Svetlana felt like the happiest woman in the world. In just one year, her life had changed beyond recognition. A year ago, she lived with her aunt, who had turned her into a slave. The aunt did nothing around the house or in the garden — she only came home from the street and flopped down on the sofa.
Sveta dreamed of finishing her studies, finding a job, and escaping from that life. The aunt often reproached her for a piece of bread, even though she herself received some benefits on Sveta’s behalf and earned well by selling the garden’s produce. Then a real miracle happened.
She met Alexey. A handsome, confident, and intelligent man. Alexey worked as a manager and had his own apartment. He was purposeful and didn’t put off decisions for later. Eventually, he told her:
— I can’t take it anymore. Your aunt won’t let you live properly, and that’s not enough for me. I want you to always be near me. Move in with me.
Svetlana didn’t hesitate for a second. Of course, he didn’t propose marriage but simply offered that she move in with him, and she didn’t mind. It seemed like a small thing compared to the fact that now they could be together. The aunt shouted after her that she was no longer family and that Sveta should never show up at her doorstep again, but Sveta didn’t even look back.
They were so happy together! Sveta made their apartment cozy, hurried home from work knowing it would always be like that. Today she was coming back from the clinic, filled with joy. Only yesterday she had some suspicions, and today she decided to take a day off to confirm them. Now she was hurrying home with wonderful news: there was life growing inside her — not just one, but twins. This feeling overwhelmed her with happiness, and she was sure their future would be bright.
When Sveta opened the apartment door, she noticed a strange smell. It was familiar but odd at that moment. Perfume. Yes, it was her perfume — the ones Alexey had given her. She didn’t like them much and hadn’t used them for months.
She went into the room and stopped. Strange noises came from the bedroom. Could it be a thief? Alexey was supposed to return from work only in half an hour. Taking a mop for protection, Sveta headed to the bedroom. She opened the door and froze. It wasn’t a thief. There was Alexey. But he wasn’t alone. With him was a young, striking woman, nothing like Svetlana. They didn’t even notice her at first.
When Lesha finally saw her, the girl screamed and threw a sheet over herself. Alexey stood up and, as if nothing happened, calmly said:
— Why are you looking at me like that? You’re not a child; you should understand that this happens. There was love, but it’s gone. To be honest, it was just infatuation, nothing more.
Alexey’s words echoed in Sveta’s ears. She wanted to say something, to prove he was wrong, that their love was real, but she couldn’t. She silently turned and ran out of the apartment. Already on the stairs, she heard Alexey shout after her:
— I’ll pack your things, come by and pick them up!
What things? Why would she need things if her world just collapsed, leaving only emptiness crushing her from all sides? Sveta came to herself late at night. She looked around and saw an unfamiliar, old yard with half-ruined two-story houses that seemed long abandoned. After thinking a bit, she decided to go to her aunt’s. Surely she wouldn’t throw her out on the street at such a moment?
She stood for a long time near her aunt’s house, looking at the dark windows, recalling how the aunt had told her she would fall in with a bad crowd, that she was “good-for-nothing.” The aunt shouted those words when Sveta left, threatening with a fist and ordering her never to come to the doorstep again.
The sky began to lighten. Sveta sighed, turned, and walked away from the house. Half an hour later, she found herself by the riverbank, watching the calm water as tears ran down her cheeks.
— Forgive me… I just can’t… I won’t manage, — she whispered, mentally saying goodbye to the two lives that had just begun inside her.
After wiping away her tears, she got up from the grass and looked at her watch. It was about half past six in the morning. She decided that if everything went well, everything would be over by the end of the day. Sveta wiped her tears, looked in a small mirror, fixed her hair, and headed to the bus stop. She had a long journey ahead: first a bus, then a train.
When she boarded the carriage, it was almost empty — only a few passengers and one elderly woman. Almost immediately, the conductor appeared, and Sveta noticed the old woman hesitating and looking around fearfully. She realized: the woman didn’t have a ticket.
— Grandma, you don’t have a ticket? — Sveta asked quietly.
— Yes, dear. I forgot my purse at home again; I’ve become quite forgetful. But I must see my grandson; I baked some pies for him, — the elderly woman replied shyly.
Sveta involuntarily smiled and, without hesitation, went to the conductor to pay for both of them. The female conductor understood the situation and accepted the money. Sveta returned to the grandmother, who smiled gratefully.
— Thank you, dear. I don’t know what I would have done if they had thrown me off in the middle of the road.
— Well, you could have called your grandson to come for you.
— Oh no, — the grandmother waved her hands in fright. — He always scolds me for traveling all across town. He says I should rest, go for walks, not drag myself around the city. Sergey is a good boy; he has a difficult job, little time, but he tries to come, even if rarely.
The grandmother radiated such warmth and care that Sveta felt something she hadn’t experienced for a long time — a sense of home comfort she never knew. Her parents died when she was very young, and the aunt who took her in never showed her a bit of kindness.
— And where are you going, dear? Did something happen? Your eyes are all tearful.
Sveta wanted to deny it but suddenly broke down crying.
— I thought everything was fine, that I would be happy… but he… he betrayed me. I don’t want to get rid of them, they’re so tiny, but they are mine. But I can’t condemn them to such a life. I can’t…
Everything was tangled in her head, but Sveta understood every word she said, while the grandmother silently stroked her head, trying to calm her.
— It’s hard for you now, — the old woman said softly, — but I see you have a kind soul. You will regret it if you do this now.
— Maybe, — Sveta replied quietly, — but I have nowhere to live, let alone care for them.
