La vida

The Mystery of the Old Postcard Three days before a faded envelope changed her world, Natasha Sokolova stood on the balcony of her London flat, gazing out over the glowing city lights, exhausted not by her work, but by the suffocating predictability of her life. Inside, Mark discussed the details of a business deal over speakerphone. She longed for a miracle—something simple, tactile, and real, like the scent of fresh rain or an old-fashioned piece of post. Days later, sorting through her mail, Natasha discovered a thick, parchment-coloured envelope stamped with a sprig of pine and addressed to her. Inside was a vintage Christmas card, embossed with gold glitter and dated 1999, in handwriting hauntingly familiar: it belonged to Sasha, the childhood sweetheart she had spent summers with in a sleepy country village. How had a 25-year-old card, from a childhood lost to time, arrived at her door? Driven by a longing she couldn’t fully understand, Natasha set off for the village where it all began, searching for answers in a world of woodsmoke, old printing presses, and memories that shimmered like frost in the winter air. At the heart of ‘The Mystery of the Old Postcard’ stands a choice between the relentless pace of city success and the quiet magic of authenticity; a journey through nostalgia, lost love, bittersweet revelations, and—perhaps—the courage to begin again.

The Secret of the Old Postcard Three days before the faded envelope appeared in her life, Natalie Collins

