Nadezhda stood by the bank window, clutching the account statement in her hands. The numbers blurred before her eyes from excitement. Seven million. A full seven million rubles.
— Nadya, well, what is it? — Evgeny came up behind her, peering over his wife’s shoulder. — Is everything correct?
— Yes, Zhenya… — Nadezhda’s voice trembled with joy. — We did it. We saved up!
Evgeny hugged his wife, pulling her close. Nadezhda closed her eyes, breathing in the familiar scent of his cologne. For five years they had put away every kopeck. They’d denied themselves vacations, entertainment, new clothes. And now at last their dream had become reality.
— We’ll buy a three-room apartment in a quiet neighborhood, — Evgeny whispered in her ear. — No more rentals.
— No more landlords with their constant inspections, — Nadezhda added, turning in his arms.
She remembered all the humiliations they’d had to endure: the landlady’s surprise visits in the middle of the night, the ban on pets, the constant demands to keep quiet after nine.
Two weeks later they were standing in the spacious living room of a three-room apartment. Sunlight poured into the room through the big windows. The fresh renovation pleased the eye with calm pastel tones.
— It’s ours, — Nadezhda couldn’t believe it. — Zhenya, it’s really ours!
— Now you can even stand on your head if you like, — Evgeny laughed, twirling his wife around the room. — No one’s going to show up with complaints!
Nadezhda walked through the rooms, running her hands along the walls as if to make sure they were real. A spacious bedroom overlooking a quiet courtyard. A cozy nursery — empty for now, but Nadezhda already pictured a crib there. A kitchen with brand-new appliances.
— Where will we put our sofa? — Evgeny asked, pulling out a tape measure.
— Right here, by the window, — Nadezhda pointed to a corner of the living room. — And we’ll hang the TV opposite.
The move went quickly. Every box brought them closer to their new life. A life in their own home.
In the evening, when the last box had been unpacked, Nadezhda flopped onto the sofa with her arms spread wide. Evgeny sat down beside her, placing her feet on his knees.
— Tired? — he asked, massaging her feet.
— Happy, — Nadezhda corrected him. — Just unbelievably happy.
The first months in the new apartment flew by in a flash. Nadezhda threw herself into making their nest cozy. On weekends she and Evgeny went to furniture stores, choosing a coffee table one time, new curtains the next. Every little thing brought joy.
— You know what I’m thinking about? — Nadezhda said one evening, nestled in her husband’s arms on their new sofa.
— About what? — Evgeny stroked her hair.
— Maybe it’s time to think about children? — She looked up at him. — We have our own place now. There’s a nursery.
Evgeny thought for a moment, then smiled.
— You’re right. It’s the perfect time, — he kissed the top of her head. — Can you imagine how great it’ll be? A little one taking their first steps in our apartment.
Nadezhda closed her eyes, picturing it: children’s laughter, toys scattered around, drawings on the fridge. Their family would be complete.
Six months passed. The Saturday morning was especially cozy. Nadezhda was setting the table for breakfast, humming to herself. Evgeny had gone to the bakery for fresh rolls — their little Saturday tradition.
The doorbell caught her off guard. Nadezhda wiped her hands on her apron and went to open the door, thinking Evgeny had forgotten his keys.
On the landing stood her husband’s parents. Beside them loomed five huge suitcases and several boxes.
— Hello, Nadya, — her mother-in-law, Galina Petrovna, squeezed past the stunned daughter-in-law. — It’s not proper to keep guests standing on the threshold!
Her father-in-law, Viktor Ivanovich, began hauling in the suitcases. Nadezhda stood frozen. What was happening? Why were they here? With their things?
— Don’t just stand there — help! — commanded Galina Petrovna, taking off her coat.
Viktor Ivanovich dragged in the last box and slammed the front door. Only then did Nadezhda find her voice.
— Wait… What… What is going on?! — her voice broke into a cry.
Galina Petrovna looked her over with condescending eyes.
— The apartment is ours now! My son said so!
Nadezhda swayed. Her ears rang. This had to be a mistake. Impossible. Evgeny couldn’t have…
The front door swung open. Evgeny stood on the threshold with a bag of rolls.
