Oksana stood by the panoramic window of her living room, looking down at the city spread out below. Thirty-five years old, a successful career at an IT company, her own three-room apartment in a new building. She had earned all of it herself, without anyone’s help.
The path had not been easy. After university, she worked around the clock, took on any projects she could get, learned new skills, and grew professionally. Her parents did not help her financially — they barely had enough money themselves. Her younger sister Irina lived with them in a two-room apartment on the outskirts of the city and showed little desire for independence.
Oksana had rented apartments for eight years, saving every penny. When she finally saved enough for the down payment on a mortgage, there was no limit to her joy. Five more years of payments — and the apartment became completely hers. Her own. Earned through sweat and blood.
Now that her career was established and the mortgage paid off, Oksana began thinking about her personal life. Work had consumed all her time; there had simply been none left for relationships. But in recent months, she had started dating Igor, a colleague from a neighboring department. Nothing serious yet, but it felt nice to know that life was not limited to work alone.
The phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. Her mother’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello, Mom.”
“Oksanochka, hi! I have news!” Elena Petrovna’s voice sounded excited. “Irina is getting married!”
Oksana sat down on the sofa.
“Seriously? When?”
“In a month! Can you imagine? She met Dmitry at a company party three months ago, and now they’ve decided to get married!”
“That’s fast…”
“Well yes, they’re young and in love. Why drag it out? We’ll send you the invitation this week. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“Of course I’ll come. Congratulate Irishka for me.”
“I will, darling. All right, I have to run, there’s so much to do! We need to organize the wedding!”
Her mother hung up. Oksana leaned back against the sofa. Irina was getting married. Unexpected, but why not? Her sister was twenty-eight — it was about time.
The next two weeks passed in their usual rhythm. Work, meetings with Igor, occasional calls to her parents. Oksana bought Irina a gift — a set of quality dishes her sister had long dreamed of.
Then her mother called.
“Oksana, I need to talk to you. I’ll come by this evening, all right?”
“Of course, Mom. Is Dad coming with you?”
“No, I’ll come alone. Around seven.”
“All right, I’ll be waiting.”
Oksana put down the phone and thought for a moment. Something in her mother’s voice had seemed strange. Some kind of tension, uncertainty. Or had she imagined it?
That evening she prepared a light dinner — salad, baked chicken, and bought a good wine her mother liked. She set the table in the living room and lit candles. If her mother had come to talk, at least the atmosphere would be pleasant.
Elena Petrovna arrived exactly at seven. Oksana opened the door and hugged her.
“Come in, Mom. Everything is ready.”
Her mother walked into the living room and looked around. She sat at the table and spread a napkin over her lap. Oksana poured wine and served salad onto their plates.
“So, tell me. How are the wedding preparations going?” Oksana began, trying to lighten the mood.
“They’re going, they’re going…” Elena Petrovna took a sip of wine. “Listen, Oksana, actually I wanted to talk to you about something else.”
“About what?”
Her mother was silent for a moment, choosing her words. Then she exhaled and looked her daughter in the eye.
“You see, after the wedding, Irina and Dmitry will live separately. They need their own apartment.”
“That makes sense,” Oksana nodded. “Are you going to help them?”
“That’s exactly what this is about. Your father and I thought it over… Basically, we decided to give them our apartment.”
Oksana froze with her fork halfway to her mouth.
“Give it to them? What do you mean?”
“Well, they’ll live there. They’re a young family, they need to start their life. And we…” Elena Petrovna paused again. “And we’ll move in with you.”
Oksana slowly placed her fork on the plate. For several seconds she said nothing, trying to process what she had just heard.
“Mom, did I understand correctly? You and Dad want to move in with me?”
“Well, yes. You have plenty of space. Three rooms, and you live alone. Your father and I don’t need much. We’ll take one room.”
“Wait,” Oksana raised her hand. “Why can’t Irina and Dmitry rent an apartment? They both work.”
“Rent?” her mother grimaced. “Why throw money away? Rent is very expensive now. It’s better for them to live in our apartment.”
“But it’s your apartment. Where will you live?”
“I just told you — with you. Oksana, don’t complicate the situation. We’re family. We need to help each other.”