La vida

09

You Just Don’t Know How Lucky You Are — Half a million? — Karina read the notification on her phone three times before the numbers made sense. — You took out a loan for half a million pounds? Dimitri sat on the sofa, glued to his smartphone, not even glancing up. — Oh, that… Yes, just a small thing, for Mum’s house renovations. You know, her pipes are leaking, the flooring’s ruined, the wallpaper’s going mildewy… — Hold on. — Karina sank into the nearest armchair, her legs too weak to stand. — You took out a loan. For half a million. And gave it all to your mother? Without saying a word to me? Dimitri finally looked up, baffled, as if his wife was asking about something perfectly normal. — Karina, it’s my mum. She lives alone, her pension’s tiny. Who else would help her? — What about discussing it with me? — Karina was shouting now, unable to stop. — Asking my opinion? At least warning me? — You’d have started arguing, — Dimitri shrugged. — And Mum needed the money urgently. Four years. Four years she’d put up with that woman who called every evening to check what Dima had eaten for dinner. Who turned up without warning and commented on the state of the flat. Who always sat Karina at the far end of the table during family meals. — Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, — Dimitri said in his usual calm tone. — We’ll manage. We can pay it off quickly, it’s no big deal. It’s family. Hot, angry tears burst forth. Karina wiped them away, smearing mascara across her cheeks. — Family? Am I “family”? Or just an accessory? Remember when your mum decided it was time we switched cars and you sold ours without asking? When she threw my things out of the spare room because she “couldn’t sleep surrounded by someone else’s junk”? When on my birthday, you and she went fridge shopping for her? — All details, — Dimitri waved off. — You’re just tired, you need a break. Karina looked at the man she married—tall, soft-featured, those dimples she once found charming. Now, all she saw was a thirty-something child, unable to cut the apron strings. — We’ll get through it, — he repeated like a mantra. — Love conquers all. Karina stood up and walked to the bedroom. Two large duffle bags sat on the top shelf—the ones she’d brought when she first moved in. She hauled them down, opened the wardrobe and started packing. Twenty minutes later, Dimitri appeared, just as the first bag was stuffed full. — What are you doing? Karina, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not serious, are you? She didn’t answer. Folded jumpers, jeans, underwear. Reached for her jewellery box—gifts from parents and friends, nothing from him. — Where will you go? Back to your mum? She’s in Manchester! She zipped the second bag. Checked her handbag—passport, card, keys to her mum’s flat, kept just in case. — Karina, say something! You can’t just leave. I love you! She gave him a long look. Then picked up her bags and walked out. …Next morning, Karina stood at the register office holding the divorce application, feeling a strange calm inside, despite the grey drizzle outside. The decision was made. The first call came at 2.30am. Karina, startled on Lena’s sofa, confused about where she was. — We need to talk, — Dimitri was ragged, incoherent. — I understand now, I’ll change. Give me another chance. She hung up. Twenty minutes later, the phone rang again. — Karina, I can’t live without you. You are my reason to go on. By morning, forty-three messages had arrived—tearful confessions, promises, threats. “If you don’t come back, I don’t know what I’ll do.” “Mum says you’re just being difficult.” “I’ll wait for you forever.” A week later, he began showing up at her work. Karina went for lunch and found him by the sandwich shop. Headed for the Tube, spotted him across the street. — Just passing by, — he’d smile when she demanded an explanation. — Wanted to see you. One evening, the doorbell rang at Lena’s flat. Expecting the pizza delivery, Karina opened the door. Dimitri stood there—bouquet of red roses. — Just one chance, — he whispered. — That’s all I’m asking. Karina shut the door. He stood outside for two hours before neighbours threatened to call the police. Eventually, she learned to live with it—as one does with chronic pain. Ignoring messages, screening calls from unknown numbers, not looking over her shoulder. She switched jobs for remote work, moved to a sleepy suburb where Dimitri was unlikely to show up. The divorce was finalised three months later. Karina walked out of court, paper in hand, tears