– “Kolya, I’m afraid…” whispered Lera, clutching the hem of her simple cotton dress with trembling fingers. Her voice quivered like an autumn leaf caught in a breeze, while her tear-filled eyes fixed on Nikolai, silently begging not just for an answer but for salvation.
With a gentle, almost tender tone, Nikolai took her hands and drew her close. “What frightens you?” he asked. “In just a month, we will marry. Everything is settled. Our parents know, and we will become a family.”
Her voice dropped to a fragile whisper, pierced by icy despair. “And if you change your mind…? If you leave? What will I do then? Alone… with the child…”
He smiled warmly and kissed her forehead. “My dear, if it’s a boy, we’ll go fishing together. I’ll teach him honesty, strength, and patience. And if it’s a girl, she’ll be your helper, your joy, your light at home.”
“But what if she seeks her father…?” she questioned with a hint of worry.
“She will find him. I will be her father. Soon you will take my last name and be my wife. You won’t have to fear anymore, I promise.”
Brushing a gentle kiss on her lips as if to seal his promise with all his heart, Nikolai then lightly leapt over the wooden fence, leaving behind the tranquil silence where the last village lights flickered out.
The night had yet to fall fully, but the village had already hushed. No laughter or songs disturbed the calm—only distant dogs barking and leaves rustling in the wind. The rural world was drifting to sleep, like a weary traveler resting after a long journey.
Nikolai walked with his hands tucked in his pockets, a soft smile gracing his face. His work during the sowing season provided a good income, enough not only for basic comforts but also for dreams—a new roof, a beautiful dress for Lera, a stroller for their upcoming baby. The chairman had granted him a couple of days off to rest and get ready for the wedding. Everything seemed as bright as a dawn breaking over the horizon.
Suddenly, along the roadside, a figure appeared—not a villager. No local woman would wear such tight pants or stand holding a cigarette like someone from a fashion magazine. Her hair was cropped short, and her bold, provocative gaze defied the village’s quiet, as if she were here to turn the world upside down.
“Hey there, beauty!” Nikolai called out, stopping a few steps away. “Where did you come from?”
She smirked, exhaling a cloud of smoke. “Wow, such a friendly welcome! Can you at least tell me your name, or were you never taught manners?”
“I’m Nikolai. And you?”
“Marina,” she snapped, flicking ash away. “So, where’s the fun around here? Does this backwater even have anything interesting?”
“There’s dancing at the club on Saturdays,” Kolya shrugged.
“Saturday? I don’t want to wait! I need fun right now!”
“Right now?” He thought for a moment. “Well… if it has to be now, then you’re welcome to come with me. It’s quiet there, no one will bother us.”
“Then let’s go. I rented my grandmother’s summer house nearby.”
Fifteen minutes later, they sat in a cool room where soft, languid music played on an old record player. On the table lay a bottle of wine, fruits, and candles. Marina’s eyes challenged him, hinting not only at desire but rebellion, a thirst for something new, sharp, and forbidden.
“Shall we dance?” she asked, rising.
“Let’s,” he replied, holding her close.
Music, dance, intimacy—all felt like a dream. A dangerous, sweet, and deceptive dream.
The next morning, Nikolai awoke drenched in cold sweat. Hastily gathering his belongings, he rushed outside, surveying anxiously as if guilty. The sun had risen, and soon women would start milking cows. His heart pounded. What had he done? How could he betray Lera—the woman waiting for him and their child?
But that evening, he returned to Marina. She was leaving the next day—it was their last night, the final weakness, the final sin.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, as Lera poured milk from a bucket, one of the milkmaids scoffed, commenting:
- “Lerka, your Kolya didn’t spend the night at home. We saw him sneaking into the visitor’s summer house.”
- “That’s a lie!” Lera exclaimed, dropping the bucket with a loud crash.
- “Nobody’s lying. They say he’s moving to the city with her, leaving you pregnant like an old shoe.”
The words pierced through her like a blade. She ran to Nikolai’s house but found the door locked. Only his mother sat at the table, tears streaming as she gazed out the window.
