I’m Embarrassed to Take You to the Banquet – Denis Didn’t Even Look Up from His Phone. – There Will Be People. Normal People. Nadia Stood by the Fridge with a Carton of Milk in Her Hand. Twelve Years of Marriage, Two Children. And Now, Embarrassment. “I’ll Wear the Black Dress,” She Said – The One You Bought Me Yourself. “It’s Not the Dress,” He Finally Looked Up. “It’s You. You’ve Let Yourself Go. Your Hair, Your Face… You’re Just Not Right. Vadim Will Be There With His Wife – She’s a Stylist. And You… You Understand.” “Then I Won’t Go.” “Smart Choice. I’ll Say You Have a Fever. No One Will Question It.” He Went for a Shower, While Nadia Stayed Standing Alone in the Kitchen. In the Next Room, the Kids Were Sleeping. Kirill is Ten, Svetlana is Eight. The Mortgage, the Bills, School Meetings. She Had Melted Into This House, and Her Husband Was Ashamed of Her. “Has He Completely Lost His Mind?” – Elena, Her Hairdresser Friend, Looked at Nadia as if She’d Announced the End of the World. “Too Ashamed to Bring His Wife to a Banquet? And Who Does He Think He Is?” “He’s a Warehouse Manager. Got a Promotion.” “And Now His Wife Isn’t Good Enough?” – Elena Poured Boiling Water into the Kettle, Harshly, Angrily. “Listen to Me. Do You Remember What You Did Before the Kids?” “I Was a Teacher.” “Not Work. You Made Jewellery. With Beads. I Still Have That Necklace With the Blue Stone. People Always Ask Where I Got It.” Nadia Remembered. She Used to Make Jewelry in the Evenings, Back When Denis Was Still Interested in Her. “That Was a Long Time Ago.” “It Was, So You Can Do It Again,” – Elena Moved Closer. “When’s This Banquet?” “Saturday.” “Perfect. You Come to Me Tomorrow. I’ll Do Your Hair and Makeup. We’ll Call Olga – She’s Got Dresses. And You Take Care of the Jewellery.” “Elena, But He Said…” “Oh, Forget What He Said. You’re Going to That Banquet. And He’ll be Scared Out of His Mind.” Olga Brought Over a Plum-Coloured, Floor-Length Off-The-Shoulder Dress. They Spent an Hour Fitting It, Pinned It to Size. “That Colour Needs Special Jewellery,” – Olga Fussed Around Her. “Silver Won’t Work. Gold’s Not Right Either.” Nadia Opened Her Old Jewelry Box. At the Bottom, Wrapped in Soft Cloth, Lay a Set – Necklace and Earrings. Blue Aventurine, Handmade. She Had Made It Eight Years Ago for a Special Occasion That Never Came. “My God, This is a Masterpiece,” – Olga Stared. “You Did This?” “I Did.” Elena Did Her Hair – Soft Waves, Nothing Excessive. Makeup – Subtle, Yet Striking. Nadia Put On the Dress, Fastened the Jewellery. The Stones Lay on Her Neck Cool and Solid. “Go Look,” – Olga Nudged Her Toward the Mirror. Nadia Approached. And Saw Not the Woman Who’d Washed Floors and Made Soups for Twelve Years. She Saw Herself. The Woman She Used to Be. A Riverside Restaurant. The Room Full of Tables, Suits, Evening Dresses, and Music. Nadia Arrived Late, As Planned. The Conversations Fell Silent for a Few Seconds. Denis Was at the Bar, Laughing at Someone’s Joke. He Saw Her – and His Face Froze. She Walked Past Without a Glance, Sat at the Furthest Table. Back Straight, Hands Calmly in Her Lap. “Excuse Me, Is This Seat Taken?” A Man of About Forty-Five, Grey Suit, Intelligent Eyes. “It’s Free.” “Oleg. Vadim’s Business Partner. Bakeries. And You, If You Don’t Mind Me Asking?” “Nadia. Warehouse Manager’s Wife.” He Looked at Her, Then at Her Jewellery. “Aventurine? Handmade, I Can Tell. My Mother Collected Stones. You Hardly Ever See Work Like That.” “I Made It Myself.” “Really?” – Oleg Leaned Closer, Inspecting the Work. “This is High Quality. Do You Sell Them?” “No. I’m… a Housewife.” “Odd. Hands Like Yours Shouldn’t Be Wasted at Home.” He Didn’t Leave Her Side All Night. They Talked About Stones, About Creativity, About How People Lose