streaming—not of grief, but relief. At first, freedom was terrifyingly empty. She’d always checked her choices with someone, even if that someone always decided anyway. Now, she could buy any yoghurt in the shop, without worrying if Elena Victoria approved. Watch any film she liked, without being told “proper women don’t watch that”. She could breathe. She signed up for English lessons—a long-held dream, which Dimitri dismissed as “a waste of money”. Started attending sunrise yoga. Took a solo weekend trip to Cornwall, wandering the streets and eating clotted cream fudge. After six months, the calls and messages stopped. Karina waited another month, then realised she could finally relax. Landed a job at a marketing agency—bright office, young team, exciting projects. Life was looking up. …She met Andrew at a work do her colleague, Mary, convinced her to attend. — This is our lead programmer, — Mary introduced her to a tall man in wire-rimmed glasses. — Andrew, meet Karina from marketing. He shook her hand—firm but gentle. Smiled, simple and sincere. — You ducked out of karaoke too? — he nodded at the stage, where finance was butchering “Wonderwall”. — Got to preserve my nerves, — Karina grinned. They talked all evening—books, travel, life’s quirks. Andrew listened more than he spoke. He asked questions and waited for the answers—never lectured or explained how she should live. When he discovered she was divorced, he simply nodded and changed the subject. …Six months later, they moved in together, picking a cosy, light-filled flat in a quiet London square. — Are you sure you like this one? — Karina checked, viewing the place. — Do you? — Andrew replied. — I love it. — Then it’s settled. Those small things—the right to her own opinion, respected—mattered far more than grand declarations of love. He proposed on the building’s rooftop at sunset, the sky awash in gold and pink. Produced a tiny box—inside, a diamond ring. — I’m rubbish at speeches, — Andrew admitted. — But I want to wake up next to you every day. If you’re willing to put up with my snoring and my love of bad coffee. Karina laughed through tears and nodded… …One May evening, as usual, Andrew stayed late at work—deadline panic, a final bug in the code. Karina was making pasta, humming with the radio, when the doorbell rang. Sharp, insistent, demanding. She looked through the peephole—and recoiled. Dimitri stood on the landing. Pale, hollow-eyed, rumpled shirt. Two years. Two years of silence—and now, he was here. — Karina, open up! — his fist pounding the door. — I know you’re in there! We need to talk! Karina grabbed her phone and dialled Andrew. Engaged. — We still love each other! — Dimitri shouted from outside. — You can’t be with someone else! It’s wrong! The door shook—he threw his whole weight against it, trying to break in. Karina pressed her back to the door, bracing hard. — Go away! — she screamed. — I’ll call the police! — You’re my wife! — his voice cracked. — You were mine, you’ll stay mine! Two years I waited for you to come to your senses! Two years! — We’re divorced! It’s over! — It’s not over! — he shoved the door again. — I’ve changed! Mum says you don’t appreciate your own happiness! Open up, let’s talk! Through the peephole, his face twisted—obsessed, unrecognisable. Karina dialled three digits. — Dima! One call; the police will be here. Leave. Now. Dimitri froze. Silent. Then turned and stormed off down the stairs. The main door slammed below. Karina slid to the floor, her heart pounding. Thirty minutes passed before she could ring Andrew. She filed a police report the next day. The local officer—a kindly, mustached man—took down details, listened, nodded. — We’ll handle it. He’ll get a warning. What he said to Dimitri, Karina never knew. But her ex-husband never showed up again. No calls. No texts. No “chance” encounters. The wedding took place in early June, at a small country pub—twenty friends, just those closest to them. No fuss, no groom’s side relatives laying down “traditions”. Karina stood opposite Andrew in a simple white dress, holding his warm hands. Outside, the birch trees rustled, carrying scents of flowers and fresh-cut grass. — Do you…? — the registrar began. — I do, — Karina interrupted, and everyone laughed. Andrew slipped the ring on—a thin gold band, engraved inside. Three words: “Forever with you”. Karina lifted her gaze to this man who would be her husband. Not a mummy’s boy, not a possessive stalker. Just a man who listened, respected, and loved. Ahead lay a life where her voice finally mattered…