Oksana leaned back in her chair. Her head was spinning from the shock. Her mother was speaking about it so calmly, as if they were discussing buying bread, not moving in.
“Does Dad know about this plan?”
“Of course he does. We decided together. He agrees.”
“So you’ve already decided everything? Without me?”
Elena Petrovna shrugged.
“Well, we knew you wouldn’t be against it. You’ve always been so reasonable, so understanding.”
Oksana clenched her fists under the table. A wave of indignation rose inside her. They had decided for her. They had simply taken it for granted that she was obligated to take her parents in.
“Mom, I’m against it.”
“What?” Elena Petrovna raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Why?”
“Because this is my apartment. I earned it myself. I like living alone. I value my personal space.”
“But it’s temporary! Until Irina and Dmitry get on their feet!”
“And how long is temporary? A year? Two? Five?”
Her mother hesitated.
“Well… I don’t know. As long as it takes.”
Oksana got up from the table and paced around the room. She needed to calm down, gather her thoughts. She walked over to the window and looked at the lights of the city.
“Mom, listen. I understand that you want to help Irina. That’s good. But why did you decide to sacrifice your own home?”
“We’re not sacrificing anything! We’ll simply move in with you!” irritation appeared in Elena Petrovna’s voice. “What’s the big deal?”
“A lot. First, I’m used to living alone. Second, I have my own life, my own plans.”
“What plans? You just work and work. You don’t even have time to date!”
“How do you know? Maybe I am dating someone.”
“You’re dating?” her mother became alert. “Who?”
“It doesn’t matter. That’s not the point. The point is that I’m not ready to share my apartment with my parents.”
Elena Petrovna sighed heavily.
“Oksana, you’re selfish. I never thought I’d say this to my daughter, but you only think about yourself.”
Oksana turned sharply.
“I’m selfish? Seriously? Who rented apartments for eight years while saving up for her own place? Who took extra projects and worked nights to pay off the mortgage faster? Me! And now, when I’ve finally gained my own home, you want to simply come and settle here?”
“It’s not forever!”
“For how long? Can you guarantee me a time frame?”
Her mother was silent. Oksana continued:
“Imagine I meet someone. I want to start a family. I have a three-room apartment. One room will be for me and my husband, the second for you and Dad. Where will the children live? In the third room? And what if there are two children?”
“Well, it’s not even certain whether there will be children…”
“Not certain? I’m thirty-five! I’m exactly at the age when I need to think about that! And you’re suggesting I put my life on hold for Irina’s sake?”
Elena Petrovna pressed her lips into a thin line.
“Why exactly for Irina’s sake?” her mother asked coldly. “She is your sister. Family should support each other.”
“Support — yes. But not sacrifice everything for one person.”
“Nobody is asking you to sacrifice everything! Just let your parents live with you! What’s so terrible about that?”
Oksana sat back down at the table and looked her mother in the eyes.
“What’s terrible is that you made the decision without me. You didn’t ask, didn’t discuss it. You simply came and announced it as a fact.”
“We thought you would understand…”
“I do understand. I understand that Irina has always had everything come easily to her. She lived with you, you helped her with money. Now she’s getting married, and she gets your apartment. And what about me? I achieved everything myself. My parents never helped me with housing. And now, when I finally have my own space, you want to take it away.”
“We’re not taking anything away! We just want to live with you!”
“And I don’t want that!” Oksana’s voice rose. “I don’t want to share my apartment with anyone! This is my territory! My space! I have the right to live the way I want!”
Elena Petrovna turned pale. For several seconds she stared at her daughter without saying a word. Then she said quietly:
“So your apartment is more important to you than your parents?”
“That’s not what this is about, Mom. This is about you trying to force on me a decision I did not make.”
“Force…” her mother smiled bitterly. “We raised you, gave you an education, and now you talk about forcing.”
“Gave me an education?” Oksana laughed. “I studied on a state-funded place! And after my third year, I worked part-time so I wouldn’t have to ask you for money for food and transportation! So don’t bring up education!”
Elena Petrovna’s face twisted.
“You’re ungrateful. We did so much for you…”
“And I’m grateful. Honestly. But that doesn’t mean I’m obligated to give you my apartment.”
