![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/486606973_622566907285355_7253136824375854236_n.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Vasily walked slowly through the park, enjoying the warm rays of the May sun. The foliage on the trees had already gathered strength and now rustled from a light breeze. The air was filled with the scent of blooming apple trees and lilacs. Somewhere in the distance, children\u2019s voices could be heard. \u201cMine are already all grown up,\u201d Vasily thought with a slight sadness, remembering his twins, Lera and Denis.<\/p>\n
Fifteen years had passed since he left his family. Vasily remembered that day as if it were yesterday. How he packed a suitcase and told his wife that he was leaving. That he couldn\u2019t do it anymore. He had met someone else. At that moment, it seemed to him that he was doing the right thing. He deserved love and happiness. And what if the feelings had passed? Their relationship had long outlived its usefulness.<\/p>\n
Yet, it once seemed that they would be together\u2026 forever. He, a young lieutenant, having just been stationed in a distant garrison. And she, a student teacher, who happened to be in that God-forsaken corner for an internship. Their meeting was like a scene from a movie. He, tall and handsome, in dress uniform. And she, delicate and gentle, in a light lilac dress with a floral pattern.<\/p>\n
Feelings flared like a fire. Then they married Olya. And like everyone else\u2014family, children. Their twins, Lera and Denis, were born. Vasily was ready to carry his wife on his arms.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/486606973_622566907285355_7253136824375854236_n-265x300.jpg\")
\nYears passed. From a naive lieutenant, Vasily turned into an experienced officer. He grew accustomed to strict military discipline and a clear routine. Olya fully dedicated herself to the family. Became a typical housewife. And Vasily began to notice that a chasm seemed to have opened between them. As if they had become strangers, speaking different languages.<\/p>\n
Then he met Irina. She had the freshness, the spark that Vasily so lacked in his relationship with his wife. Irina looked at him with admiration, listened with interest. He rediscovered that long-forgotten taste of life and plunged into a new romance headlong.<\/p>\n
So he decided\u2014what about their relationship with his wife? Why torment himself? The decision to leave came easily to him. Conscience? No, the conscience did not trouble him. He had told Olya everything honestly. He offered a trade, left them the apartment. What more was needed? He didn\u2019t even try to imagine how his ex-wife\u2019s life would unfold. How she would cope alone with two children. She would probably find someone kind-hearted.<\/p>\n
With Irina, initially, everything was perfect: passion, romance, dates. But over time, the euphoria passed, and harsh weekdays began. Irina had a completely different character, not like his ex-wife. She was more demanding, capricious. Irina was accustomed to living in luxury. She wanted a beautiful life, expensive things, travels. Vasily tried to meet her demands. He worked a lot, took extra shifts. But there was still not enough money.<\/p>\n
Arguments, scandals, mutual reproaches began. Irina constantly nagged. She reproached Vasily for not earning enough. He was supposed to provide her with a decent life.<\/p>\n
Still, he did not leave Irina. Maybe they argued often, but they also made up passionately. They even had a daughter in their marriage. But even the arrival of a child could not fully fix the family relationships. Irina was never satisfied.<\/p>\n
Vasily tried his best to meet his wife\u2019s demands, but it was all in vain. And one day, coming home early, Vasily caught Irina in bed with another man.<\/p>\n
And she wasn\u2019t embarrassed and didn\u2019t even try to justify herself. She said she was tired of her husband and was leaving him. It turned out, this lover was a wealthy businessman. Irina found what she wanted\u2026<\/p>\n
Vasily was left alone again And suddenly realized that many years ago, he had made a mistake. He destroyed his family for a fleeting happiness\u2026 Betrayed his closest people\u2014his wife and children.<\/p>\n
And now, after so many years, he was here again. In this park, he once loved to walk with his little ones. So much here reminded him of the past! There was the same bench where he watched children running around the park. And there was the tree Denis tried to climb but fell and scraped his knee. Olya scolded Vasily then for not watching the child. At that time, Vasily was angry with his wife, but now he remembered those times with a smile.<\/p>\n
Vasily sat down on the bench, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he so wanted to turn back everything. Correct his mistakes. Embrace his now-grown children. Tell them how much he loves them.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by someone\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad?\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasily opened his eyes and saw a girl standing in front of him. Tall, slim, with long brown hair. She looked at him with wide eyes, full of surprise and\u2026 joy?<\/p>\n
\u201cLera?\u201d Vasily said uncertainly, not believing his eyes.<\/p>\n
