The letter my grandmother received from her husband contained few words: “I am leaving you for Melissa. Don’t wait for me.” Instead of being upset, the grandmother’s face shone. She knelt down and began to thank God for this gift for her old age. Finally, she would live like a human being. She was tired of living with a man like that all her life.
For her granddaughter, her grandmother was always a kind, sincere and smiling woman. In her childhood memories, her grandfather was almost absent. She only remembers his harsh tone of voice and constant prohibitions. Her grandmother herself could not remember anything good from her married life and did not wish such a husband to anyone.
Grandpa worked hard at the railroad. He had to walk several kilometers every day to inspect the tracks for damage. He did this regardless of the time of year or weather conditions. His health was failing from this work, so his employers often sent him to sanatoriums, which he refused every time. But when his health finally deteriorated, the doctors unanimously said that he needed to undergo treatment in a sanatorium. And he agreed. My grandmother packed all the necessary things for him and sent him there.
It was such a joy when he finally left. Two weeks of peace and quiet awaited my grandmother. No more yelling or forbidding. With joy, my grandmother baked pies and treated her friends to them in the entrance. That day she sat on the bench with her friends all day.
Two days before his arrival, Grandpa sent Grandma a letter. It contained only a few words: “I’m leaving you for Melissa.” The woman ran her eyes over the letter several times. She could not believe her eyes. Then she knelt down and thanked God for the happiness he had given her. Finally, she could live in peace in her old age.
The old lady was glowing with happiness. The first thing she did after that was to pack her husband’s clothes and take them to the pantry. These were the clothes she had to iron every day for years. She also took all his documents there so that nothing would dare to remind her of her husband.
After a vacation in a sanatorium, my grandfather finally came home to settle his affairs at work. That’s when my grandmother prayed for one thing – that he would not decide to return.
The next day, she and her son went shopping and chose new wallpaper, which the grandfather had not allowed to be hung before. All the walls had to be whitewashed. And to match the wallpaper, they bought curtains, luxurious ones, down to the floor. Grandma had dreamed of such curtains all her life, but grandpa only recognized short curtains.
The woman was finally able to throw away all the broken and old dishes. She got new plates and cups from the attic, which her husband had kept only for special occasions. She started using them every day. The torn tablecloth from the table also ended up in the trash. Now she could no longer save money on soap, matches, and other things that were not worthy of attention.
Her friends, who could not come to her for tea before because of her husband, came to visit her more and more often, and she treated them to her delicious pies. Her eyes even began to glow, and instead of gray hair, dark hair appeared. It seemed that the old woman had become several years younger. She was shining with happiness. Other men began to look at the woman, some offered to live together, but the old lady had already had enough of that “happiness” for several years ahead. From now on, she decided to devote herself to her children and grandchildren, because before, because of their father, they did not want to come to her.