Her mother got up from the table. Her hands were trembling.
“So you’re refusing us?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Fine,” Elena Petrovna picked up her bag. “I’ll tell your father. We’ll see what he says.”
“Mom, wait…”
“No. Everything is clear. You’ve made your choice.”
Her mother headed for the door. Oksana followed her.
“Mom, please understand…”
“There’s nothing to understand,” Elena Petrovna cut her off. “We’re no longer needed by you. Live with your apartment.”
She flung the door open and walked out, slamming it loudly behind her. Oksana remained standing in the hallway, staring at the closed door.
Everything inside her tightened. On the one hand, she felt she had been right. On the other, she felt guilty for refusing her mother. But was she obligated to agree? Did her own wishes not matter?
Oksana returned to the living room. The unfinished dinner and half-drunk wine remained on the table. She cleared the dishes and washed the plates. Mechanically, without thinking.
Then she lay down on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. The phone was silent. No one called, no one wrote. Silence.
The next morning Oksana woke with a heavy head. She had slept badly, tossing and turning, replaying yesterday’s conversation in her mind. Maybe she should have agreed? Maybe she really was selfish?
No. She had the right to her own life. To her own space. To her own decisions.
Oksana made coffee and sat by the window. The city was waking up; people were hurrying to work. Life went on.
The phone rang. Irina’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello,” Oksana answered.
“Hi,” her sister’s voice was cold. “Mom told me everything.”
“And?”
“And that you refused our parents. Are you serious?”
“I am.”
“Do you understand that because of you they’ll now have to rent an apartment?”
“Because of me?” Oksana smirked. “Ira, you were the ones who decided to take their apartment. Not me.”
“We’re young! We need to start our life!”
“And I don’t? I’m thirty-five. I also want a personal life. And for that I need my own space.”
“You always think only about yourself,” Irina snapped. “You’ve always been like that.”
“Ira, I don’t want to quarrel. But the decision is made. I’m not ready to share my apartment with our parents.”
“You know what? Don’t come to the wedding. I’m withdrawing the invitation.”
“As you wish.”
“Great. Goodbye.”
Irina hung up. Oksana put down the phone and exhaled. So that was how it would be. Her relatives were against her.
An hour later, her father called.
“Oksana, what happened? Your mother came home in tears yesterday.”
“Dad, I simply said I wasn’t ready for you to move in with me.”
“But why? We’re family!”
“Exactly. That’s why every family should have its own home. Its own space.”
“Oksana, but we really have nowhere to go… Irina and Dmitry will take our apartment.”
“Can’t they rent their own place?”
“Why spend money on rent?”
“Dad, why give away your apartment? You’ve lived there your whole life!”
Sergey Nikolaevich was silent for a moment.
“You see, Irina asked. She said it was important for them to have their own home from the very beginning.”
“And you agreed to sacrifice your apartment?”
“Well, we thought we would move in with you…”
“Without asking me.”
Her father sighed.
“We thought you would understand.”
“I do understand, Dad. I understand that you’re putting Irina first again. As always.”
“Don’t say that! We love both of you equally!”
“Really? Then why does Irina get the apartment, and I get the obligation to take you in?”
“It’s not an obligation! It’s helping family!”
“Fine, Dad. I’ll help. I can give you money to rent an apartment. But I cannot let you live with me.”
“We don’t need your money!” her father’s voice became harsh. “We need a daughter who won’t abandon her parents!”
“I’m not abandoning you! I just want to preserve my personal space!”
“So the apartment is more important than us. I see. Goodbye, Oksana.”
Her father hung up.
Oksana sat with the phone in her hands and felt everything inside her grow cold. Her parents were offended. Her sister had uninvited her from the wedding. And all because she had not agreed to give up her apartment.
No. Not give up the apartment, but allow her parents to live in it. But wasn’t that practically the same thing? Once they moved in, it would be impossible to make them leave. They would settle in for a long time, maybe forever.
And what about her plans? Her chance to start a family? Her right to live the way she wanted?
Oksana opened her chat with Igor and wrote: “Can we meet tonight? I need to talk.”
The reply came quickly: “Of course. Seven at my place? Or a café?”
