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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Marina unlocked her apartment door with her key, entered, and switched on the light in the hallway.The first thing that caught her eye was a pair of red women\u2019s shoes standing in the hallway. She recognized them immediately\u2014they were the shoes\u2026<\/p>\n
That morning at work, Marina had felt unwell. A sudden wave of nausea and dizziness hit her.<\/p>\n
For the past couple of days, she\u2019d been experiencing mild discomfort, but had tried to ignore it. Now, however, she was truly feeling sick.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What happened? \u2014 asked her coworker, Anya, turning to Marina with concern.<\/p>\n
\u2014 I suddenly felt nauseous, and my head started spinning, \u2014 Marina replied as she unfastened the collar of her blouse and wiped her sweaty forehead with her hand.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Aren\u2019t you pregnant by any chance? \u2014 Anya asked with a sly smile.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Oh, come on, that\u2019s ridiculous! \u2014 Marina waved it off. \u2014 Most likely, I ate something spoiled.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What could you have possibly eaten that was spoiled, if you\u2019re such a staunch advocate of healthy eating? \u2014 Anya giggled.<\/p>\n
Marina paused to think. What if she really was pregnant? No, that couldn\u2019t be. Or could it\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2014 Listen, Anya, I do want to get checked, just in case. I\u2019m going to the pharmacy.<\/p>\n
Marina got up from her chair, left the office, and walked briskly toward the exit\u2026<\/p>\n
Ten minutes later, she found herself standing in the office restroom, unable to take her eyes off the two lines on the test.<\/p>\n
She was pregnant!<\/p>\n
Marina didn\u2019t know whether to be happy or upset. She and her husband Andrey weren\u2019t ready for children yet. But since it had happened\u2026 Could it be fate?<\/p>\n
Her thoughts were a jumble. Marina realized she wouldn\u2019t be able to work normally today and went to her boss, Irina Ivanovna, to ask for permission to go home.<\/p>\n
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\nUpon learning what had happened, her boss smiled gently:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Of course, Marisha, go home. Rest, recover, and I expect you back at work tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Marina didn\u2019t just walk home\u2014she practically flew. She couldn\u2019t wait to share the news with her husband. He had the day off. What a surprise it would be when she unexpectedly appeared at the door with such news!<\/p>\n
Marina unlocked her apartment door with her key, entered, and switched on the light in the hallway.<\/p>\n
The first thing that caught her eye was a pair of red women\u2019s shoes standing in the hallway. She recognized them immediately\u2014they were her friend Alla\u2019s shoes.<\/p>\n
\u2014 What is Alla doing in our home, and at this hour? \u2014 Marina wondered in surprise as she stepped into the living room.<\/p>\n
There was no one in the living room, but voices were coming from the bedroom.<\/p>\n
Growing suspicious, Marina quickly followed the sounds, swung open the door, and froze in the doorway\u2026<\/p>\n
Andrey and Alla were deeply engaged in conversation about something.<\/p>\n
Marina gasped in shock, and the pair turned their heads fearfully toward her.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Marina? \u2014 stuttered Andrey. \u2014 Why are you here so early?<\/p>\n
Alla said nothing, merely wrapped herself in a blanket and blinked at her friend in fear.<\/p>\n
What happened next, Marina could barely recall.<\/p>\n
It seemed that she screamed, hurled objects, chased her husband and her friend out of the apartment, then collapsed onto the bed and sobbed uncontrollably for a long time.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, she sat on the floor, staring blankly into space.<\/p>\n
When she finally came to herself, it was already dark outside. The apartment was silent.<\/p>\n
Five days later, Marina was on her way to a private clinic to schedule an abortion. During those days, she had reached a firm decision\u2026<\/p>\n
Andrey had come home only once\u2014and that was solely to collect his belongings and inform Marina that they were getting a divorce.<\/p>\n
It turned out that he and Alla had been seeing each other for six months, and they were in love.<\/p>\n
Marina chose not to tell Andrey about her pregnancy. She had already understood that her husband was serious about the divorce and did not want to be tied to someone who no longer loved her with a child.<\/p>\n
She deliberated long and hard about whether to continue the pregnancy, and decided that she didn\u2019t want anything binding her to a traitor\u2014not even a child.<\/p>\n
Moreover, she realized she couldn\u2019t raise a baby on her own. There was no one to help; her parents lived in another city, and her salary wouldn\u2019t cover the cost of a nanny.<\/p>\n
Recalling all the events of the past week, Marina arrived at the clinic. She sat in a chair outside the doctor\u2019s office, waiting for her turn.<\/p>\n
A few minutes later, a patient exited, and a doctor\u2019s voice came from behind the door:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Come in!<\/p>\n
Marina entered. The doctor tore his eyes away from his paperwork and looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Anton?! \u2014 she exclaimed in surprise. \u2014 Is that really you?!<\/p>\n
Anton was her classmate and first love. In the eleventh grade, Marina had been secretly in love with him, though she had never mustered the courage to confess her feelings.<\/p>\n
