So, let me tell you what happenedsomething I never thought I’d be saying out loud. I picked up
My daughter knitted eighty hats for ill childrenand then my mother-in-law threw them all out, saying, “
It took me sixty-five years to truly understand. The greatest pain isnt an empty house. The true ache
Three years ago, I divorced my husband. The only thing we truly shared was our son. I wasnt even surprised
I climbed into the lorry because a wave of sorrow washed over me… but what she was hiding beneath
At fifty-four, I moved in with a man Id only known a few months, hoping to give my daughter her space.
Ill pay you back every penny when Im grown up, the little homeless girl pleaded with me, begging for
Dont go inside! Ring your dad straightaway! Theres someone waiting behind that door! An odd old woman
Youve ruined this family! Did you think Id let you waltz around here, dragging your shame along?
Can’t Wait to Get Hitched!
—
“Dmitry, are you coming home soon?”
“Almost there. Just about finished.”
“Well, hurry up! We’ve got something to talk about.”
“Is something wrong?” Dmitry sounded worried.
“Well, how do I put it… nothing’s happened yet, but we need to talk.” Galina was clearly anxious, but it didn’t seem like a disaster had struck.
Fifteen minutes later, the head of the family opened the front door.
“So, what’s going on here?” he asked his wife cautiously.
“Get changed and wash your hands—no need to panic and save the universe just yet,” she said, kissing him and nudging him gently toward the bathroom.
Soon he was changed and joined her in the living room.
“Come on,” his wife led him to their daughter’s room. Mya sat hunched on her bed, eyes red from crying.
“So, what’s happened?” Dmitry tried to stay calm.
“Ask your daughter,” Galina huffed. “Go on, tell your dad what you’ve cooked up!”
Mya turned away to the window stubbornly, unwilling to voice her problem.
“So, ladies,” Dmitry tapped the table firmly, “either you calmly tell me what’s up without drama and theatrics, or I’m off to put my feet up after work!”
“We’ve decided to get married,” Galina replied with biting sarcasm, “tonight, no less!”
“Excuse me?” Dmitry blinked. “Just like that—married? And who’s the lucky bloke, if it isn’t a secret?”
With Mya stonily silent, Mum had to answer again:
“Ollie Morrison. That spotty lad with glasses who’s been around a lot recently.”
“Ah—Morrison, eh? Well, Mya?”
Still silence.
“Right then, sweetheart. Enough of this silent treatment. Do I have to do a dance to get you to talk?” Dad’s temper was rising.
“We love each other!” Mya blurted out. “Ollie’s the best and we’re getting married!”
“Well, at least that’s clear,” Dmitry sighed. “Is he at uni with you?”
“Yes, he’s in my course.”
“First year,” Dmitry sighed, somewhere between understanding and resignation. “Kids…”
“We’re not kids!” his daughter shot back. “We’re both eighteen—adults now!”
“Well, if you’re adults, let’s talk like adults. Or shall I start—the usual ‘you’re too young, wait a bit, settle down, test your feelings’ speech you don’t want to hear?”
“You want to ruin everything!” Mya shouted, “But we have real feelings! You don’t get it!”
“I’m not out to ruin anything,” Dad replied wearily. “So, you both want this, yes? You’re both in?”
“I don’t want you talking down to Ollie. He wants this too!”
“Okay then—so you’ve got the will. Now, where are you going to live, how will you support yourselves? Thought of that?”
“That doesn’t matter! Love is all we need!” his daughter declared.
“Mya, how old are you? Feels like you’re in Year One, not a uni fresher. No matter how in love you are, you need somewhere to live, something to eat, every day. Why the mad rush? Nobody’s against Ollie—bring him round, we’ll meet him, talk to his parents—right, Galina?”
“Completely right, darling. But there is one catch… they do have a reason to rush.”
“What, Ollie getting sent off with the Army? Students don’t get called up anyway…”
“No, not the Army and not Ollie.” Mum shot a look at their daughter. “Mya, should I say it all?”
“I’m not silent,” Mya muttered angrily, “Ollie and I are having a baby.”
“Oh my,” Dmitry muttered, stunned, “That’s… impressive. So, what’s the plan?”
“Get married! Have the baby! And don’t even try to talk me into… you know what! Our baby will live!”
“Alright, calm down. No one’s suggesting anything like that. Tell me—Ollie’s parents know?”
“He’s meant to talk to them today. Each talk to our own parents.”
“And? Has he called about it?”
“N-no…”
“Well, let me know if he does. Now, let me have my dinner—I’ll starve to death with all this drama.”
They left to the kitchen while Galina quickly reheated his meal.
“What shall we do?” she asked quietly.