“At your place, if possible.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
That evening Oksana went to Igor’s place. He greeted her with a glass of wine and a worried look.
“What happened? You look exhausted.”
Oksana told him everything. About her mother’s visit, the demand to move in with her, the scandal, the relatives’ calls.
Igor listened silently, nodding. When she finished, he took her hand.
“You did the right thing.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. You have the right to your own life. To your own space. Your parents cannot demand sacrifices from you for your sister’s sake.”
“But they think I’m selfish…”
“You’re not selfish. You’re a person with boundaries. That’s a big difference. Selfishness is when you think only about yourself at the expense of others. Boundaries are when you protect your right to comfort and happiness.”
Oksana rested her head on his shoulder.
“Thank you. I really needed to hear that.”
“You’re always welcome. And you know what? If one day you decide you’re ready for a serious relationship, I’ll be glad your parents aren’t living in your apartment.”
Oksana laughed through her tears.
“You’re right. Imagine, we wouldn’t even be able to spend time alone together properly.”
“Exactly. So you made the right choice. For yourself and for your future.”
A week passed. Oksana returned to her normal life — work, meetings with Igor, the gym on weekends. Her parents did not call, and neither did her sister. Oksana did not write first. She had said her piece and had no intention of changing it.
One evening, her cousin Alina called.
“Hi, Oksan. How are you?”
“I’m all right. And you?”
“Same here. Listen, I heard about the situation with your parents…”
Oksana frowned. So the news had already spread through the whole family.
“And what did you hear?”
“That they wanted to move in with you, and you refused. And now they’re renting an apartment.”
“Renting?” Oksana was surprised. “They’ve already moved out of theirs?”
“Yes. Irina and Dmitry moved into their two-room place after the wedding. And Elena Petrovna and Sergey Nikolaevich rented a one-room apartment on the other side of the city.”
“A one-room apartment?”
“Yeah. And a very expensive one, by the way. Aunt Lena complained that half their pension goes to rent.”
Oksana fell silent. So her parents really had given the apartment to Irina. And now they were spending money renting housing.
“And what about Irina? Is she happy?”
“Of course she’s happy! She lives in a two-room apartment, pays nothing to anyone. Dmitry works, she works too. Perfect life!”
“I see.”
“Oksana, can you really not let your parents live with you?” Alina’s voice carried judgment. “You have so much space…”
“Alina, this is my apartment. I decide who lives there.”
“But they’re your parents! How can you…”
“I can. And I already did. If it worries you so much, let them live with you.”
“I have two children! There’s no room!”
“And I have my own life. I have the right to it.”
“You’re cruel,” Alina said quietly. “I never thought you were like that.”
“Think whatever you want. It’s my choice.”
Alina hung up.
Oksana put down the phone and looked out the window. So that was how it was. Her relatives condemned her. They considered her cruel and cold. But was she to blame for her parents’ decision to give their apartment to Irina?
She had not forced them to do it. She had not asked them to. She had simply refused to take the consequences of their decision upon herself.
That evening she met with Igor. They walked through the park, holding hands.
“My parents rented an apartment,” Oksana said. “They gave theirs to Irina.”
“Seriously?” Igor frowned. “So they really sacrificed their home?”
“Yeah. And now they’re paying rent. And the whole family is judging me.”
“For what? For not wanting to live with your parents in the same apartment?”
“Exactly.”
Igor stopped and turned Oksana toward him.
“Listen. You don’t owe anyone anything. You earned your apartment yourself. You have the right to manage it however you want. And if your relatives don’t understand that, it’s their problem, not yours.”
“But it’s still hard… They’re my parents. And I refused them.”
“You didn’t refuse to help them. You refused to let them control your life. Those are different things.”
Oksana pressed her forehead against his chest.
“Thank you for being here. Your support really matters to me.”
“Always,” he kissed the top of her head. “I’m on your side. And you know what? I think over time your parents will understand that you were right.”
“I’m not sure…”
“They will. When they cool down and think clearly, they’ll realize their decision was wrong from the very beginning.”
“I’d like to believe that.”
They continued their walk. Oksana felt the warmth of his hand in hers and understood — she was not alone. There was someone who understood and supported her.
