing they were waiting for her there.
Olga sat on the couch hugging herself. Her eyes were swollen, her gaze wandering. Next to her was her father, gloomy and tired; opposite was her mother, clutching the armrest tightly.
«What happened?» Alina repeated.
Her mother pressed her lips.
«Olga owes people money. A lot. They found her… It’s good she’s here now. But they will come.»
Olga was silent.
Alina sat opposite her, folded her hands.
«Are you going to say something?»
Her sister raised her head. In her eyes was a frightening emptiness.
«What do you want to hear? That I screwed up? That I can’t manage money? That I’m to blame?» Her voice was muffled.
«Are you going to solve the problem or pretend nothing’s happening again?»
«What can I do?» she bitterly smiled. «I don’t have that kind of money.»
Her father sighed heavily.
«Alinochka, maybe you can help her?»
Alina turned her head sharply.
«With what? Money?»
«Well… You understand…»
She felt something squeezing her from inside.
«You want me to solve her problems again.»
«We just…» her mother nervously clenched her fingers. «She’s your sister.»
«My sister who keeps doing the same thing over and over, and you keep expecting me to pull her out.»
«Alina…»
She stood.
«I can’t.»
Her mother jumped up after her.
«But they could…»
«I know,» Alina turned. «But if I help, it won’t be the last time.»
They were silent.
Alina looked at Olga.
«It’s time you learn to handle it yourself.»
Her sister looked up.
«Are you abandoning me?»
«No, Olya. I’m just not carrying you anymore.»
She turned and left without looking back.
Three months passed before she saw Olga again.
They bumped into each other by chance in a shopping mall.
Her sister looked different — thinner, without expensive things, her hair tied back in a ponytail. She saw Alina, froze for a moment, then approached.
«Hi.»
Alina nodded.
«How are you?»
«I paid off the debts. With two jobs, but I did,» she exhaled and smiled. «And I rented a room.»
«Good.»
Olga looked at her attentively.
«You did the right thing then.»
Alina exhaled slowly.
«I know.»
Her sister nodded, looked down as if thinking, then said quietly.
«Thank you.»
She left first.
Alina watched her go and for the first time in a long while, didn’t feel guilty.