“Half a million?” Catherine stared at the notification on her phone, blinking three times

La vida

011

My Husband Refuses to Give Our Daughter the Flat He Inherited from His Aunt—Should We Let Her Move In or Sell It and Split the Money Between Our Three Children?

So, my husband inherited a flat from his aunt she left it to him in her will. Its quite small, but its

La vida

07

Kinship: A Tale of Family Bonds

Where theres kin, theres a kerfuffle, as the old saying goes. Mabel, born in a tiny hamlet in the Cotswolds

La vida

06

No Magic at All New Year Was Hurtling Towards Lena Like a Runaway Train—and She Didn’t Even Have a Ticket Lena felt breathless at the speed of it all. She stood, figuratively, on the station platform, knowing she had no ticket, no luck, no New Year cheer, and probably never would. Why had she invited guests, anyway? Who wants to ring in the New Year with a failure? *** December 31st started with a mini disaster: after ten loyal years, Lena’s washing machine decided it was time for retirement—by flooding the bathroom. Finding a plumber on New Year’s Eve? A real quest. After spending hours and nerves, Lena succeeded and hoped her bad luck was over. But… That afternoon, her ginger cat, Basil (self-proclaimed foodie), ate all the sausage set aside for the potato salad, leaving Lena only sad peas and pickled cucumbers. But Basil wasn’t done yet. He decided to pursue a blue tit that landed on the open window… A huge potted plant crashed from the windowsill, taking the Christmas tree with it, snuffing out the string of fairy lights Lena loved so much. Pot shards and the baubles she’d kept since childhood mixed with soil. Lena nearly cried as she cleaned up the mess. Next came a shattered decanter, burnt chicken, and, finally, the last straw: just as her guests were about to arrive, Lena realised she’d forgotten to buy a cake. Panicked, she rang her sister. “Kate, disaster! I haven’t got a cake!” “Calm down!” Kate replied cheerfully. “I’m downstairs. Come out—we’ll sort it.” “You’re here already?” “Yes—outside.” Stepping out, Lena was greeted with a sight: next to Kate’s car stood her best friend, Mary, clutching a massive bag, and Aunt Gail with an enormous bowl of jelly. “Why such a massive trifle?” Lena gasped. “Just in case!” Aunt Gail declared, queen of unsolicited advice. “I know how you cook! We’ve got a whole night ahead! I trust you made the potato salad?” Lena shrugged uncertainly… While the girls dashed for a cake, Mary strung up streamers—quickly becoming Basil’s latest victim as he transformed himself into an alien creature. Kate’s husband, Ian, arrived straight from work and rescued Basil, who didn’t put up a fight until he saw Lena, charging toward her and leaving Ian’s hand scratched and bleeding. The ladies patched up Ian, who gallantly volunteered to “help” in the kitchen, mostly waxing lyrical about how “salad is a state of soul, not just a bunch of ingredients.” Which Kate and Lena found just fine. “Len, what’s this box?” Mary called. “It says ‘Happy New Year!’ And there’s a note: ‘To be opened tonight. Gran Val.’” Lena ran in. “Oh! I forgot! Kate! Gran left it before she went away, said we’re to open it on New Year’s, at about two in the morning. Promised a surprise!” “What could it be?” Kate examined it curiously. “Let’s check now!” Lena shook her head. “She’ll know somehow! What if there’s a lock or a trick? We have to do as Gran said. Wait.” The intrigue had everyone hooked—even Aunt Gail edged closer, eyeing the box. *** Later, they listened to the Prime Minister’s speech, popped champagne, ate cat-nibbled potato salad, laughed, debated—and finally… “Is it two o’clock?” Lena asked. “Perfect timing.” She raised the box. “A surprise from Gran Val!” The only man present was trusted with the unboxing. Ian did the honours and opened the lid. Inside, among cotton wool, lay not money, nor old photos, but dozens of tiny, neatly rolled notes, each tied with coloured ribbon and with a name sticker. “What’s this?” Ian asked, baffled. Lena picked out the first note with her name and read aloud: “Lena, darling granddaughter. Has something gone wrong again today? Washing machine broken? Cat ate your salad? Never mind! Any problem is just an excuse to order pizza and binge your favourite show. You can buy a cake in the morning. What matters is having people nearby to help eat the pizza. Love you to the moon and back. Your Gran Val.” For a moment, silence hung in the air—then laughter exploded. Lena laughed so hard that tears streamed down her cheeks. “How… how did she know?!” “That’s magic,” Aunt Gail whispered. “Me! My turn!” Kate reached for hers. She opened her note: “Kate, darling. Stop arguing with Ian over every little thing. Give him a cuddle—he’s a good one, even if he’s a bit of a philosopher. And if he starts again, just kiss him. It’s the best weapon against male logic. Love you both.” Ian blushed and kissed Kate to cheers from the crowd. Mary giggled as she opened hers: “Mary dear, look for love in the library or local supermarket, not in pubs. There are real people there, just like you—though they don’t wear trendy skinny jeans. And stop dying your hair purple. Natural suits you best!” “How does she know about my hair?” Mary gasped. “I only changed it two days ago!” Now Aunt Gail’s turn. She unfolded her note, as if uncovering a great secret. “Gail, my dear. You’re the wisest, always in the know. But here’s a secret even you don’t know: kindness and wise advice are good, but sometimes it’s best to stay quiet and just eat some cake. Hugs, my dear.” Aunt Gail sat red-faced, mumbled something, grabbed a slice of cake, and fell silent—the first time she’d gone an evening without giving any advice. The laughter and chatter lasted till dawn. The girls video-called Gran Val, who sat smiling in her armchair miles away. “My dears! I’m so glad the surprise worked. There’s no magic. I just know you well. And I love you all so much!” Next morning, cleaning up, Lena gathered the notes into a lovely jar and put it in pride of place. They weren’t just wishes, they were Gran’s recipe for happiness: don’t fear chaos, laugh off failures, value those around you, eat what you want (within reason), and remember the real gift is knowing someone out there loves and understands you—always.

No Magic at All The New Year once hurried toward us, relentless as an express train thundering down the tracks.

La vida

05

The Whiskered Sidekick

Frederick is a trucker who isnt exactly unpopular at work people simply keep their distance.

