In a remote village surrounded by vast forests and rolling hills, where the wind swept yellow leaves down the streets, time seemed to stand still. On the outskirts of the village, in an old house filled with the smell of resin and wood smoke, Denis lived with his parents. They had long hoped he would marry Svetlana, a student from the teacher’s college, and every Sunday, they invited her over for family dinners. Denis, who was studying to become a doctor, had been in a steady relationship with Svetlana for a year, and their bond appeared unbreakable.
«Tomorrow, I’ll introduce you to my family,» he said one day. «We always have family dinners on Sundays — it’s a tradition.»
Svetlana hesitated, «It’s a bit scary… Maybe later?»
«No, Mom’s already baking pies,» Denis replied firmly.
The introduction went smoothly, and before long, Svetlana felt at home. She could already picture herself in a white dress, eagerly embracing their family traditions. Every Sunday, Denis’s father, Viktor Semyonovich, would seat his grandmother in her honorary chair before taking his place at the dinner table covered with a starched tablecloth. The fine china sparkled, and the soup smelled like childhood, making Svetlana feel like part of the family as she dreamed of her future here.
She shared her excitement with her friend Lenka, a roommate from the dorm. Lenka, unlike the idealistic Svetlana, was more skeptical:
«Trust men, but watch them closely,» Lenka advised. «Love is blind, Svetka.»
But Svetlana just brushed it off, seeing Denis as the perfect partner. They had plans: after graduation, they would go to Africa with the Red Cross. «I’ll be an intern, you’ll be a volunteer,» Denis dreamed aloud. «It’ll be pure romance!» Svetlana eagerly agreed, just to be with him.
With only a few months left before graduation, they planned their wedding for after their diplomas were in hand. Svetlana had already started looking for dresses. But one Sunday, everything fell apart.
«Son, what about Uncle Slava’s offer?» Viktor Semyonovich asked during dinner.
«What offer?» Svetlana was puzzled.
«Uncle invited me to intern in Saratov,» Denis explained. «We talked yesterday; I forgot to mention it.»
«That’s a golden opportunity!» his father chimed in. «You can’t waste such a chance. Saratov is the place to be.»
«And what about Africa?» Svetlana stammered.
«Saratov is better,» she forced a smile. «I’ll find a job at a school there.»
But Viktor Semyonovich’s words struck like thunder: «Postpone the wedding. Uncle isn’t going to wait forever. Don’t rush things, Svetka. You’re still young.»
«Can we rent an apartment?» Svetlana suggested.
«The internship doesn’t pay much,» her father replied curtly. «You can’t afford to miss this chance. Some sacrifices are inevitable.»
Later, Denis persuaded her privately:
«Father’s right. I’ll live with Uncle, save some money, and come back to visit.»
Soon after, Denis left for Saratov. Svetlana found a teaching job at the local school. At first, Denis called once a month, and they even took a vacation together. But then he started to fade away again. Lenka, now married and pregnant, shook her head:
«Svetka, just sign the papers! Love dies at a distance.»
«We love each other. It’ll be fine,» Svetlana insisted, though doubts were creeping in. His calls became less frequent, and visits even rarer. On New Year’s Eve, he didn’t call, and his phone went unanswered. Then, Denis’s mother delivered the crushing news:
«Denis married a woman from Saratov. They’re on their honeymoon.»
Svetlana froze. «Lenka was right,» she thought. «If he truly loved me, he wouldn’t have married her.» Her pride prevented her from confronting him, and Denis became a stranger to her.
Eight years passed. Svetlana lived in a small apartment her parents helped her buy. She didn’t feel lonely—work and friends filled her days. She avoided men. But then, one day, the phone rang.
«Why?» she thought, but curiosity won out.
«Hi, thanks for coming,» Denis said quietly when they met at a café.
«What do you want?» she asked coldly.
«I’ve been back for a year. I’m living here, working at the hospital. I bought a house. Svetka, I married her for the money, but the marriage was a farce. The kid isn’t mine. Five years of hell…»
«Was she rich?» Svetlana asked sarcastically.
«Yeah. And I paid for it. Svetka, I’ve thought about you all this time. I was ashamed to call. Maybe there’s still a chance?»
They talked for a long time. Svetlana fought with herself: her mind screamed «run,» but her heart longed to return.
Soon, she found herself in his house outside the city. It was luxurious, but empty.
«It’s a fortress,» he said. «Maybe it’ll become yours.»
Then she learned the truth: he had been taking bribes from patients.
«You were trading people’s health!» she shouted angrily, packing her things.
He tried to justify himself, but she left.
Later, he sold the house and brought documents to her.
«Sorry. I’ve changed. Let’s start over.»
Svetlana hugged him, inhaling the familiar scent. «A fresh start,» she thought.