The girl nodded, and dimples appeared on her cheeks. Just like Olya\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really is you!\u201d exclaimed Vasily.<\/p>\n
He hadn\u2019t seen his children for a long time. At first, he dutifully paid child support and saw the children. But then Irina began to nag. Why was he supporting \u201cthose\u201d? Vasily gave in. He stopped seeing them and sending child support. And somehow, he distanced himself from this topic. He thought Olya would find someone.<\/p>\n
Lera came closer and hugged her father.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just walking here,\u201d she smiled. \u201cYou haven\u2019t changed at all,\u201d Lera sat down next to him on the bench. \u201cOnly\u2026,\u201d she touched his hair. \u201cYou\u2019ve gone a bit gray.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can afford that after fifteen years,\u201d Vasily tried to joke, but the joke sounded somewhat strained. \u201cLera, can you forgive me?\u201d he asked quietly.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d Lera didn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, for what? For leaving then. Not calling, not visiting,\u201d Vasily managed to say with difficulty.<\/p>\n
Lera smiled weakly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not mad at you. Well, we were, of course, at first. But then we forgave you. We realized it was better for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasily looked at her in surprise. Had his children really forgiven him? After everything he had done? Had Olya not turned them against him?<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd how\u2026 how\u2019s mom?\u201d Vasily managed to say.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Lera replied. \u201cShe works at a kindergarten. Loves children. You know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lera was silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s doing well. There\u2019s a man,\u201d she added nonchalantly.<\/p>\n
That phrase cut Vasily to the quick. Who was he? How long had this been going on? He himself had left his wife, and now he felt as if he had been betrayed. Vasily inwardly smiled. What a fool you are! What were you expecting? That she would wait for you? It\u2019s been a full fifteen years!<\/p>\n
Lera continued:<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd by the way, Denis is getting married soon. Call him. I\u2019ll give you his number. Maybe he\u2019ll invite you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasily called Denis. His son did not react with as much joy as his daughter. But they still managed to have a good talk. And Denis invited Vasily to his wedding. His heart was torn with conflicting feelings. On one hand, he very much wanted to see his son, meet his fianc\u00e9e. On the other, he was afraid of meeting Olya. Afraid to see her happy in the arms of another.<\/p>\n
But did he have a choice?<\/p>\n
When Vasily entered the banquet hall, the guests were already gathered. Music played, waiters bustled between the tables. The air was filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. Vasily felt slightly awkward.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad!\u201d he heard a familiar voice.<\/p>\n
Denis hurried to him with a happy smile on his face.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, son!\u201d Vasily responded and hugged Denis tightly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m so glad you could come! Come on, I\u2019ll introduce you to Katya.\u201d<\/p>\n
Katya was a beautiful girl. Vasily was happy for his son. When the newlyweds moved away, the man looked around.<\/p>\n
He was looking for Olya. And at that moment, he saw her. She was standing by the window. She wore an elegant blue dress. She had hardly changed over the years.<\/p>\n
At that moment, their eyes met. He approached her.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Ol.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Vasya,\u201d she replied calmly. As if nothing had happened between them.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look wonderful.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve held up well too.\u201d<\/p>\n
They talked a bit about the children, about everything and nothing. Then a man in his fifties approached Olya.<\/p>\n
\u201cOl, aren\u2019t you cold?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, everything\u2019s fine, dear,\u201d she smiled tenderly at the man. \u201cMeet Vasya. Denis and Lera\u2019s father.\u201d<\/p>\n
The man extended his hand to Vasily.<\/p>\n
\u201cSergey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Vasily shook the man\u2019s hand. So, things between him and Olya were serious. He looked at the happy faces of his children. At Olya, who glowed with happiness next to another. And he felt so nauseous he could climb the walls. Life, like a mosaic, is made up of many pieces. And sometimes we don\u2019t notice how we break this fragile picture with our own hands. And then we regret it for the rest of our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vasily walked slowly through the park, enjoying the warm rays of the May sun. The foliage on the trees had already gathered strength and now rustled from… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24487,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24486","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n