La vida

0895

You Just Don’t Know How Lucky You Are — Half a million? — Karina read the notification on her phone three times before the numbers made sense. — You took out a loan for half a million pounds? Dimitri sat on the sofa, glued to his smartphone, not even glancing up. — Oh, that… Yes, just a small thing, for Mum’s house renovations. You know, her pipes are leaking, the flooring’s ruined, the wallpaper’s going mildewy… — Hold on. — Karina sank into the nearest armchair, her legs too weak to stand. — You took out a loan. For half a million. And gave it all to your mother? Without saying a word to me? Dimitri finally looked up, baffled, as if his wife was asking about something perfectly normal. — Karina, it’s my mum. She lives alone, her pension’s tiny. Who else would help her? — What about discussing it with me? — Karina was shouting now, unable to stop. — Asking my opinion? At least warning me? — You’d have started arguing, — Dimitri shrugged. — And Mum needed the money urgently. Four years. Four years she’d put up with that woman who called every evening to check what Dima had eaten for dinner. Who turned up without warning and commented on the state of the flat. Who always sat Karina at the far end of the table during family meals. — Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill, — Dimitri said in his usual calm tone. — We’ll manage. We can pay it off quickly, it’s no big deal. It’s family. Hot, angry tears burst forth. Karina wiped them away, smearing mascara across her cheeks. — Family? Am I “family”? Or just an accessory? Remember when your mum decided it was time we switched cars and you sold ours without asking? When she threw my things out of the spare room because she “couldn’t sleep surrounded by someone else’s junk”? When on my birthday, you and she went fridge shopping for her? — All details, — Dimitri waved off. — You’re just tired, you need a break. Karina looked at the man she married—tall, soft-featured, those dimples she once found charming. Now, all she saw was a thirty-something child, unable to cut the apron strings. — We’ll get through it, — he repeated like a mantra. — Love conquers all. Karina stood up and walked to the bedroom. Two large duffle bags sat on the top shelf—the ones she’d brought when she first moved in. She hauled them down, opened the wardrobe and started packing. Twenty minutes later, Dimitri appeared, just as the first bag was stuffed full. — What are you doing? Karina, don’t be ridiculous. You’re not serious, are you? She didn’t answer. Folded jumpers, jeans, underwear. Reached for her jewellery box—gifts from parents and friends, nothing from him. — Where will you go? Back to your mum? She’s in Manchester! She zipped the second bag. Checked her handbag—passport, card, keys to her mum’s flat, kept just in case. — Karina, say something! You can’t just leave. I love you! She gave him a long look. Then picked up her bags and walked out. …Next morning, Karina stood at the register office holding the divorce application, feeling a strange calm inside, despite the grey drizzle outside. The decision was made. The first call came at 2.30am. Karina, startled on Lena’s sofa, confused about where she was. — We need to talk, — Dimitri was ragged, incoherent. — I understand now, I’ll change. Give me another chance. She hung up. Twenty minutes later, the phone rang again. — Karina, I can’t live without you. You are my reason to go on. By morning, forty-three messages had arrived—tearful confessions, promises, threats. “If you don’t come back, I don’t know what I’ll do.” “Mum says you’re just being difficult.” “I’ll wait for you forever.” A week later, he began showing up at her work. Karina went for lunch and found him by the sandwich shop. Headed for the Tube, spotted him across the street. — Just passing by, — he’d smile when she demanded an explanation. — Wanted to see you. One evening, the doorbell rang at Lena’s flat. Expecting the pizza delivery, Karina opened the door. Dimitri stood there—bouquet of red roses. — Just one chance, — he whispered. — That’s all I’m asking. Karina shut the door. He stood outside for two hours before neighbours threatened to call the police. Eventually, she learned to live with it—as one does with chronic pain. Ignoring messages, screening calls from unknown numbers, not looking over her shoulder. She switched jobs for remote work, moved to a sleepy suburb where Dimitri was unlikely to show up. The divorce was finalised three months later. Karina walked out of court, paper in hand, tears streaming—not of