And that was already a lot.
Irina’s wedding took place without Oksana. She found out about it from social media — her sister posted photos from the celebration. A happy bride, a satisfied groom, parents in formal clothes. Everything beautiful and festive.
Oksana looked at the photos and closed the app. She was sad that she had not been there. But she had no intention of going back and apologizing. She had done nothing wrong.
A month passed. Then another. Her parents did not call. Irina remained silent too. Oksana lived her life, dated Igor, and worked on a new project.
One morning, her mother sent her a message. A short one: “How are you?”
Oksana stared at the screen for a long time. Should she answer or not? What should she say?
She typed: “I’m fine. And you?”
The answer came five minutes later: “We’re living. The rented apartment is cramped, but it’s all right. We’re getting used to it.”
Oksana did not know what to reply. Her mother was clearly waiting for sympathy. Or an offer of help. But Oksana remained silent.
Another message from her mother: “Irina and Dmitry have settled in well. They say they’ll do renovations soon.”
“Good,” Oksana replied briefly.
“Oksana, maybe we could meet? Talk normally?”
Oksana thought. Meet? What would they talk about? Would her mother apologize? Unlikely.
But on the other hand, she was still her mother. Maybe she should give her a chance?
“All right. Saturday at a café?”
“Agreed. Send me the address.”
On Saturday, Oksana came to the café ten minutes early. She ordered coffee and sat by the window. She was nervous, though she tried not to show it.
Elena Petrovna arrived exactly on time. She looked tired, older. She sat across from her daughter and ordered tea.
“Hi,” her mother said quietly.
“Hi, Mom.”
For several minutes they sat in silence. Then Elena Petrovna exhaled.
“I wanted to apologize.”
Oksana raised her eyes. Her mother was looking into her cup, not daring to meet her gaze.
“What are you apologizing for?” Oksana asked carefully.
“For coming to you with that demand. For not asking, not discussing it. For simply deciding for you. It was wrong.”
Oksana nodded.
“Thank you for acknowledging that.”
“Your father and I thought a lot. After moving into the rented apartment, we realized how foolish it had been to give away our own. Irina could have rented a place. Or lived with us for a while. But we gave in to her.”
“Why?”
Elena Petrovna shrugged.
“She’s the younger one. She was always more demanding. We got used to meeting her halfway. And then we realized we had gone too far.”
“And now?”
“Now we live in a rented apartment and pay half our pension for rent. Irina and Dmitry are planning renovations. They haven’t even offered to help us with money.”
Oksana remained silent. She felt sorry for her mother, but there was still enough anger inside her too.
“Mom, I understand that it’s hard for you. But it was your decision. I warned you I wasn’t ready to share my apartment with you. You still gave your home to Irina.”
“I know. We made a mistake. And now we’re paying for that mistake.”
“And Irina? Does she understand that because of her you were left without your own home?”
Her mother smiled bitterly.
“Irina says we decided it ourselves. That it was our choice. And that she doesn’t owe us anything.”
“So she isn’t offering for you to move back?”
“No. She says they need their own space. That they’re a young family and don’t want to live with parents.”
Oksana laughed, but the laugh came out sad.
“So she’s using the same arguments I did?”
“Yes. Only from her mouth, they sound normal. But from you, we didn’t want to hear them.”
Elena Petrovna wiped her tears with a napkin.
“Forgive us, Oksana. We were wrong. I was wrong.”
Oksana reached across the table and covered her mother’s hand with her own.
“I’m not angry, Mom. It just hurt me that you didn’t hear me back then.”
“We realized our mistake too late.”
“It’s never too late. The important thing is that you understood.”
“You’re not angry?”
“No. But I still won’t invite you to live with me. This is my space, and I want to preserve it.”
Her mother nodded.
“I understand. We won’t ask again.”
“But I can help with rent money. Not much, but something.”
“No, Oksana. We’ll manage ourselves. It was our choice, our consequences.”
“All right. But if anything happens, tell me. I’ll help.”
Elena Petrovna smiled through tears.
“Thank you, darling. I’m glad we talked.”
“Me too.”
They finished their drinks and left the café. At parting, they hugged. Oksana felt a weight lift from her soul. Her mother had apologized, had admitted her mistake. That mattered.
