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<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Roman softly whispered to Masha as they submitted their application at the registry office, \u201cWe will be together for an eternity.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in joy and in sorrow?\u201d she smiled, gazing into his sparkling eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course! In joy and in sorrow!\u201d he nodded confidently, pulling her close.<\/p>\n
\u201cAren\u2019t I going to get on your nerves over such a long time?\u201d Masha squinted mischievously.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dear, how could you ever get on my nerves when I love you more than anything in the world?\u201d Roman replied. \u201cOn the contrary, I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll get tired of my constant presence.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI want you to always be by my side,\u201d she kissed him. \u201cI want to fall asleep and wake up with you, cook for you, and wait for your return home.\u201d<\/p>\n
After graduating from a teachers\u2019 college, Maria became a primary school teacher. She planned to come home from work before her husband so that she could finish all the housework before he returned. And Roman promised to provide them with a decent life.<\/p>\n
He dreamily talked about his plans: \u201cI\u2019ll work a bit, open my own construction company. We\u2019ll build houses, and for you and me, I\u2019ll build the very best one!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many children will we have?\u201d Maria asked mysteriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany! Just like my grandmother. My father had six children, and they were all very close.\u201d<\/p>\n
When Roman told his parents about his fianc\u00e9e, the whole family gathered for a grand celebration. They welcomed Masha so warmly that she immediately felt like part of their family.<\/p>\n
After the wedding, the newlyweds went on a trip, and upon their return, Roman\u2019s aunt offered them to live in her apartment while she was leaving for several years for work. During that time, Roman realized his dream\u2014he opened a construction company and began building a house, just as Maria announced her pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try to finish at least temporary housing by the time the baby is born,\u201d Roman said. \u201cWe\u2019ll furnish it, and then move into a big house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do you know it will be a son?\u201d Maria wondered in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just feel it!\u201d he declared proudly. \u201cBut I don\u2019t care who is born\u2014a son or a daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main thing is that they are healthy,\u201d she agreed. \u201cWe did want a big family.\u201d<\/p>\n
They dreamed about a children\u2019s room, imagining that more rooms would be needed later.<\/p>\n
But Maria\u2019s pregnancy was complicated. She had to be hospitalized almost until delivery, and was discharged only for a few days at a time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s better to get rid of such a child,\u201d advised her friend Marina. \u201cMy grandmother used to say that a saved child is often deficient.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, how can you say such a thing?!\u201d Maria was outraged. \u201cI will love any child. The ultrasound shows everything is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThink about it. Husbands usually run away from problems. Is your Roman really so faithful that he\u2019s been without a woman for several months and hasn\u2019t cheated? Unlikely. And if the child is born with abnormalities, he\u2019ll just run away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, I\u2019m sorry, but I don\u2019t want to speak with you until after the birth. You weren\u2019t like this before.\u201d Roman worked day and night, controlling his workers. \u201cI\u2019m absolutely sure of his fidelity, otherwise I would have felt it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine then,\u201d Marina said with a dissatisfied curl of her lips as she turned on her heels and walked away loudly down the corridor.<\/p>\n
Masha was left in deep thought. Why was Marina so aggressive? Perhaps out of envy? After all, she herself wasn\u2019t in a relationship, though she boasted about a queue of admirers who, for some reason, quickly disappeared. Perhaps, out of resentment, she was spreading lies about Roman. He wasn\u2019t like that at all. It was clear how worn out he was by his responsibilities\u2014who could possibly cheat in such a state? But sometimes a little seed of doubt still arose. However, Masha diligently chased those thoughts away.<\/p>\n
When the time for delivery came, Maria\u2019s condition worsened drastically. The labor was extremely difficult, and the baby was born weak, immediately landing in the intensive care unit with pneumonia.<\/p>\n
Maria was in a panic. Roman abandoned work, paid for a private room for his wife, and spent his days by her side. Without a word, they understood each other; they even found solace simply in each other\u2019s silent presence. But after twelve long days, the doctors delivered the dreadful news: the baby\u2019s body had not coped with the illness.<\/p>\n
Stricken with grief, Maria seemed to have turned to stone. After all they had been through, such a tragic outcome seemed unbearable. And then the doctor brought yet another sorrowful piece of news:<\/p>\n