At graduation, he had invited her to dance, and at the end of the evening, he had timidly kissed her on the cheek.<\/p>\n
Her heart had soared with happiness, but she was so embarrassed that she hadn\u2019t even allowed him to see her off home\u2014a mistake she later regretted for a long time.<\/p>\n
After graduation, Anton had moved to another city to study medicine, and they never saw each other again, although Marina often thought of him.<\/p>\n
And now he was sitting before her\u2014an adult, matured, yet still as handsome as ever.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Marisha! What a surprise!<\/p>\n
Anton was clearly delighted to see her.<\/p>\n
He rose from behind his desk, approached, and hugged her.<\/p>\n
This unexpected encounter surprised Marina so much that, for a moment, she forgot all her troubles.<\/p>\n
For about ten minutes, the former classmates chatted animatedly.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Anton snapped back:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Oh, what are we chatting about! You\u2019re here for your appointment! Tell me, what brings you in today?<\/p>\n
That remark brought Marina back to reality, and her face fell once again. She sighed deeply and recounted everything to her former classmate: her husband\u2019s infidelity, her friend\u2019s betrayal, and her unexpected pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\u2014 And you decided to get rid of the baby? \u2014 Anton looked at her intently.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Yes! \u2014 she replied firmly.<\/p>\n
After the examination, Anton suggested to his former classmate:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Marina, why don\u2019t we go to a caf\u00e9 this evening, sit down, and talk. After all, an abortion is a serious decision\u2014you can\u2019t take it lightly. What do you think?<\/p>\n
\u2014 Alright.<\/p>\n
She longed to talk with Anton, to learn more about his life.<\/p>\n
That evening, Marina and Anton sat in a small caf\u00e9, talking about everything under the sun. They reminisced about their school days, joked, and laughed.<\/p>\n
For the first time in the past week, Marina felt good. She enjoyed talking with Anton and didn\u2019t want the conversation to end.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Anton broached the subject of Marina\u2019s pregnancy. He began persuading her to keep the baby, insisting that she would regret it since the child was not to blame for her husband\u2019s betrayal.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Do you have children of your own? \u2014 Marina interrupted him. \u2014 Are you even married?<\/p>\n
\u2014 I was\u2026 But I can\u2019t have children. My wife left me when she found out, \u2014 Anton said quietly, lowering his eyes.<\/p>\n
A pause ensued. Anton wiped his eyes aside. When he looked at Marina again, tears were streaming down her cheeks.<\/p>\n
\u2014 You know, \u2014 Marina whispered, \u2014 deep down I do want this child, but I\u2019m afraid I won\u2019t be able to handle it.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Oh, come on! Of course you will! And if it gets tough, I\u2019ll always be here for you, \u2014 her friend reassured her with a smile, gently patting her hand.<\/p>\n
Their conversation ended with Anton offering to become her personal doctor and oversee the pregnancy\u2026<\/p>\n
For the first time in days, Marina slept peacefully. It was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her soul.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Oh, if only I had been braver, maybe Anton and I would be together since graduation\u2026 \u2014 she thought as she drifted off to sleep.<\/p>\n
The next evening, a phone call rang in Marina\u2019s apartment. She opened the door and froze in surprise. Standing on the doorstep was Anton, carrying a bag of fresh fruit.<\/p>\n
\u2014 I\u2019ve come to visit my patient! \u2014 he said, slightly embarrassed yet smiling. \u2014 May I come in?<\/p>\n
\u2014 And how did you know my address? \u2014 Marina asked, bewildered.<\/p>\n
\u2014 It\u2019s in your medical records! \u2014 he laughed.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Well then, come on in! \u2014 she smiled.<\/p>\n
Marina and Anton sat in the kitchen, drinking tea and talking.<\/p>\n
\u2014 You know, Marisha, \u2014 Anton suddenly said, \u2014 I was in love with you back in school. But I was too afraid to confess. At graduation, when we danced, I thought I had a chance. But you ran away from me.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Oh, if only you knew how I later scolded myself for that! \u2014 Marina replied passionately. \u2014 I was also in love with you, but I was so shy. I often thought of you afterwards, regretting that you moved to another city.<\/p>\n
Anton fell silent for a few minutes, lost in thought. Then he looked directly into Marina\u2019s eyes and said seriously:<\/p>\n
\u2014 Marisha, maybe not all is lost? Perhaps fate is giving us a second chance?<\/p>\n
\u2014 But I\u2019m pregnant\u2026 with another man\u2019s child, \u2014 Marina said, confused. \u2014 Why would you want someone else\u2019s child?<\/p>\n
\u2014 So what? I\u2019ll never have my own children anyway, and I do want to be a father, \u2014 Anton said warmly with a smile.<\/p>\n
\u2014 I agree, \u2014 Marina replied shyly, and once again she felt like a high school girl in love.<\/p>\n
Anton moved closer, hugged, and kissed her. Marina clung to him tightly. Tears streamed down her cheeks\u2014but this time, they were tears of happiness.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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