They got off together at the next station. Sveta quickly said goodbye and went her own way, while the grandmother stood for a long time watching her leave. More than an hour passed while Sveta was taking tests and signing papers. She ran to the hospital, where she was told that if she arrived before 10 a.m., she might be admitted today; if not, she would have to wait until tomorrow.
Svetlana stopped at the hospital entrance, her heart painfully clenched, but she gathered her strength and pushed the door open. Inside, she immediately noticed the grandmother — the same one who had traveled with her on the train that morning. The old woman seemed to be expecting her and immediately came to meet her:
— I hoped you would change your mind!
— Grandma, please don’t torment me, I came to do it before I change my mind, — Sveta replied, barely hiding her anxiety.
— Dear, wait, first come with me, I want to introduce you to my grandson.
— But I don’t have time! — Sveta objected.
— You’ll have time, don’t worry, — the old woman said confidently, firmly taking Sveta’s hand and leading her somewhere.
Nurses passing by smiled watching them, and Sveta realized the grandmother was clearly “one of them” here. They walked down a long corridor, and the grandmother confidently grabbed the handle of the door marked “Chief Doctor.”
— Wait… — Sveta managed to say before the door opened and a man appeared in the doorway, not as old as she expected.
Usually, it seems hospital bosses are almost always close to retirement age. But this one was younger than Svetlana had guessed.
— I’ve been waiting for you. Grandma already told me everything about you, — he said with a slight smile. — Come in, grandma, have a seat for now.
— All right, Seryozha, I’ll sit down, my feet are tired, — the old woman replied with a sly smile.
They entered the office. Sveta felt out of place, as if she were guilty of something.
— Have a seat, — the man offered, pointing to a chair.
Sveta shook her head slightly:
— It’s useless to try to talk me out of it, I’ve already decided.
— Allow me to disagree, — he gently objected. — If you had really made up your mind, you wouldn’t be in this office. You knew grandma was trying to dissuade you, but you still let her bring you here.
Sveta suddenly looked up, realizing he was right.
— That’s true… Grandma is a stranger to me, but for some reason I listened to her, — she said, confused.
— You see, — said Sergey Anatolyevich, the chief doctor, pushing a glass of water toward her, — not all is lost. You have five minutes, no rush. Sit down.
Sveta sat down again, feeling tears welling in her eyes.
— So, you say you already decided, — he said with a slight smile, sitting next to her. — Svetlana, be honest, did you decide to get rid of the child only because your fiancé betrayed you? Excuse me for being direct, but grandma told me everything.
— Not only because of that… I have nowhere to live now, I can’t go back to my aunt, — Sveta said, crying. Sergey Anatolyevich gave her another glass of water.
— What if I offer you a way out? You see, I care deeply about my grandma, she is my only one. But she is so restless — every time she rushes across the city to me, I worry about her. She’s unstoppable. The whole hospital lives on her pies, but she needs someone to care for, someone who will be near. Today, when grandma told me about you, I thought: maybe God sent you to me?
He paused slightly, then continued:
— Agree to become her companion. Not for free, of course. You will live with her, take care of her, give birth to your babies… and continue living together. Grandma worked as a pediatrician all her life — she can help you with the children, and you will be near her. So, Svetlana, agree. Save your babies, and I’ll save my nerves.
Sveta forgot about her tears, looking intently at Sergey Anatolyevich, not knowing what to say.
— I… I’m just not sure… — she murmured.
Two hours later, they were already driving to Sergey’s grandmother’s house. Her name was Evdokia Semyonovna, and she was so happy she couldn’t calm down.
— Seryozhenka will come to visit us now, and we’ll bake pies for his arrival. We’ll set up a room for you and the babies. Don’t worry, Svetočka, everything will be wonderful, you’ll see.
Sveta felt like she was in some absurd play, but resisting the elderly woman was useless, and she herself was already tired of fighting the circumstances. Sergey really visited them often, and although at first Sveta was embarrassed by his presence, over time she got used to it.
They went together to Alexey to get her things. When he opened the door, he just froze in confusion seeing Sveta with her noticeably pregnant belly and a serious young man next to her who looked at him in a way that didn’t bode well. Sveta quickly packed her things, and Sergey, taking the bags, pushed her toward the exit.
— Let’s go, — he said shortly.
Alexey suddenly rushed at Sveta, pointing at her belly:
— That’s… that’s mine!
Sveta felt Sergey’s hand on her shoulder, and she immediately calmed down.
— No, Lesha, it’s mine, and it’s none of your business anymore, — she replied firmly.
Sergey looked at Alexey in a way that made him immediately back off without another word.
At the appointed time, Sveta gave birth to two adorable girls — small and so sweet. The first to visit her after the birth was Sergey. His eyes shone with joy:
— I saw them! They are just amazing, strong and healthy!
Sveta smiled faintly:
— Thank you, Sergey Anatolyevich… If it weren’t for you and Evdokia Semyonovna…
Sergey chuckled:
— By the way, about Evdokia Semyonovna… She’s a wise woman but recently told me one thing: that we should get married. — Sergey blushed slightly. — And I told her: “Svetlana is twelve years younger than me, why would she want someone like me?” But grandma insists that it’s my duty. That’s how it is…
Sveta took his hand:
— Wait, Sergey, are you proposing to me?
Sergey, even more embarrassed, looked at her:
— I… I don’t know how to do it properly. You don’t have to say yes. I wanted to say it for a long time but was afraid. Today I just decided to take a risk… I understand everything: the age difference, and surely you love someone else…
He talked and talked as if that helped him deal with his nervousness, and Sveta had to wait to say a word:
— I agree, — she said quietly, catching a pause.
Sergey froze and looked at her in surprise:
— Why?
Sveta smiled:
— Because you’re the best. I realized it the moment I walked into your office that day.
