Olivia Harper found herself useless.
And what about that flat? The one on the fourth floor?
Im the spare one! she admitted, her cheeks burning with shame.
Then come to my place! a former schoolmate blurted out.
Lily, Fisher, is that you? a strange man called out to Olivia.
Im Fisher, actually she replied, though she had taken her exhusbands surname, Fisher, after the divorce. How did he know it?
And Im Sam Lewis! the stranger shouted cheerfully. You dont recognise me? I spotted you the instant I saw you you havent changed a bit!
Lenny had left his wife after their second child was born, claiming she hadnt created the conditions for his personal growth. It was the wild 1990s; no one talked about selfdevelopment, and the internet and life coaches were still fantasies. When Lenny walked out, Olivia was left with two children, the youngest still an infant.
The first thought that crossed her mind was to end it all, but reason, thankfully, won out.
Her father stepped in: the factory where hed worked for decades collapsed, and he was laid off. The engineer became a caretaker.
Life was hard, almost starving; only Olivia earned a wage. Lennys alimony arrived, but it was a paltry sum, especially as everything else grew in price exponentially.
When the baby turned one, Olivia began trading in secondhand coats from abroad, easing the financial strain a little. Together the family managed to raise the children and, miraculously, they learned for free.
The kids eventually started their own families. First came Lena, who announced, Im pregnant, Mum! Youll be a grandmother soon!
Joy to the house, as they say!
All would have been fine if not for the fact that Lennys daughter moved into the twobedroom flat that Olivias father had been given on the factory grounds back in the seventies. By then her parents were long gone. In those days a small twobedroom was considered a cottage, complete with a pantry and a balcony.
Now Olivia had to share a bedroom with her son, and soon Simon brought his girlfriend over, prompting Olivia to file a complaint. Everything seemed lofty and noble, but reality won: there was nowhere for the mother to sleep.
While the girlfriend stayed over on the couch, it was tolerable; the folding bed could be set up either in the kitchen or the pantry yes, the pantry! Olivia refused to sleep in the kitchen, deeming it humiliating. The pantry was her only option.
Just leave the door open and everything will be fine! urged her son and daughter, eyes honest.
And after fifty years she was still in the pantry, making do.
For a few days everything went relatively smoothly because she didnt close the door. Then she found her own clothes, discarded from a closet, and trinkets strewn about; she was finally forced to move in.
By then Simon was already married. You have to understand, Mum, we cant afford a separate room. Sorry
Olivia tried to be useful: cooking, cleaning. They treated her like a scrawny dog, relegating her to the pantry. The prospect of living forever among jars and cardboard boxes was unappealing, and it was deeply embarrassing to have raised a son and a daughter and be reduced to this.
She had little money; she taught English at a secondary school and did some tutoring on the side, but it wasnt enough for a decent rented flat. Her free pantry was all she had.
One morning she grabbed her purse passport, payslip, and bank card left the house, and sat on the bench outside her block, hoping a constructive idea would strike. She had no lessons that day; she could sit until the carrots were harvested.
Lily, Fisher, is that you? the same man called out again.
Im Fisher! she answered, still using the name from her marriage.
And Im Sam Lewis! the stranger beamed. Didnt recognise me? I saw you instantly you havent changed a bit!
Dont lie, I havent changed! Or have I? Olivia thought, now truly Olivia Harper.
Time, that good healer and terrible beautician, had taken its toll. The class heartthrob had turned bald, overweight, and elderly; she was no better off.
How many years had passed? Twenty? At a reunion they could still recognise each other. Olivia had once been infatuated with him at school, even invited him to a slow dance at the prom. Hed married a demanding daughter of a party official, a careerdriven woman.
Why are you standing out there? Its cold! Dont freeze! Alex laughed, his humour still making her swoon.
The school friend struck a pose, as if the park bench were a stage.
What are you doing in this neighbourhood? Olivia asked, changing the subject. Havent you moved?
I was visiting my grandchildren; they live in my old flat! Im heading home. Where are you? Still in the old block? I even remember the floor the fourth!
So they decided to go together and reminisce about school, Fisher, and the slow dance at the prom.
Did you ever remember him? the elderly woman asked.
Of course! After school you disappeared, didnt you?
Disappeared? Olivia retorted. Its you who started seeing that monkey? I withdrew!
