Behind her, Alexey called out, “I’ll pack your stuff. Come get it when you’re ready.”
Stuff? Who cared about stuff when her entire life had just collapsed?
She wandered the streets, numb. By dawn, she found herself outside her aunt’s house, staring at the dark windows. She could still hear her aunt’s voice: “You’re nothing. You’ll end up with nothing.”
She turned away.
A few hours later, she stood by the river, tears falling.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered to the two tiny lives inside her. “I can’t do this.”
She made her decision. She’d find a clinic, take care of it, and move on.
The train was nearly empty—just a few passengers and an elderly woman with kind eyes. When the conductor approached, the old woman hesitated. She didn’t have a ticket.
Without thinking, Svetlana paid for her. The woman’s gratitude was warm, genuine.
“Thank you, dear. I was bringing my grandson some homemade pies, but I forgot my wallet. He always scolds me for making the trip, says I should rest.”
Svetlana managed a small smile.
“Where are you headed?” the woman asked gently. “You look like you’ve been crying.”
The dam broke.
“He betrayed me,” Svetlana sobbed. “I thought we were happy. I thought I had a future. But now…I can’t have these babies. I have nowhere to go. No way to raise them.”
The woman reached over, stroking her hair like a mother would. “Sweet girl, I know it feels impossible now. But don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Svetlana wanted to argue, but deep down…she wasn’t sure anymore.
When the train stopped, they parted ways. Svetlana headed straight to the hospital, heart pounding. If she got there by 10 AM, she could go through with it today. No more second-guessing.
Then—at the hospital entrance—she saw her.
The grandmother from the train.
“I hoped you’d change your mind,” the woman said, relief in her eyes.
“Please,” Svetlana whispered. “Don’t make this harder.”
“Just come with me first,” the old woman urged. “Meet my grandson.”
Svetlana shook her head. “I don’t have time.”
“You’ll make time,” the woman insisted, taking her hand and leading her down the hall. Nurses smiled as they passed, like this was normal. Like she belonged here.
They stopped at a door labeled “Chief Physician.”
The door opened, and there he was. The grandson. Not an old man like she expected—but young, serious, kind-eyed.
