**”Darling, what do you mean by divorce? You’re at stage four! What about the apartment? I wont be able to inherit it!”** Her husbands voice was frantic as he paced around.
Elena wiped the fogged bathroom mirror and froze, studying her reflection. Her once-soft features had sharpened, her cheeks hollow, her eyes dull and lifeless. The illness had stripped her of everything, erasing traces of her past. *”I need to call Katya,”* she repeated silently. Her niece had to know the truth, no matter how painful.
From the living room came the muffled sounds of a football matchPavel sprawled on the sofa, feet propped on the coffee table. Crumbs from his favorite chips were likely scattered around. Elena sighed heavily, an invisible weight pressing on her shoulders.
This apartment was the culmination of years of sacrifice. Shed bought it long before Pavel, paying off the mortgage over five grueling yearstwo jobs, endless frugality, late nights, and early mornings. When she made the final payment, shed cried. These walls held her sleepless nights, relentless effort.
Theyd met by chance years ago, in a coffee queue. Charmed by his attention, shed thought him perfectuntil his kindness vanished. Now, he barely acknowledged her.
*”Lena, did you pay the internet? Its slow today.”* His voice drifted in.
*”I paid Monday. Restart the router.”*
*”Too far. Do ityoure closer.”*
She obeyed. Small things like this no longer irritated her. But today, after her doctors visit, everything felt different.
*”Stage four,”* the doctor had said, avoiding her gaze. *”Metastases in the liver and bones. There are options, but be realistic.”*
She nodded as if discussing the weather, not her remaining time. Practical as ever, she began mentally organizingher will, insurance, talking to Katya.
*”Len, whats for dinner?”* Pavel called again.
*”I didnt cook. Order something.”*
*”More spending?”* he grumbled. *”Its your day offyou couldve cooked.”*
She said nothing. Pavel believed earning money was her duty while he scraped by with odd jobs or grand, unrealized schemes. Early on, she hadnt minded, but eventually, it became clearhe wasnt just lazy; he saw his role as *”finding himself”* while she provided comfort.
*”I saw the doctor today,”* she said, watching his profile.
*”Mhm.”* He didnt glance up.
*”I have cancer.”*
Pavel turned, frowning. *”What?”*
*”Stage four,”* she repeated calmly.
He set the remote down. *”What does that mean? Can it be treated?”*
*”Its possible, but chances are slim. Months, not years.”*
He blinked, running a hand through his hair. *”What about experimental treatments? Or abroad?”*
*”Expensive,”* she said, watching his reaction.
*”Dont you have good insurance? Savings?”*
There it was. His first thoughtmoney, not her well-being.
*”Yes, I have savings.”*
*”Good,”* he said briskly. *”Well fight this. Youll be fine.”*
He awkwardly hugged her, then pulled back as if afraid of contamination.
*”Listen, I need to meet Dimawork stuff,”* he said, grabbing his jacket. *”Hang in there.”* The door slammed before she could respond.
A week later, his behavior worsenedlate nights, unfamiliar cologne, phone face-down. She ignored it. After the diagnosis, none of it mattered.
Until one night, she overheard him on the balcony: *”Itll be over soon. The doctor said she wont last long… No, noall the inheritance is mine. The apartment, savingsits all coming to me.”*
She froze. He was counting her days, dividing her lifes work.
The next morning, Pavel announced a weekend trip to a friends dacha. *”Need to clear my head.”* She nodded silently, her mind already set.
Once he left, she called Katya.
*”Come over. We need to talk.”*
Katya arrived in an hour. When Elena told her, the girl sobbed but quickly steadied herself. *”What can I do?”*
*”I need a will. Everything goes to you.”*
*”What about Uncle Pasha?”*
*”Hes already planning his inheritance,”* Elena said dryly. *”While Im on IVs, hes with his mistress.”*
That day, they visited a notary. Everythingthe apartment, savingswould go to Katya. Back home, Elena filed for divorce. No division of assetsjust an end to the farce.
Surprisingly, she felt lighter. That evening, she cooked dinner and watched a show shed always postponed.
Pavel returned three days later, refreshed. His phone pingeda divorce notification. *”Must be spam.”* He reread it, frown deepening.
*”Elena!”* he shouted, storming inside. *”Whats this nonsense?”*
Silence. He checked the fridge, grabbed a beer. Another notificationdetails of the filing.
*”What the hell?”* He pulled up the government portal.
Divorce application. Submitted by Elena Viktorovna Sokolova. Status: Processing.
*”Some stupid joke,”* he muttered.
He called herstraight to voicemail. Pacing, he checked againno division of assets, as they werent jointly acquired.
*”What do you mean, no division?”*
The closet was half-empty. Her toiletries, family photosgone. Panic set in. He called repeatedlyno answer.
That night, the lock clicked.
*”Finally!”* He rushed to the hall. *”Where were you? Why arent you answering? Whats this divorce crap?”*
Elena walked past him calmly. *”Im staying with Katya. Just grabbing the rest.”*
*”Why?!”* He trailed behind, frantic. *”Youre sick! You need care!”*
*”Really?”* She stopped, meeting his gaze. *”Were you planning to care for me before or after telling your girlfriend how soon youd get my money?”*
He paled. *”What nonsense? What girlfriend?”*
*”I heard you on the balcony.”* Her smile was tired. *”Soon itll all be over, all the inheritance is mine. Charming.”*
*”You misheardit wasnt like that!”*
*”It was. The divorce stands. The apartment was mine before we marriedyou lose nothing but what you never had.”*
Pavel clutched the doorframe. *”Divorce?! But youre stage four! The apartment! I cant inherit it!”*
She felt a strange calm. *”Youre finally honest. You never cared this much about meonly the apartment.”*
*”No! Im worried for you! Im just confused!”*
*”Lets be truthful, Pavel. You loved the comfort I provided, not me.”* She zipped her bag. *”And now that Im sick, you only care about keeping it.”*
*”Lies!”* His eyes darted.
*”Truth.”* She turned. *”And the saddest part? I loved you. Truly. I wanted a family. Instead, I got a dealI work, you live comfortably.”*
He lunged, grabbing her arm. *”We can fix this! Ill change!”*
She freed herself, firm. *”Too late. The will is done. Katya gets everything. Find another cash cow.”*
*”You cant do this!”* he sputtered. *”Were married! This is our home!”*
*”Not for long.”* She walked out, shutting the door softly.
The lock clickedfinality.
Alone, Pavel panicked. The apartment, once his haven, now felt cold. He called Elena obsessivelyno response. The next day, he went to Katyas place.
She opened the door, icy. *”Elena doesnt want to see you. Neither do I.”* The door shut in his face.
A week later, court papers arriveddivorce finalized.
Elena wasnt there. Only her lawyer, coldly professional. No reconciliation possible.
Outside the courthouse, Pavel stared at the gray sky. The freedom hed dreamed of now felt like desolation. Hed lost more than moneyhed lost meaning.
Meanwhile, Elena underwent chemo, Katya holding her hand.
*”I dont regret it,”* Elena murmured. *”Pretending I had a family. Better to spend my time with those who love me.”*
Katya squeezed her hand. *”WellDespite the pain and exhaustion, Elena closed her eyes with a small smile, finally at peacesurrounded by love, not greed.