“He’s gone… with her… to the city,” she whispered solemnly.
Lera collapsed to the floor, sliding down the wall. The world crumbled. Her ears rang with shame, and her mind struggled to grasp the humiliation—pregnant, abandoned, degraded. How could she face the villagers now? How would she live?
Breathless, she dashed home, tearing off her dressing gown as if trying to shed the shame clinging to her skin. Pain throbbed in her temples. Then a firm resolve took hold: “No. I know what to do.”
In the village lived Valya, a herbal healer whose eyes wore the weight and wisdom of many years. People sought her when children were ill, husbands drank too much, and hearts broke. Now, Lera came to her, carrying a shattered spirit and a burden she could barely bear.
“Mom, Kolya left me… He ran off to the city with another woman,” Lera sobbed as she burst through the door.
“And what about you? And the baby?” her mother asked in shock.
“Why would he want me? I’m just a simple village girl…”
Her father strode out, his face hard as stone. “If that child is born, I swear I’ll shoot him!” he shouted, clenching his fists.
“My daughter, why must this happen to you?” her mother wept.
“Mom, I’m going to Valya. Tell work I’m not coming,” Lera gathered her things.
“Go, dear. I’ll explain everything,” her mother replied.
Within an hour, Lera stood before the healer’s home.
“Come in, girl. Let’s have some tea and talk,” Valya invited, as though she already understood everything.
They sat at the table beneath the flickering light of a lamp. Silence hung between them before the old woman asked, “What brings you here?”
Lera poured out her sorrow, fears, and humiliation. The healer brewed a bitter tea infused with herbs and strange flavors. Minutes later, Lera felt a heavy fog descend on her mind and leaden eyelids as she fell asleep.
“In her dreams, she saw a fragile child drowning in a swift river, crying and calling ‘Mama! Help me!’ Yet she was rooted to the spot, unable to move or cry out. Then a splash… and silence.”
Awakening, she faced Valya’s question: “Have you decided? Will you end the pregnancy?”
Lera remained silent, then softly said, “No. This is life—my blood, my soul. I won’t kill him.”
“Good,” the healer nodded. “Go home and remember: you are not alone.”
She walked home by foot, as Valya forbade cycling during pregnancy. Lera’s head held high, determined to give birth to her child and raise him strong and brave. She had Valya, loving parents, and hope.
Nine months later, on a clear spring day, a healthy, spirited boy was born. Lera’s parents greeted her at the hospital, and the following day Nikolai’s mother arrived, carrying a bundle with knitted socks, shirts, and a baby blanket.
“Please… let me see my grandson… I am his grandmother,” she said, voice trembling.
After a moment’s hesitation, Lera gently handed her son over.
“My little one, my blood…” the woman whispered, holding the baby close. “Grandma brings you something no one else has—love.”
Two months later, Nikolai returned but found no welcome. Marina had left, and standing outside the store, he complained to friends:
- “You won’t believe it! She throws wild parties every night. Cooking’s not for her!”
- “You should have stayed with Lera—none of this would have happened,” they replied.
- “Come on, Lera will forgive me,” he sighed.
- “She won’t. She’s marrying someone else and will give your son her new husband’s last name. She’s moving on with her life.”
At home, his mother served him tea before placing a suitcase on the porch.
“Go back to your city. You were fine there when you abandoned a pregnant girl. You’re not welcome here anymore.”
“But where will I go?”
“You’ll find a place. Just like you found the one who took you away from goodness.”
A week later, the village celebrated a wedding. Lera walked down the aisle, smiling in a white dress, her son in her arms. Her new husband, kind, strong, and dependable, held her close. The boy now had three grandmothers: his own, the healer Valya, and Nikolai’s mother, who came to the wedding, tears of happiness streaming down her face despite everything.
Life carried on—powerful, vibrant, and real. Within it lay its own meaning.
Key Insight: This tale is about resilience and finding strength in community and love, even after betrayal and heartbreak.
Lera’s story reminds us that even the deepest wounds can lead to new beginnings and that hope can grow from the most painful experiences.