Igor stepped out of his mistress’s apartment.
That day, he had given Larisa a promise: as soon as he got home, he would end his marriage and move in with her. On the way back, he replayed the prepared speech in his head over and over, even whispering the lines under his breath:
«You’ve become just another housewife. Every day you greet me in that old bathrobe, looking disheveled. You don’t even read books anymore! We have nothing to talk about! Your whole life is just soap operas…»
He and Alla had been together for seventeen years. There had been warmth once—understanding, love—but over time, it had all dissolved into the grind of daily life. The domestic routine, the monotony, and the mounting exhaustion had taken their toll. He was irritated by everything: the constant trips to see his wife’s relatives in the countryside, the feeling that he couldn’t truly relax even in his own home. Ultimately, Igor had decided to leave the apartment to Alla and the kids and start a new life for himself.
On the way, it suddenly hit him that he wouldn’t just be talking to his wife; he had to face the children, too. His son was almost an adult—he was turning sixteen this year. Igor tried to convince himself the boy wouldn’t take it too hard, since he spent almost all his time at the computer anyway. Still, he would have to explain. His daughter was a different story… Sasha was only seven. She was still so little, but he hoped that in time she would understand. He loved the girl dearly, and thoughts of her slightly eased the tension knotting his stomach.
When he opened the front door, he sensed immediately that something was wrong. An eerie silence filled the home. Igor walked into the living room and saw Alla; she was sitting with her face buried in her hands, sobbing quietly. Their son stood beside her, holding a glass of water.
«What happened?» Igor asked, his voice trembling.
His wife lifted her tear-stained eyes and managed to choke out through the sobs, «Sasha… Sasha was hit by a car…»
The world went dark for a moment at those words. Igor collapsed onto the nearest chair, unable to process the news. His son quickly handed him the glass.
«Dad, don’t worry. The school called us. They think she’s okay. She was crossing the street and a car clipped her. They said it’s just some light scratches, nothing serious. They gave us the address to the hospital.»
Igor stood up abruptly and went to his wife. He pulled her into an embrace, and she didn’t resist, burying her face in his shoulder. He stroked her hair until she finally began to calm down. In that moment, something shifted deep inside him. How could he have ever considered destroying his family for a fleeting fling?
He never said a word to Alla about his plan to leave. He ended things with Larisa without a single explanation. In that minute, he finally realized: he couldn’t live without his family.