That evening she told Igor about the meeting.
“So? Do you feel better?” he asked.
“Yes. Mom apologized. She said they had made a mistake.”
“That’s good. It means the relationship can be restored.”
“I hope so. Though things probably won’t get better with Irina.”
“You never know. Maybe in time she’ll understand too.”
“We’ll see.”
Oksana leaned against his shoulder. They were sitting on the sofa in her living room, looking out at the evening city.
“You know, I don’t regret my decision,” she said quietly. “Even despite all those scandals and judgment. I defended my right to my own life. And that was right.”
“Absolutely right,” Igor agreed. “And I’m proud of you.”
Several more months passed. Oksana and Igor began seeing each other more often; their relationship became more serious. They started discussing the future — where to live, when to move in together, how to build a shared life.
“I want us to live together,” Igor said one evening. “But I don’t want to rush you. If you need time, tell me.”
“No, I want it too,” Oksana smiled. “We just need to think everything through. You have your own apartment too.”
“Yes. A two-room apartment. We can live at mine or yours. Or sell both and buy something bigger.”
“Let’s live at mine for now? There’s enough space, and I’ll feel calmer on my own territory.”
“All right. Then I’ll gradually move my things.”
Oksana hugged him.
“You know, I’m so glad I didn’t agree to my parents’ demand. If they had moved in with me then, you and I wouldn’t be able to live together now.”
“Exactly. Everything is turning out the right way.”
“Yes. And I’m happy.”
Igor kissed her.
“So am I.”
A month later, Igor moved in with Oksana. They arranged the apartment together, finding compromises and laughing over small domestic disagreements.
Oksana was happy. She had a beloved man, her own apartment, a stable job. Life was falling into place.
Her parents called sometimes. Her mother talked about the rented apartment, her father’s health, and family news. She did not mention Irina. Oksana did not ask.
One day, her cousin Alina wrote to her on social media.
“Oksana, forgive me for what I said back then. I didn’t understand why you acted that way. But now I do.”
“What happened?”
“My sister asked to live with me and my husband for a couple of months. I agreed. They’ve been living with us for six months already. And they’re not planning to move out. Now I understand why you refused your parents.”
“Alina, it’s your apartment. You can ask them to leave.”
“I’m afraid of offending them…”
“And you’ll keep living in discomfort? This is your life. Defend it.”
“Thank you. I’ll think about it.”
Oksana closed the chat and smiled. There it was — confirmation that she had been right. If she had agreed once, her parents would have stayed with her forever. And she would have lost her chance at a personal life.
Igor came into the kitchen and hugged her from behind.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, nothing. I remembered that situation with my parents. Alina wrote to me. She said she understands me now.”
“So you’re not as cruel as they called you?”
“Apparently not,” Oksana laughed. “I just know how to protect my boundaries.”
“And that’s wonderful. I love you precisely for that. Because you know your worth and don’t let others control your life.”
“Thank you. It really matters to me to hear that.”
They embraced. Oksana felt warmth and safety. She had made the right choice back then, at that meeting with her mother. And now she was reaping the fruits of that choice.
That evening they sat on the sofa and watched a movie. Oksana thought about how much her life had changed over those months. The scandal with her parents, the break with her sister, the relatives’ judgment. But also her relationship with Igor, which had become serious, and her happiness.
If she had agreed then, none of this would have happened. Her parents would have lived in her apartment, occupying one of the rooms. There would have been nowhere for Igor to move in. They would not have been able to build a life together.
But now they were together. In her apartment. On her territory. And it was right.
Oksana pressed herself against Igor. He held her tighter.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too.”
They continued watching the movie. Outside the window, darkness fell, and the city lit up. Life went on. And it was good.
A year had passed since that scandalous conversation with her mother. Oksana and Igor lived together and discussed the possibility of marriage. He proposed to her in a small restaurant where they were celebrating the anniversary of their relationship.
“Marry me,” he said, holding out a little box with a ring. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Oksana burst into tears of happiness.
“Yes. Of course, yes.”
They embraced under the applause of the restaurant guests. Oksana felt it was the happiest day of her life.