grief, but relief. At first, freedom was terrifyingly empty. She’d always checked her choices with someone, even if that someone always decided anyway. Now, she could buy any yoghurt in the shop, without worrying if Elena Victoria approved. Watch any film she liked, without being told “proper women don’t watch that”. She could breathe. She signed up for English lessons—a long-held dream, which Dimitri dismissed as “a waste of money”. Started attending sunrise yoga. Took a solo weekend trip to Cornwall, wandering the streets and eating clotted cream fudge. After six months, the calls and messages stopped. Karina waited another month, then realised she could finally relax. Landed a job at a marketing agency—bright office, young team, exciting projects. Life was looking up. …She met Andrew at a work do her colleague, Mary, convinced her to attend. — This is our lead programmer, — Mary introduced her to a tall man in wire-rimmed glasses. — Andrew, meet Karina from marketing. He shook her hand—firm but gentle. Smiled, simple and sincere. — You ducked out of karaoke too? — he nodded at the stage, where finance was butchering “Wonderwall”. — Got to preserve my nerves, — Karina grinned. They talked all evening—books, travel, life’s quirks. Andrew listened more than he spoke. He asked questions and waited for the answers—never lectured or explained how she should live. When he discovered she was divorced, he simply nodded and changed the subject. …Six months later, they moved in together, picking a cosy, light-filled flat in a quiet London square. — Are you sure you like this one? — Karina checked, viewing the place. — Do you? — Andrew replied. — I love it. — Then it’s settled. Those small things—the right to her own opinion, respected—mattered far more than grand declarations of love. He proposed on the building’s rooftop at sunset, the sky awash in gold and pink. Produced a tiny box—inside, a diamond ring. — I’m rubbish at speeches, — Andrew admitted. — But I want to wake up next to you every day. If you’re willing to put up with my snoring and my love of bad coffee. Karina laughed through tears and nodded… …One May evening, as usual, Andrew stayed late at work—deadline panic, a final bug in the code. Karina was making pasta, humming with the radio, when the doorbell rang. Sharp, insistent, demanding. She looked through the peephole—and recoiled. Dimitri stood on the landing. Pale, hollow-eyed, rumpled shirt. Two years. Two years of silence—and now, he was here. — Karina, open up! — his fist pounding the door. — I know you’re in there! We need to talk! Karina grabbed her phone and dialled Andrew. Engaged. — We still love each other! — Dimitri shouted from outside. — You can’t be with someone else! It’s wrong! The door shook—he threw his whole weight against it, trying to break in. Karina pressed her back to the door, bracing hard. — Go away! — she screamed. — I’ll call the police! — You’re my wife! — his voice cracked. — You were mine, you’ll stay mine! Two years I waited for you to come to your senses! Two years! — We’re divorced! It’s over! — It’s not over! — he shoved the door again. — I’ve changed! Mum says you don’t appreciate your own happiness! Open up, let’s talk! Through the peephole, his face twisted—obsessed, unrecognisable. Karina dialled three digits. — Dima! One call; the police will be here. Leave. Now. Dimitri froze. Silent. Then turned and stormed off down the stairs. The main door slammed below. Karina slid to the floor, her heart pounding. Thirty minutes passed before she could ring Andrew. She filed a police report the next day. The local officer—a kindly, mustached man—took down details, listened, nodded. — We’ll handle it. He’ll get a warning. What he said to Dimitri, Karina never knew. But her ex-husband never showed up again. No calls. No texts. No “chance” encounters. The wedding took place in early June, at a small country pub—twenty friends, just those closest to them. No fuss, no groom’s side relatives laying down “traditions”. Karina stood opposite Andrew in a simple white dress, holding his warm hands. Outside, the birch trees rustled, carrying scents of flowers and fresh-cut grass. — Do you…? — the registrar began. — I do, — Karina interrupted, and everyone laughed. Andrew slipped the ring on—a thin gold band, engraved inside. Three words: “Forever with you”. Karina lifted her gaze to this man who would be her husband. Not a mummy’s boy, not a possessive stalker. Just a man who listened, respected, and loved. Ahead lay a life where her voice finally mattered…