— Mom? Dad? — He looked in surprise at his parents, then at his pale wife. — You’re already here?
— Zhenya, what does this mean?! — Nadezhda rushed to her husband. — You knew? You knew they were coming?!
— Nadya, let’s go to the living room, — Evgeny took her by the elbow. — Let’s discuss everything calmly.
Nadezhda jerked her arm away but followed him anyway. In the living room she sat on the sofa, arms crossed over her chest. Evgeny settled into the armchair opposite. His parents stayed in the hallway — apparently Evgeny had asked them not to interfere.
— Nadya, listen, — Evgeny began. — I really did agree to their moving in.
— You… what?! — Nadezhda jumped up. — How could you?! This is our apartment! Ours!
— Please sit down, — Evgeny spoke calmly. — Let me explain. Andrey and Lena are expecting a baby soon.
— So what? What does your brother have to do with me? — Nadezhda remained standing, staring at her husband in bewilderment.
— Our parents gave them their apartment. They need more space, — Evgeny spread his hands. — And our parents had nowhere to go.
— Nowhere?! — Nadezhda’s voice cracked. — And what about asking me?! What about my opinion?!
Tears streamed down her cheeks. She didn’t try to wipe them away. Everything had collapsed in an instant. Their cozy nest, their plans for the future.
— Nadya, why are you being so dramatic? — Evgeny stood up, tried to hug her, but she pulled away. — Everything will be fine. Mom’s a great cook — she’ll make meals for us. Dad will help with the balcony repairs.
— I don’t want anyone cooking for me! — Nadezhda burst out. — I want to live in my own home! Just the two of us!
— They’re not strangers, — Evgeny frowned. — They’re my parents.
— And who am I to you?! — Nadezhda looked at him through tears. — Chopped liver?!
Evgeny was silent. Nadezhda realized she had nowhere to turn. The apartment was registered to both of them, but in fact Evgeny had already made the decision. For her. Without her.
Life changed completely. Galina Petrovna took over the kitchen, cooking as she pleased and on her own schedule. Viktor Ivanovich occupied the living room, constantly watching TV at full volume.
— Nadya, why isn’t the coffee ground? — her mother-in-law would ask in the mornings. — Zhenya only likes ground coffee.
— Nadya, you got home late again, — her father-in-law reproached her. — Decent wives are home by seven.
Nadezhda kept quiet. What could she say? It was no longer her home. It was Evgeny’s parents’ apartment, where she was graciously allowed to stay.
— Look what curtains I bought for your bedroom! — Galina Petrovna proudly displayed bright yellow ruffled drapes.
— But we already have curtains, — Nadezhda protested weakly.
— Yours? — her mother-in-law waved a dismissive hand. — They’re boring. These are much better!
Nadezhda watched as her carefully chosen interior disappeared under the onslaught of her mother-in-law’s taste. Beloved little things were replaced with tacky figurines. Favorite framed photos gave way to portraits of Evgeny’s distant relatives.
— Zhenya, talk to your mother, — Nadezhda begged in the evenings. — She rearranged all the furniture in the living room.
— So what? — her husband brushed it off. — It’s more convenient for her.
— What about for me?! — Nadezhda tried to reach him. — It’s not convenient for me!
— Don’t invent problems, — Evgeny turned to face the wall. — You’ll get used to it.
But Nadezhda didn’t get used to it. Every day it got worse. She stopped smiling. Her laughter disappeared entirely. In the evenings she locked herself in the bedroom, lying face down in the pillow.
— You look pale, — a colleague remarked. — Is everything okay?
— Yes, — Nadezhda forced a smile. — Just tired.
She tried to stay late at work. Home. Could you even call “home” a place where you were nobody?
A year passed. Nadezhda lost weight; shadows settled under her eyes. She moved through the apartment like a ghost, trying not to cross anyone’s path.
Her birthday crept up unnoticed. She didn’t prepare anything. What was the point? No one would remember anyway.
At work, her colleagues didn’t know it was her day — Nadezhda hadn’t told anyone. Her phone was silent all day. Only toward evening did a message arrive from her parents: “Sweetheart, happy birthday! Come see us!”
Nadezhda didn’t hesitate. She got in the car and went. Her parents lived an hour away, in a small two-room apartment.