They decided to have a modest wedding — only close friends and relatives. Oksana called her parents and invited them.
“Mom, I’m getting married. Will you come?”
Elena Petrovna sobbed on the other end of the line.
“Of course we’ll come! Oksanochka, I’m so happy for you!”
“Thank you, Mom.”
“And… will you invite Irina too?”
Oksana was silent for a moment.
“I don’t know. We don’t communicate.”
“Maybe this is a chance to make peace?”
“If she wants to come, let her come. I’m not against it. But I won’t apologize first.”
“All right, darling. I’ll tell her.”
Irina did not come to the wedding. She sent a formal congratulations through messenger, but she did not appear at the celebration. Oksana was not upset. She had Igor, her parents, and friends. That was enough.
After the wedding, she and Igor began discussing children.
“I want two,” Oksana said. “A boy and a girl.”
“Let’s try,” Igor smiled. “We have space, stability. Why not?”
Six months later, Oksana found out she was pregnant. Igor was over the moon with happiness.
“We’re going to be parents!” he kept repeating, hugging his wife. “I can’t believe it!”
Oksana smiled. Yes, now they would be parents. And they had their own apartment, where there would be enough room for everyone. Without parents who would interfere with them building their own family.
When their daughter was born, Elena Petrovna came to help. She babysat her granddaughter, cooked food, and cleaned. Oksana was grateful to her mother for the help.
“Thank you, Mom, for helping,” she said. “I don’t know how I would have managed without you.”
“Oh, darling. I’m happy to help. She’s so beautiful, our little Katya.”
“Yes. A true miracle.”
Elena Petrovna stayed for two weeks, then left. Oksana saw her off with gratitude.
“Come again, Mom. We’ll be happy to have you.”
“I will, definitely.”
Life settled down. Oksana returned from maternity leave and enrolled her daughter in kindergarten. Igor received a promotion. They lived calmly and happily.
One day, Oksana ran into Irina on the street. Her sister was pushing a stroller with a baby.
“Hi,” Oksana said cautiously.
“Hi,” Irina replied coldly.
“You have a child too?”
“Yes. My son is three months old.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
They stood in awkward silence for a moment. Then Irina turned to leave.
“Ira, wait,” Oksana stopped her. “Maybe it’s time to let go of old grievances? We both have children now. It would be good if the cousins knew each other.”
Irina looked at her appraisingly.
“I don’t know. I’m still hurt over that situation.”
“I understand. But I acted the way I thought was right. And I don’t regret it.”
“I know. Mom told me you’re happy with Igor. That you have a good family.”
“Yes. Everything is good with us. And you?”
Irina shrugged.
“It varies. Dmitry works a lot, I stay home with the baby. Money is tight. Our parents help sometimes, but they don’t have much themselves.”
“If you need help, tell me. I won’t refuse.”
Irina nodded.
“Thank you. I’ll think about it.”
They exchanged numbers and went their separate ways.
Oksana walked home thinking about the meeting with her sister. Irina looked tired, older. Motherhood was probably not easy for her. Especially in the two-room apartment she shared with Dmitry.
And Oksana was happy. She had space, a beloved husband, a wonderful daughter. And all of it was thanks to the decision she had made a year earlier.
That evening she sat on the balcony with a cup of tea. Igor was putting Katya to bed. A lullaby drifted from the nursery.
Oksana smiled. This was her life. Her family. Her home.
No judgment from relatives, no scandals. Just quiet happiness that she had created herself.
And she regretted nothing. Not refusing her parents, not the break with her sister, not that period of loneliness. All of it had led her here, to this life.
To a home where she was in charge. To a family she had built on her own terms. To happiness she had earned.
Oksana finished her tea and went back into the apartment. Igor had already come out of the nursery.
“She’s asleep?” she asked.
“Yes. Like an angel.”
“Good. Shall we go rest?”
“Let’s go.”
They went into the bedroom and lay down in bed. Oksana pressed herself against her husband.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you too. Very much.”
Oksana closed her eyes. Tomorrow would be a new day. New worries, new joys. But she knew she would manage. Because she had everything she needed — love, a home, a family.
And the right to live the way she wanted. A right she had fought for and defended.
That was the most important thing.
And the most precious.