Dont mix up cause and effect, Fisher: you withdrew first, then I started seeing the monkey! Sam corrected her. So where are you going?
Olivia whispered, Nowhere, and began to weep.
Nowhere? You have no home? the young man queried.
Thats right, I have none, she said softly.
And what about that flat? The one on the fourth?
Im the spare one! she confessed, mortified.
Then come to my place! the former classmate suggested abruptly.
And the monkey what about the wife? Olivia asked, fearing Lenny would bring another woman home.
Were divorced from the monkey years ago! Come, lift your spirits! I wont press on you. My visas expired, so youll finally have peace!
He offered his hand, helping her up from the bench, and said, Ready to go? My cars just around the corner.
And they went.
The flat of the former classmate turned out to be surprisingly cosy, and Sam kept his promise: he didnt make any unwanted advances. Only for the first two months, then he proposed marriage.
They were both fiftythree, but age is just a number. He had always liked a lively laugh, and their slow dance stayed with him forever.
Olivia agreed, as any sensible person would.
During all this time, the children never called their mother once. At first she waited anxiously, then simply waited, and eventually she found a new focus: planning a wedding and a family life of her own. She told the kids she wouldnt mention the marriage; there would be no grand ceremony, just a quiet café gathering with four witnesses. The absence of relatives was at least explained.
Later she deleted her sons and daughters numbers from her phone. After all, if they hadnt thought of her in all that time, she wasnt needed, right? Thats what the smart coaches say about decluttering relationships.
Perhaps the same principle applies to people: a mother can become the unnecessary thing in her childrens lives. And if thats the case, they dont need her either. Harsh? Yes. Fair? Also yes.
Eight months had passed since Olivia left the house. The long New Year holidays approached, and Olivia and Sam went shopping at the supermarket.
Suddenly a frantic shout rang out: Mum! her daughter lunged at her, while her son clutched her arm, beaming.
They embraced, and Olivia asked, Why are you both here together?
Because brother and sister never shopped together before either alone or with partners.
Were always this odd pair now! her embarrassed son explained.
It turned out both of them had divorced.
Already? Olivia gasped. Youre quick! Why?
Because, simply because. The word quick hit her like a dart; they had indeed woken up fast. They arrived at an inconvenient hour and found Lennys exwife and Simons new partner together, unmistakably in love.
When will you be back, Mum? her son asked eagerly. Everything will be fine now!
Where have you been? We missed you! her daughter added.
Why did you only realise it now? a man, standing beside a suddenly plumper Olivia, interjected. You were going to stay hidden for a few more years so Lily wouldnt recognise you!
Whats it to you? Simon snapped, confronting the strange man.
When will you return?
Yeah, Sam, because Serge cant do any housework, can you imagine? And Im juggling a toddler!
You raised a fine son! he teased, but the joke fell flat.
The man, wearing a dashing drape coat, replied, Im the husband in the drape coat!
The children stared, amazed.
What sort of husband? they asked.
An ordinary one, a vulgar spouse! the brash gentleman declared. Thats why Mum wont come back; she has her own life now!
Dont you want to be a grandmother? Lena asked, hopeful.
Lily prefers being a wife, thats far nicer. Besides, why would I sleep with a grandmother? the man joked, then added, Nice meeting you! Well be off now.
And we? Sergey whispered.
Youll probably go too, Olivias husband answered with a hint of sarcasm.
Throughout, Olivia never tried to argue; she simply smiled with the corners of her mouth.
The man took Olivias arm and said, Ready to go?
And they went. The bewildered children stood frozen.
When Olivia and Sam returned from the market, the husband asked, Hows the space suit? Too tight? Enough air? Not suffocating?
Both understood the reference; they knew the meaning of the name Alexander a protector, a space suit. He truly was that protector. Could love ever choke you? No one had ever loved her like that.
Olivia thought she finally had a space suit that fit perfectly she could launch into the cosmos, and it was never too late.
Ready to go?
And they went.
Life had tossed her from one cramped pantry to another, from one empty flat to another, but each stumble taught her that dignity does not come from a roof over your head or the approval of others. True worth is found in the resilience you forge when you choose to stand up, even if you have to sit on a bench and wait for the next idea.
The lesson is simple: when the world tells you youre excess, remember that you are never truly dispensable; your value is not measured by the space you occupy, but by the strength you carry within.