“Half a million?” Catherine stared at the notification on her phone, blinking three times

La vida

09

Echo in the Night: How Spending New Year’s Eve Alone in a London Rehabilitation Centre Helped Alexandra Find Unexpected Connection and Hope

Echo in the Night Two weeks before Christmas, I was admitted to the rehabilitation unit at St.

La vida

04

When They Brought Him into the Hospital’s Morgue, It Was Clear He Was a Drowned Victim…

When they wheeled him into the A&E, it was obvious he was a drowning victim. It was February, the

La vida

018

You’re Just Jealous “Mum, are you serious? The Savoy? That’s at least five hundred pounds for dinner! Per person.” Igor threw his keys onto the sideboard so they rattled against the wall. Olga turned from the hob, where she was stirring the sauce, and instantly noticed her husband’s whitened knuckles gripping his phone. He listened to his mother for a few more minutes, then swore and abruptly hung up. “What happened?” Instead of answering, Igor slumped into a kitchen chair and stared at his plate of potatoes. Olga switched off the burner, wiped her hands on a tea towel, and sat opposite. “Igor…” “She’s gone absolutely mad. Lost it, completely.” He looked up; Olga saw such a mixture of anger and helplessness in his eyes that her heart clenched. “Remember I told you about that… Victor? From the dance class?” Olga nodded. His mum had mentioned her new companion about a month ago—shyly, fidgeting with the corner of the tablecloth. It had seemed quite sweet: a 58-year-old widow, five years alone, and now—a ballroom dancing club at the community centre, a charming gent who could twirl her in a waltz. “Well.” Igor pushed his plate aside. “She’s taken him to the Savoy. Three times in two weeks. Bought him a suit for four grand. Last weekend they took a trip to Bath—guess who paid for the hotel and tours?” “Mrs Taylor.” “Bingo.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “Mum saved that money for years. For a new boiler. For a rainy day. Now she’s blowing it all on a man she’s known for six weeks. Unreal…” Olga fell silent, choosing her words. She knew her mother-in-law well—romantic, open, almost guilelessly trusting. The sort of woman who believes in true love even after half a century on earth. “Listen, Igor…” She covered his hand with hers. “Your mum’s an adult. Her money, her choices. Don’t interfere. She won’t hear anyone right now.” “She’s making mistake after mistake!” “Yes. And she has a right to. And frankly, you’re exaggerating.” Igor shrugged, but didn’t pull away. “I just can’t watch her—” “I know, love. But you can’t live her life for her.” Olga stroked his wrist. “She has to take responsibility—even if we don’t like it. She’s perfectly capable.” Igor nodded morosely. …Two months passed in a flash. Talk of Victor faded—his mum phoned less and seemed evasive, as if she were hiding something. Olga decided the romance had fizzled and stopped worrying. So when the doorbell rang on Sunday evening and Mrs Taylor was on the doorstep, Olga didn’t know what to think. “Darlings! My dear darlings!” She swept into the flat, trailing clouds of sweet perfume. “He proposed! Look! Look!” A ring with a tiny stone sparkled on her finger. Cheap, but Mrs Taylor looked at it as if it was a great diamond. “We’re getting married! Next month! He’s so, so…” She pressed her hands to her cheeks and laughed—a bright, girlish sound. “I never thought, at my age… That I’d ever feel this again…” Igor hugged his mum, and Olga saw his shoulders relax. Maybe things weren’t so bad. Maybe Victor really did love her, and they’d only been worrying for nothing. “We’re happy for you, mum.” Igor let go and smiled. “You deserve to be happy.” “And I’ve already signed the flat over to him! Now we’re a proper family!” Mrs Taylor announced, and time seemed to freeze. Olga stopped breathing. Igor jerked, as if he’d walked into a glass wall. “What… what did you say?” “The flat.” She waved her hand, oblivious to their faces. “So he knows I trust him. It’s love, darlings, real love! And love is built on trust.” A silence thick enough to hear the clock ticking in the sitting room. “Mrs Taylor.” Olga spoke first, slowly, carefully. “You’ve signed your flat over to a man you’ve known three months? Before the wedding?” “And?” Mrs Taylor tilted her chin. “I trust him. He’s a good, decent man. Not what you imagine. You think badly of him, I know you do.” “We don’t think anything,” Olga stepped forward. “But maybe you could’ve waited until after the ceremony. Why rush?” “You don’t understand. This… This is proof of my