“I don’t know, honestly. Let’s see what his parents say—maybe we can figure something out together.”
But after dinner, bad news came in: Ollie’s parents were dead set against it. Their talk ended in a row. Not looking good…
Fifteen minutes later, Mya tiptoed into the lounge with her phone.
“Ollie’s mum wants to speak with you. One of you.”
Galina crossed her arms:
“Love, could you? I just… can’t.”
Dmitry rolled his eyes, but picked up.
“Hello, I’m Mya’s dad, Dmitry.”
“This is Louise—Ollie’s mother. Today our son told us he’s seeing your daughter. Apparently, given her ‘condition’, they’ve already crossed that line and have ‘grand plans’. Are you aware?”
“Yes, we spoke to Mya.”
“Good. Well, let me make this clear: we are absolutely against these ‘grand’—her voice was razor sharp—plans. Our son needs to study, get a degree, build a career. Getting married in freshers’ year—let alone a baby—is not on.”
“It wasn’t part of our plans either,” Dmitry replied. “But a baby’s a baby—and it’s your son’s too, by the way. What do you suggest?”
“With respect, that’s your family’s problem. Frankly, I’m not even sure the baby’s his. And even if—this ‘I’m-pregnant-so-we-must-marry’ trick won’t work with us. I understand how girls want to marry well—Ollie isn’t poor, comes from a good family, but as a mother, I’ll do everything to keep my son out of this. My husband feels the same. We’ve talked to Ollie and he agrees—please tell your daughter to leave him be. She can have an abortion or carry on—up to her. Goodbye.”
The phone clicked off.
Dmitry looked bleakly at his wife and daughter.
“You all heard that? No abortions—that baby’s not to blame, and besides, it could be risky. It’ll be tough but we’ll manage—take a year out from uni, then go back. We’ll help, some money, childcare. As for them… we’ll see. What a pair! Right—have some tea, have a cry, but not too long. We will get through this!”
He called his wife aside. “Take Mya to sleep in with you tonight, just in case. I’ll sleep in her room.”
An hour later, there was a knock at the door.
“Who on earth is this at this time?” Dmitry grumbled, opening the door.
He soon returned to the lounge with a spotty, bespectacled lad in tow.
“Ollie!” Mya ran to him. “You came for me?”
“Yes. Mr. and Mrs. Ivanov, I’ve come to take Mya with me.”
“And where, exactly?”
“I’m not sure—maybe rent a place. We’re both adults now, so please don’t stop us. Will you come with me, Mya?”
“Of course! Anywhere!”
“Hold on!” Dmitry held up a hand. “We’ve got some questions. Your mum says your whole family—including you—are against this.”
“Not quite, Mr. Ivanov. Mum decided that. Dad just agrees with her by default. I only pretended I agreed so they wouldn’t make a scene. Then I grabbed my wallet with my ID and bank card and—poof! Here I am.”
“Well, that’s interesting!” Dad raised his eyebrows. “So—you want to take Mya, rent a place. On what?”
“I saved some money, worked evenings, have my own channel with subscribers. Enough for a few months—rent, food, I’ll earn more.”
“Hmm… Not bad. Galina, what do you think—let them go?”
“I’m not sure—at this time of night…”
“That’s right, no running out at night. Look—so you’re getting married?”
“Yes!” both answered.
“And keeping the baby?”
“Yes!”
“Then we’ll help—but with some rules. First, Ollie, you do everything you can to get your parents on board—and, Mya, you support him. Ollie stays here tonight—no wandering about. Guest room for you, you’re just Mya’s friend for now. Message your folks you’re at mates’. Then prep them for the tough truth—no drama! No dropping your studies—especially you, Ollie. Mya, you’ll take leave and catch up. We’ll help out—money, babysitting—but you two are putting in the work. Low-key registry office for now—save your cash for later; proper do when things are settled. Deal?”
“Yes,” said Ollie, without hesitation.
“I wanted a real wedding—veil, limo, guests,” Mya pouted.
“Not right now,” he replied. “We’ll do the registry quietly and, later, a big do.”
“Alright, if you say so…”
“Good—plans made, goals set. Time for bed, everyone’s up early tomorrow.”
Later, Galina found her husband in the kitchen.
“How did you change your mind so quickly?”
“That chat with his mother—she was a right piece of work. Then this lad, who I thought was a hopeless mummy’s boy, turns up and stands his ground—won’t abandon his girl. That’s a real man. I’d trust our daughter in his hands.”
“You’re always right, love,” she smiled, kissing him as she went to sort out everyone for the night. Cant Wait to Get Married Tom, are you nearly home? Almost there. Just finishing up now. Well, hurry up!
