Monika was the kind of woman that even the old ladies on the stoops loved. She was brought up strictly, as both her parents were teachers. She grew up knowing exactly what was acceptable and never went beyond it. She did well in school, entered a state-funded college and always managed to get a scholarship. She didn’t build a personal life either, because her parents had long ago found a good candidate for her. The parents were friends, so they decided to marry their children, and Monica
was used to obeying everything her parents wanted her to do.
It so happened that she was going down the aisle with a shorter, plump, pimply, glasses-wearing guy named Mark. However, the girl would not have paid attention to his appearance if he had not been “mom’s little darling.”
The newlyweds did not live with their parents, because Monika had long ago inherited a one-room apartment from her grandmother. And it seemed that they could live there, but the mother-in-law did not give them peace of mind even here. Although she lived an hour away, she came almost every day.
Mostly she came to her daughter-in-law to give her cooking, cleaning, and life lessons. Over time, she took over the apartment so much that before Monika knew it, renovations were underway. After a few months passed, her mother-in-law began to openly criticize her daughter-in-law for not being pregnant when she should have been. Several times she even told the girl that she was sick and needed to be treated, because her son could not have any problems.
If only her mother-in-law was like that, but her grieving husband was also constantly berating her and reproaching her for doing better than his mother. It seemed that she could be perfect, but she would still never be on the same level as her mother-in-law.
Monika did not want children with this man and she did not want to live with him. Nevertheless, she went to the doctor for a checkup, because she was worried that there might be something wrong with her. However, the tests confirmed that she was fine, completely healthy and ready for fertilization. Then she took her husband there, and the doctors told him that he really needed treatment. Mark was so offended by the doctor’s words that he almost spat in his face, and then called his mother… When they returned from the hospital, his mother-in-law was already waiting for them on the doorstep, screaming: “You bought that doctor! You can’t get pregnant yourself, so you blame my son! You’re such a trash!”
After these words, something changed in Monika. She realized that she couldn’t take it anymore. She kicked out her mother-in-law and ex-husband and threw away their belongings.
After that, both her mother-in-law and ex-husband tried to contact her, but she was determined to take charge of her life.
