Kristina took a deep breath — the warm air was filled with the scent of freedom. This was her second meeting with it. The second time she was going out into the world. And the second time she had to learn to live anew.
She twisted her mouth into a crooked smile. «It’s okay, hardships make you stronger…»
Yes, such strange, almost absurd trials seemed to happen only to her. But alright, she would manage. Now she would definitely become wiser. She would no longer help anyone — not for anything! Let everything be different now. Calm, quiet, without unnecessary trouble.
Three years ago, she had already left the walls of her childhood orphanage. Back then, she believed in goodness, loved the world with all her heart, and saw herself as part of a big, bright whole. Maybe at that time she was truly lucky, or maybe that institution had a bit more humanity than others… But no kind memories remained there. Only pain: constant shouting, humiliation, endless punishments…
If someone «misbehaved,» they were simply locked in the storage room — they called it the «punishment cell,» with a small window near the ceiling — and given only water for three days. Sometimes they were just beaten. Just thinking about it made her nauseous.
Once, while heading to the bus stop, Kristina saw a small child struggling in a pond. Without hesitation, she rushed to save her. The little girl fought back with all her might, but Kristina was older and stronger. In the end, the girl was in her arms, blood was coming from her nose — apparently, the girl had hit her face while being pulled out.
People who ran up heard not gratitude but the child’s outrage: that she was the attacker, not the savior. And considering Kristina’s past, she was quickly taken to the police station. They found a fitting charge, although formally nothing serious had happened. Just another story that turned out against her.
Now she was firmly determined: let everyone take care of themselves. She wouldn’t watch over anyone. She would get on the bus and go where she was supposed to — to some house in a remote village an hour from the city. She never actually made it there — she overslept her stop. Maybe that was for the best?
The bus gently rocked over the bumpy road. Kristina, without noticing, dozed off. She was awakened by an elderly woman, who gently shook her shoulder:
«Miss, you’re going to Kalinovka, right? We already passed it!»
Kristina barely figured out where she was but nodded. She jumped off the bus like a bullet. Around her — fields, forest, evening, beauty… Only spending the night out in nature wasn’t very comfortable.
The village appeared suddenly. Here — a field, there — a street with houses. Everything around seemed frozen, immersed in silence. No one on the street. She checked her documents. The right address: a house with remnants of green paint, the third from the edge. There were two suitable houses. One was clearly a ruin, so the second.
The house was even better than expected. A kettle, tea, sugar, an old TV, a couch. Within minutes she was sitting with a hot glass and a loaf of bread in her hands, then simply collapsed into sleep.
She woke up to strange sounds. Nearby a car, footsteps, voices. Then a door slammed, the car drove away. Kristina tensed. She looked out the window — by the gate someone was sitting on the ground next to a wheelchair, trying but failing to get into it.
«Hey! What are you doing here?» she called.
The man looked up.
«And you?»
«I live here.»
He smirked.
«Then I must have the wrong address.»
Kristina went downstairs, helped him up, and sat him in the chair.
«How long have you been here?»
«Since last night,» she snorted.
«And I — for ten years.»
«What?!» Kristina was taken aback.
«You live here by raids?»
«No! This house was assigned to me by guardianship as an orphan! I have the papers! Of course, the house…»
«Let’s check,» he said calmly. «Come inside.»
Kristina agreed. She felt the man knew the place too well. He even knew where to find two boards to get close to the porch comfortably. Where from? Maybe he really lived here before?
Inside, Kristina immediately handed him her papers. He didn’t even read them, just put them aside.
«Make some tea?»
She jumped up and poured tea. Only when he started drinking did the man take the papers, glanced through them, and smiled:
«Did you check the house number?»
Kristina shook her head.
«This is number thirty. You need thirty-two, across the street.»
«What?!» Tears filled her eyes. «That one’s a ruin! It’s scary to enter!»
«Too bad,» he nodded. «But you don’t have a choice.»
Kristina sat down. Everything was going wrong again.
«What should I do?»
«Nothing. There’s enough space. Pick any room and live. You won’t bother me, and no one else will come.»
«But I’m an orphan! I have no other housing!»
«Alright, live here if you want. Help a bit sometimes. Fix your house, work — life will begin.»
Kristina thought. There was logic in his words. He didn’t seem dangerous. On the contrary — polite, even kind.
«My name is Kristina.»
«Andrei,» he replied. «Don’t be afraid. I’m not always like this… I was an athlete. I got into an accident. Everything changed after the injury. My wife brought me here, said — this is your place. The car went to her, the apartment is on the fourth floor — but now I can’t climb there. So I live here…»
Kristina looked at him and felt something inside soften. She had come with the decision not to interfere in others’ affairs. And now she was sitting in a stranger’s house, drinking tea, realizing: maybe they were both strangers to someone, but not to each other.
«And you talk about this so calmly?!» Kristina was deeply moved.
