A Second Chance
Marina pushed the key into the lock, turned it, and stepped inside her apartment. The soft click of the hallway light switch illuminated the space before her.
Her gaze immediately fell on a pair of red high-heeled shoes resting neatly by the door. Her heart clenched. She knew those shoes.
Just this morning, Marina had felt a strange wave of nausea at work. It wasn’t the first time in recent days that she had felt unwell, but today, the dizziness had been stronger.
“Are you okay?” Anya, her office mate, asked with concern.
“I don’t know… I suddenly feel sick. My head is spinning,” Marina muttered, loosening the collar of her blouse and wiping the sweat from her forehead.
Anya raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You don’t think you might be pregnant, do you?”
Marina scoffed at the idea. “Oh, come on! It’s probably just something I ate.”
Anya chuckled. “What could you have possibly eaten? You’re the queen of healthy food.”
Marina paused. Could it be? No… impossible. Or was it?
A sudden wave of uncertainty washed over her. “I should check,” she said, standing abruptly.
Within ten minutes, she was staring at the two pink lines on a pregnancy test in the office bathroom.
Pregnant.
She felt a rush of emotions—shock, disbelief, fear, and something deeper, more profound. She and Andrei hadn’t planned this. Were they even ready? But then again, wasn’t life unpredictable?
Unable to focus on work, she approached her boss and requested the rest of the day off.
“Of course, Marina,” Irina Ivanovna said with a warm smile. “Go home, rest, and process everything. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Marina practically floated out of the office, excitement growing. She imagined Andrei’s reaction—his eyes widening, the moment of silence before a slow, joyous smile spread across his face.
But when she stepped into their apartment, her joy shattered.
The red heels belonged to her best friend, Alla.
A sinking feeling twisted her stomach as she followed the faint sound of voices coming from the bedroom.
Marina’s breath hitched as she pushed the door open.
Andrei and Alla. Together.
Their heads snapped toward her, guilt-stricken faces frozen in time.
“Marina?” Andrei stammered. “What are you doing home so early?”
Alla pulled the blanket around herself, her eyes darting away.
Rage, betrayal, devastation—all exploded at once. The next moments blurred. Marina screamed. She threw things. She ordered them out.
When silence finally fell, she collapsed onto the bed, sobbing into the pillows until exhaustion claimed her.
Days passed in a fog. Andrei returned once—only to pack his belongings and confirm what she already knew.
“I love Alla,” he admitted. “We’ve been together for months. I’m sorry.”
She didn’t tell him about the pregnancy.
Why should she? He had made his choice. She wouldn’t hold onto someone who didn’t love her.
Instead, she made a decision of her own. She couldn’t raise a child alone. Financially, emotionally—it was impossible. And she wanted no permanent tie to a man who had betrayed her.
Five days later, Marina found herself sitting in a private clinic, waiting for her turn.
“Next,” a familiar voice called from inside the doctor’s office.
She stepped in—and froze.
“Anton?” she gasped.
Sitting at the desk was her high school classmate and first love.
“Marina?” Anton’s face lit up in surprise. He stood, walking around the desk to hug her.
Memories rushed back—his shy smile at prom, their awkward but sweet dance, the kiss on her cheek before she ran away in embarrassment.
Fate had brought them together again.
After a few minutes of excited reminiscing, Anton’s expression grew serious. “So, what brings you here?”
Reality crashed back. Marina sighed and told him everything—the betrayal, the pregnancy, the overwhelming loneliness.
When she finished, Anton leaned forward, his gaze steady. “And you’re sure this is what you want?”
“Yes,” she whispered, though doubt wavered at the edge of her voice.
He exhaled thoughtfully. “Marina, let’s have dinner. No pressure—just two old friends catching up. I think you need to talk to someone.”
That evening, over coffee and warm pastries, Marina found herself laughing for the first time in days. Anton was still the same—thoughtful, kind, easy to talk to.
Then, gently, he broached the subject again.
“You’re making this decision from a place of pain,” he said softly. “I understand why. But are you sure you won’t regret it?”
Tears welled in Marina’s eyes. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I want this baby, but I’m terrified.”
“You won’t be alone,” Anton said firmly.
A lump formed in her throat. “You don’t have children, do you?”
He hesitated. “No. I… I can’t.”
A heavy silence stretched between them.
“My wife left me because of it,” he added quietly.
Marina’s heart ached for him. Here he was, a man who wanted to be a father but couldn’t… and she, who had the chance but was about to throw it away.
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
“I think I need to rethink my decision,” she murmured.
Anton reached across the table, gently squeezing her hand. “I’ll support you. No matter what.”
The next day, he showed up at her door with a bag of fresh fruit.
“Checking on my patient,” he teased.
Marina laughed despite herself. “How did you even get my address?”
“It was in your medical file,” he grinned.
They sat in the kitchen, sipping tea, slipping easily into a comfort neither had realized they missed.
Then Anton spoke quietly. “Marina… I was in love with you back in school.”
Her heart skipped.
“I was too,” she admitted. “I just never had the courage to tell you.”
He chuckled softly. “Maybe fate is giving us a second chance.”
“But I’m pregnant with another man’s child,” she whispered.
Anton’s gaze never wavered. “And?”
She searched his face, expecting doubt, hesitation—anything but the warmth she found.
“I may never have children of my own,” he said simply, “but that doesn’t mean I can’t be a father.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, but this time, they weren’t of sadness.
Marina nodded. “Okay.”
Anton smiled, then pulled her into his arms.
For the first time in weeks, Marina felt safe. Felt hope.
Maybe, just maybe, love had found a way back to her.
And this time, she wouldn’t run away.