Themselves in Routine. Oleg Invited Her to Dance, Brought Sparkling Wine, Made Her Laugh. Nadia Saw Denis Watching From Across the Room. His Face Grew Darker by the Minute. As She Left, Oleg Walked Her to Her Car. “Nadia, If You Decide to Go Back to Jewellery Making – Call Me,” – He Handed Her a Business Card. “I Have Contacts Who Need This Kind of Work. Really Need It.” She Took the Card and Nodded. At Home, Denis Lasted Barely Five Minutes. “What Did You Think You Were Doing In There?! The Whole Night With That Oleg! Everyone Saw, You Know! Everyone Saw My Wife Clinging to Another Man!” “I Wasn’t Clinging. I Was Talking.” “Talking! You Danced With Him Three Times! Three Times! Vadim Asked What Was Going On. I Was Mortified!” “You’re Always Mortified,” Nadia Placed Her Shoes by the Door. “Ashamed to Take Me Out, Ashamed When People Look at Me. Are You Not Ashamed of Anything?” “Shut Up. Do You Think Putting On a Dress Makes You Something? You’re Nobody. A Housewife. Living Off My Money. Now Acting Like a Princess.” She Would Have Cried Before. Would Have Gone to Bed, Faced the Wall. But Something Inside Broke. Or Finally Fixed Itself. “Weak Men Fear Strong Women,” She Spoke Quietly, Almost Calmly. “You’re Insecure, Denis. You’re Afraid I’ll See How Small You Are.” “Get Out of Here.” “I’m Filing for Divorce.” He Was Silent. Looked at Her, and for the First Time, There Wasn’t Anger In His Eyes—But Confusion. “Where Will You Go With Two Kids? You Can’t Live Off Your Beads.” “I’ll Manage.” In the Morning, She Took Out the Business Card and Dialed the Number. Oleg Was in No Hurry. They Met in Cafés, Discussed Business. He Told Her About an Acquaintance Who Runs a Boutique Gallery. How Handmade Crafts are in Demand, How People are Tired of Mass-Produced Goods. “You’re Talented, Nadia. It’s Rare to See Talent and Taste Together.” She Started Working Nights. Aventurine, Jasper, Carnelian. Necklaces, Bracelets, Earrings. Oleg Collected the Finished Pieces, Took Them to the Gallery. Within a Week, He Called – Everything Was Sold. Orders Began to Grow. “Does Denis Know?” “He Doesn’t Even Speak To Me.” “And the Divorce?” “Found a Lawyer. We’re Starting the Process.” Oleg Helped. No Drama, No Heroics. Just Contacts, Helped Her Find a Rented Flat. When Nadia Was Packing Her Bags, Denis Stood in the Doorway Laughing. “You’ll Be Back in a Week. On Your Knees, You’ll Come Crawling Back.” She Closed the Suitcase and Left Without Reply. Six Months. A Two-Bedroom on the Edge of Town, The Kids, Her Work. Orders Came In Floods. The Gallery Offered Her an Exhibition. Nadia Started a Social Media Page, Posted Photos. Followers Grew. Oleg Visited, Brought the Kids Books, Called Regularly. Didn’t Push, Didn’t Pester, He Was Just There. “Mum, Do You Like Him?” Svetlana Asked One Day. “I Do.” “We Like Him Too. He Doesn’t Shout.” A Year Later, Oleg Proposed. No Kneeling, No Roses. Just During Dinner He Said: “I Want All Three of You With Me.” Nadia Was Ready. Two Years Passed. Denis Walked Through a Shopping Centre. After Being Fired, He Found Work as a Loader – Vadim Heard About How He’d Treated His Wife and Sacked Him After Three Months. Rented Room, Debts, Loneliness. He Saw Them Outside a Jeweller’s Shop. Nadia in a Light Coat, Hair Styled, Wearing the Same Aventurine Necklace. Oleg Holding Her Hand. Kirill and Svetlana Laughing, Telling Stories. Denis Stopped by the Window. Watched Them Get Into the Car. Watched Oleg Open the Door for Nadia. Watched Her Smile. Then Looked At His Own Reflection in the Glass. Worn-Out Jacket, Grey Face, Empty Eyes. He’d Lost a Queen. And She’d Learned to Live Without Him. And That Was His Most Terrible Punishment – To Realize Too Late What He’d Had… Thank You, Dear Readers, for Your Thoughtful Comments and Likes!