\u201cAs it turned out, the cause is you,\u201d she addressed Masha. \u201cIt\u2019s better not to risk another pregnancy \u2013 the consequences will be the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what now?\u201d Masha asked her husband, unable to hold back her tears. \u201cWill you leave me? Why would you want such an unhappy woman? You\u2019ll find someone else\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStop spouting nonsense!\u201d Roman said, his voice laced with hurt. \u201cI love you and I\u2019m not going anywhere!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan one really be happy without children? How can we go on living?\u201d Maria wept. \u201cIt\u2019s better if you leave now, before you say it yourself\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI would never do that,\u201d Roman said firmly, but Masha no longer wanted to listen to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to my parents,\u201d she requested after the baby\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going home!\u201d Roman stated firmly, taking her by the arm.<\/p>\n
From then on, their relationship changed. Maria became withdrawn, and Roman insisted that she leave her job. They continued living in the temporary house while he finished building the main one. Relatives took turns trying to help \u2013 Roman\u2019s mother, aunts, Maria\u2019s mother \u2013 but she refused to communicate with any of them.<\/p>\n
Marina became a frequent visitor. Whenever she had the chance, when no one else was around, she repeated:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou should have listened to me earlier. Now it\u2019s too late to change anything. Leave Roman \u2013 why spoil a young man\u2019s life? He\u2019s definitely cheating on you, and you\u2019ll be even more hurt when he confesses. Let him find another who can bear him children. Think of your loved ones \u2013 we love you and will never betray you, while men cannot be trusted.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLeave,\u201d Maria said slowly. \u201cDon\u2019t come to me anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Marina left, Masha let out such a loud cry that Roman dropped everything at the construction site and rushed over. He hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head, while she pushed him away, shouting that she didn\u2019t need him and that he should immediately find someone who would give him a healthy child.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, no one exists except you,\u201d he whispered. \u201cI love only you. You will get better, no matter what. Even if we can\u2019t have children, I will find a way to make us happy. It\u2019s just that right now you\u2019re overwhelmed by the loss of our baby, but time heals\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Yet Maria\u2019s condition only worsened. Roman took her to various doctors, involved specialists from different clinics, but they all just shrugged their hands \u2013 his wife was completely well. The only option was a consultation with a psychotherapist. However, Roman refused to send her to the hospital.<\/p>\n
Days passed, and Masha grew weaker. Neither her husband\u2019s persuasion nor her mother\u2019s tears helped. She lay for days on end, staring at the ceiling and crying. The prescribed medications did nothing.<\/p>\n
Roman struggled hard to restrain himself from losing control or sinking into alcoholism, as others had in similar situations. He finished building the house, took care of the interior design, and told his wife about every stage of the work. He talked about how he wished they could choose materials for the house together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought about choosing the wallpaper for our bedroom myself, but then I decided how wonderful it would be to do it together,\u201d he said, stroking her hand. \u201cAnd we still need to choose tiles for the bathroom. Without you, it just wouldn\u2019t be the same\u2026 Please, wake up! Think about me. It\u2019s not easy for me to see you in pain. Let\u2019s overcome this together. We promised to stand by each other through joy and sorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria only closed her eyes, silently begging to be left alone. In her dreams, she saw herself sitting on a lawn with her husband, surrounded by their children. But upon opening her eyes and recalling reality, she began to cry again.<\/p>\n
One evening, as she dozed off, Masha heard voices at the door. The bright voice of Marina was unrecognizable. But why was she arguing so loudly with Roman?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy did you come?\u201d Roman asked sternly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to settle everything,\u201d Marina answered defiantly. \u201cI\u2019m not going to hide the truth any longer. I\u2019m pregnant! Either that vegetable or I! It\u2019s your choice!\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria\u2019s heart pounded wildly. Rising from the bed, she sat down and buried her head in her hands. How could he? But she herself had allowed this to happen, sinking into depression. If only she had pulled herself together, none of this would have happened.<\/p>\n