— Nadyusha! — her mother hugged her on the doorstep. — You’ve gotten so thin! Come in quickly!
On the table a cake with candles was waiting. Her father poured tea; her mother fussed with plates.
— Make a wish! — her mother lit the candles.
Nadezhda closed her eyes. “I want to be happy. I want that a year from now, on my next birthday, I’ll be happy.” She blew out the candles in one breath.
— What did you wish for? — her father asked.
— If I tell you, it won’t come true, — Nadezhda tried to smile.
Her parents exchanged glances. They could see what their daughter had become. But they kept quiet, not wanting to interfere.
She returned home late. The lights were on; voices drifted from the kitchen.
— Finally! — Galina Petrovna peeked into the hall. — Where have you been wandering? Who’s supposed to tidy up and wash the dishes?
— I was at my parents’, — Nadezhda answered quietly.
— You could have warned us! — Viktor Ivanovich protested.
— Where’s Zhenya? — Nadezhda took off her coat.
— Lying on the sofa, — her mother-in-law waved a hand. — He’s tired from work.
Nadezhda went into the living room. Evgeny didn’t take his eyes off the TV.
— Hi.
— Hi, — he grunted. — Where were you?
— At my parents’.
Nadezhda stood looking at her husband. He still hadn’t remembered. None of them had remembered it was her birthday.
— Zhenya, — she said softly.
— What? — he finally looked at her.
— Do you know what day it is today?
— Saturday, — Evgeny shrugged. — Why?
Nadezhda turned silently and went to the bedroom. A wave of anger was rising in her chest. A year ago she had made a wish. Now she understood — she would have to make it come true herself.
In the morning Nadezhda woke with a clear resolve. Enough. No more putting up with it. No more silence.
— I’m leaving, — she said at breakfast.
— Where are you going? — Galina Petrovna didn’t understand.
— Leaving for good. From you. From Zhenya, — Nadezhda spoke calmly.
— What nonsense! — Evgeny flared up. — Nadya, what are you talking about?
— Yesterday was my birthday, — Nadezhda looked him straight in the eye. — No one remembered. No one cares.
— So all this fuss is over a birthday? — her mother-in-law snorted. — Big deal!
— It’s not about the birthday, — Nadezhda rose from the table. — It’s that I don’t want to be nobody in my own home anymore.
— This isn’t your home! — blurted out Galina Petrovna. — It’s my son’s home!
— Exactly, — Nadezhda nodded. — That’s why I’m leaving.
She went to the bedroom to pack. Evgeny rushed after her.
— Nadya, stop! You can’t be serious!
— More than serious, — Nadezhda folded clothes into a suitcase.
— Where will you go?! — Evgeny tried to snatch the suitcase away.
— To my parents’. And then… we’ll see.
— Nadya, don’t be foolish! — her mother-in-law blocked the doorway. — A married woman can’t just get up and leave!
— She can, — Nadezhda snapped the suitcase shut. — And she is.
— You’re destroying the family! — shouted Viktor Ivanovich.
— No, — Nadezhda walked past him toward the door. — You destroyed it. A year ago, when you moved in here without my consent.
The door slammed. Nadezhda went down the stairs; the suitcase thumped painfully against her leg. But she didn’t stop. A strange calm spread through her chest. She had made her choice.
The divorce went through the courts. Evgeny didn’t want to split the apartment, but Nadezhda insisted. By law, half the value of the apartment belonged to her.
— You’ll leave my parents without a roof over their heads! — Evgeny shouted in the courtroom.
— They have only themselves to blame, — Nadezhda replied calmly.
They had to sell the apartment. With her share, Nadezhda bought a small one-bedroom with an open-plan kitchen–living room in a new neighborhood. Bright, cozy, her own.
The phone rang off the hook. Galina Petrovna, Viktor Ivanovich, Evgeny — all accused her of destroying the family.
— You’re selfish! — the former mother-in-law yelled into the phone.
— You brought it on yourselves, — Nadezhda answered and hung up.
Standing by the window of her new apartment, Nadezhda smiled. For the first time in a long while. She would meet her next birthday happy. In her own home. Where she was in charge of her life.