love.” Mrs Taylor folded her arms. “What do you know about real feelings? About trust?” Igor finally unclenched his jaw: “Mum—” “No!” She stamped her foot, suddenly more stubborn teenager than grown woman. “I don’t want to hear it! You’re just jealous of my happiness! You want to ruin it for me!” She spun and rushed out, banging the door so hard the glass rattled in the cabinet. The wedding was small—a registry office in Enfield, charity shop dress, and a three-rose bouquet. But Mrs Taylor glowed as if she was marrying in Westminster Abbey. Victor—a portly man with a receding hairline and oily smile—played the perfect gentleman. Kissing her hand, pulling out her chair, topping up her prosecco. The ideal groom. Olga watched him over her glass. Something wasn’t right. His eyes—when he looked at Mrs Taylor, the pupils stayed cold, calculating. Practised affection. Rehearsed care. She kept her thoughts to herself. What was the point of talking when no one listened? The first months, Mrs Taylor called every week—bubbling with excitement, listing restaurants and theatres he took her to. “He’s so thoughtful! Yesterday he brought me roses—just because!” Igor nodded along, then hung up and sat in silence, staring into space. Olga said nothing. She waited. A year passed in a blur. Then—the doorbell… Olga opened the door to a woman she barely recognised. Mrs Taylor looked ten years older—deeper wrinkles, hollow eyes, hunched shoulders. One hand gripped her battered suitcase, the very one that once went to Bath. “He threw me out.” Mrs Taylor sobbed. “Filed for divorce and threw me out. The flat… it’s his now. Legally.” In silence, Olga let her in. The kettle boiled quickly. Mrs Taylor sat clutching her cup with both hands, crying quietly, hopelessly. “I loved him so. I did everything for him. And he just…” Olga didn’t interrupt. Just rubbed her back as the tears ran dry. Igor returned an hour later, paused in the doorway, and his face went hard. “Son.” Mrs Taylor rose, held her hands out. “Son, I’ve nowhere to go… You wouldn’t turn your mum out, would you? Give me a room—I won’t take up much. Children are meant to care for their parents, that’s—” “Stop.” Igor raised his hand. “Stop, mum.” “I have no money. None. I spent it all on him, every penny. The pension’s small, you know—” “I warned you.” “What?” “I warned you.” Igor sank onto the sofa, heavy as if the world’s weight was on him. “Said don’t rush. Said get to know him. Said don’t sign over the flat. Do you remember what you told me?” Mrs Taylor’s eyes dropped. “That I didn’t know true love. That we were just jealous. I remember everything, mum.” “Igor…” Olga tried to stop him, but he shook his head. “No. Let her hear it.” He turned to his mum. “You’re a grown woman. You made your choice. You ignored everyone who tried to stop you. And now, you want us to deal with the fallout?” “But I’m your mother!” “That’s exactly why I’m angry!” Igor shot to his feet, voice cracking. “I’m tired, mum! Tired of watching you throw your life away, then run to me for rescue!” Mrs Taylor shrank, small and pitiful. “He lied to me, son. I really loved him, I trusted—” “Trusted him so much you handed the flat to a stranger. Brilliant, mum. Just brilliant. And what about the fact that Dad bought this flat!” “Forgive me.” The tears flowed again. “Forgive me. I was blind, I know. But please… let me have one more chance. I’ll never—” “Adults bear the consequences of their choices.” Igor’s voice was quiet, tired. “You wanted independence? You’ve got it. Sort your own accommodation. Find a job. You’re on your own.” Mrs Taylor left, sobbing loudly on the landing. Olga spent the whole night beside Igor—silent, just holding his hand. Igor didn’t cry. Just lay staring at the ceiling, sighing from time to time. “Did I do the right thing?” he murmured at dawn. “Yes.” Olga stroked his cheek. “It was hard. It hurt. But yes.” In the morning, Igor called his mum and rented her a room in a house-share at the edge of town. Paid six months up front. It was the last help he agreed to. “From now on, you’re on your own, mum. On your own. If you go to court, we’ll help with legal fees. But living here—no.” Olga listened and wondered about justice. About how, sometimes, the harshest lesson is the only one that works. Mrs Taylor got exactly what her blindness brought. And somehow that was both bitter and comforting. And she knew, deep down, this wasn’t the end, and somehow, things would work out. She didn’t know how—but they would…

You’re just jealous Mum, are you serious right now? Thats the Savoy! Thatll be at least two hundred