If only she could find that same “wife”! In the orphanage, those like her were given true “darkness” — and for a long time. No one bounced back after that.
«Let’s switch to informal — you and me,» Andrei smiled. «I’m not that old. I’m only thirty-two.»
«Okay… let’s,» Kristina agreed, a little embarrassed.
Lying in her room, she couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Thoughts kept her awake. Fate… She, an orphan, had never had anything good, but still held faith in the future. And Andrei had everything: health, success, love… And now? Emptiness. What can await a person whose life suddenly fell apart?
In the morning she was awakened by village sounds — roosters, cows, voices. She looked at the clock: six a.m.! «Where is everyone rushing so early?»
She sniffed the air — smelled coffee. A strange feeling… Putting on her jacket, she went to the room. Andrei skillfully, despite the wheelchair, was making breakfast.
«Hi! I was just thinking of making coffee. Two cups!»
Kristina inhaled the aroma.
«Wow! It smells so natural!»
«Have you ever tried real coffee?» he smiled.
She shook her head, watching his movements. A minute later she tried the drink — bitter, harsh. She tried another sip but couldn’t.
Andrei noticed her grimace.
«Don’t like it?»
«Well… not really,» she answered honestly.
He laughed.
«Then you’re lucky you won’t get addicted. Coffee is almost a drug for adults.»
«Then let it be tea,» Kristina smiled.
«Alright, Kristina. Now let’s think about how we’ll live from now on.»
A week later she was hired to work at the grain elevator. There were questions about her past, but Kristina told everything honestly. The boss decided to give her a chance:
«Start as a shield operator, let’s see how you manage.»
She came home tired in the evenings, sometimes dusty, but happy. Andrei always greeted her, listened attentively, supported, advised, rejoiced in her success. And Kristina for the first time felt needed. Truly loved.
On her first day off she suggested:
«Let’s take a walk! We hardly saw the village. I definitely haven’t. And you can’t hide forever!»
He looked surprised, then nodded:
«You’re right. Let’s go.»
People in the village were already getting used to her. They greeted, even chatted with Andrei, not avoiding eye contact or making hasty judgments. He became more relaxed, even started joking.
At home he said:
«Today I took a whole journey for myself. Thanks to you.»
«This is just the beginning! We’ll do such feats yet!» Kristina smiled.
She took his hands, and for the first time in a long while, he looked at her sincerely and warmly.
«What do the doctors say? Any chances?»
«All kinds of nonsense. They say: ‘Get up and walk.’ But what if you can’t? If your legs just don’t obey?»
Andrei waved his hand and rolled into his room. Kristina watched him go. Not now — but soon she would find a way to help him.
The next day she visited the local paramedic.
«Hello! My name is Kristina. My husband… I mean, my neighbor… we have a little problem.»
The paramedic nodded understandingly.
«I know who you mean. How can I help?»
She told everything — about the injury, the diagnosis, about Andrei’s loss of faith. The paramedic thought.
«I’m not a specialist in this area, but I have a friend — a doctor. I’m going to see him tomorrow. If you bring the papers, he’ll consult with colleagues.»
Kristina promised to bring everything. And indeed she found the documents. But at home, a terrible sight awaited her — Andrei was lying on the floor, the wheelchair was tossed aside.
«Andrei! What happened?!»
He opened his eyes, breathing heavily and rapidly.
«I wanted to get up… wanted at least once… wanted to be really close to you. But I didn’t have the strength… I just fell…»
Kristina pressed his head to her.
«You’re crazy… You can’t do that! You had to train, prepare… Not rush headlong.»
«Kristina…»
She kissed him gently.
«You’re disabled… And I’m an orphan and a former prisoner. So what? We fit each other.»
The paramedic didn’t fail. His friend turned out to be Andrei’s attending physician. He gave recommendations, several books, and detailed instructions. Kristina armed herself with them like a knight before battle.
Sometimes Andrei got tired, angry, whispering:
«Why do I deserve this happiness? You’re young, beautiful… And I’m a broken man.»
«And I’m an orphan,» she answered. «So what? We’re together. That’s what matters.»
Six months passed. The first step. The second. Then the third. Andrei was slowly but surely learning to walk again.
One day he said:
«I need to go to the city. For one day.»
«Come with me!» Kristina offered.
«No. Alone. I have to settle something.»
Her heart clenched. A wife? A past? She silently nodded:
«Okay…»
She cried all day, packed her things, decided to leave. She couldn’t stay here knowing he went to another life. But in the evening she heard noise at the gate. She looked out — a car. Andrei got out holding a huge bouquet.
Kristina ran to meet him. He handed her the flowers, then a small box.
«Marry me. I filed for divorce today. Now we can start over. Just you and me.»
Kristina rushed to him, crying with happiness. They stood at the doorstep of their shared home, where they had once met by chance. But now — forever.