When Roman finally entered the room with his head bowed, Masha asked, \u201cWhat happened? Who was that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Roman sat down beside her and confessed everything honestly.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour friend Marina\u2026\u201d he paused for a moment. \u201cMasha, I need to confess something to you. Please, don\u2019t be quick to judge. You have completely distanced yourself from me. First you lay in a coma, and now you\u2019ve been in depression for six months. I\u2019m not even talking about that\u2014you just stopped communicating with me. The feeling of utter loneliness became unbearable. When Marina asked for help installing the bathtub, and later invited me to dinner, she began to flirt openly, and I\u2026 couldn\u2019t resist. I later realized my mistake, but it was too late. I continued to be tormented by guilt. Now I think I might repeat that mistake if nothing changes. I haven\u2019t stopped loving you, believe me. It\u2019s just that every person needs warmth and attention. And you\u2019ve become like someone else\u2014cold, indifferent. Marina says she\u2019s pregnant\u2026 I do have my doubts, but even if it\u2019s true, I won\u2019t leave you. I just don\u2019t know how much longer I can bear this situation. I can\u2019t imagine how I managed until now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maria cast a reproachful look at her husband and burst into tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you truly loved me, you would never cheat. Leave\u2014your child needs a father.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Masha,\u201d Roman shook his head as he rose. \u201cHow I wish you had understood me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
He quickly left the room.<\/p>\n
The next morning, Roman went to see Marina. She opened the door with a wide smile:<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally decided to leave your\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Roman interrupted her, \u201cLet\u2019s go!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo the registry office?\u201d Marina squinted.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, to the hospital! Right now, you will go see a doctor and get a certificate confirming your pregnancy,\u201d Roman stated firmly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t even think that I\u2019m going anywhere,\u201d Marina waved her hand dismissively.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou will go!\u201d Roman declared resolutely. \u201cOtherwise, I\u2019ll know that it\u2019s all a lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet it be a lie! What do you care? I just wanted to take revenge on Masha, to show that I could steal you away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake revenge? For what?\u201d Roman asked in surprise.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the fact that she always got the best of everything. In school, she stole a guy from me, even though she knew I liked him. And when he invited her to the movies, she seemed to forget about me. Then she met you and managed to get married so easily. And it wasn\u2019t enough for me\u2014when everyone leaves you! I thought that if she didn\u2019t have children, you wouldn\u2019t want to stay with her and would notice me instead. But you\u2019re just so foolish. Why do you need someone like her\u2026 without looks and health?\u201d<\/p>\n
Roman paused for a moment and said, \u201cWeren\u2019t you the one who organized everything? Why did you start coming by so often when Masha became pregnant? And then showing up at the hospital, even when it wasn\u2019t necessary?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFinally got it,\u201d Marina scoffed. \u201cYes, it was me. And I even paid the doctor for the infertility diagnosis. What? Isn\u2019t it satisfying to watch your friend\u2019s happiness, knowing that she will become a mother when you can\u2019t? I\u2019ve had too many abortions to get pregnant again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina alternated between shouting and hysterics. And Roman forgot everything when he learned that Masha\u2019s diagnosis was false.<\/p>\n
He ran out of Marina\u2019s apartment and rushed home, picking up along the way a bouquet of his wife\u2019s favorite tea roses.<\/p>\n
Bursting into the house, he froze on the doorstep. Masha stood there in an elegant dress, with a neat hairstyle and gently tinted eyes. An appetizing aroma wafted from the kitchen.<\/p>\n
\u201cForgive me, Romochka,\u201d Masha threw herself into his arms. \u201cI spent the whole night thinking and realized how terribly wrong I was. There\u2019s no excuse for my behavior. You\u2019re right\u2014I was only thinking of myself. Forgive me\u2026 And if you decide to leave for Marina and her child, I will understand. It\u2019s all my fault.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roman took out his phone and played the recording of his conversation with Marina. Maria listened, pressing her palms to her mouth. She couldn\u2019t believe that the one she had trusted with her most precious secrets would do such a thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill you forgive me?\u201d Roman asked uncertainly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI already have,\u201d Masha nodded. \u201cAnd I want to get back everything we lost. I even know what wallpaper I want for our bedroom, and for the children\u2019s room, we can choose\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Masha enthusiastically began to share her ideas, and Roman silently smiled. His Masha had returned\u2014the same joyful, lively one. Now, their future would be even better than before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Roman softly whispered to Masha as they submitted their application at the registry office, \u201cWe will be together for an eternity.\u201d \u201cAnd in joy and in sorrow?\u201d… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n