Her first marriage ended in divorce. Her ex-husband immediately found a replacement, and she left for her parents in the country. The woman worked and did not think about her personal life. The woman loved her spouse too much, and she was still young, she would have time to establish relationships.
The years went by. The woman successfully advanced in her career and returned back to the city. There she met a man who was a supervisor in her group. He was older than her, but impressed her as a man. After two weeks of training, the woman realized that she liked him. She was interested in communicating with him, listening to him and being amazed at his wisdom.
At that time she was 30 and he was 45. He asked her to move in with him. Despite the fact that he had two children from a previous marriage, the woman agreed. She quickly found a common language with them and replaced her mother. The woman was glowing with happiness, because she thought she had found a new family. After five years of the relationship, the woman offered to legalize the relationship, to which her cohabitant replied:
– Why do you need this stamp? We live and that’s it!
The woman shrugged, not wanting to impose. They loved each other, maybe there really was no point in becoming legally married. Her common-law husband earned good money, treated her respectfully, showed her love – what else was needed for a woman’s happiness?
Fifteen years had passed. The children grew up and had families of their own. The common-law spouses made repairs, bought a new car and even a house in the country. No one needed anything.
A year later, the man fell ill. All his savings were used for treatment and he had to quit his job. The woman herself pulled everything and took care of him. She did not give up even in those moments when he became bedridden.
The children rarely visited and called. They joked that he would soon get better and outlive everyone. The woman understood that the man had very little time left. The year of suffering was over. He died. She herself organized the funeral, and after the wake she moved to a private house. Her loneliness did not last long.
The children showed up on the doorstep and declared that they were direct heirs and she was nobody here.
– My mother, my father registered everything with us. We put it up for sale, you can stay here until a buyer comes along. And then you’ll go back to your place, what are you going to do in the city alone? Don’t count on us, we have our own families and worries.
The woman cried, because she obviously did not expect this from her children. The woman had been bringing them up for 20 years and giving them motherly love. She was very hurt, but there was no one to complain. At 50, she was left with nothing because of her kindness and modesty.
In the morning she packed her things and left for her parents’ house. She lives there to this day.
How could the children not be gnawed away by their conscience? They saw how much effort the woman had made, how much time and money it took to buy real estate and other valuables… There was more than one father making money! But to prove it is unreal, alas.
