— Without origins.Anna froze in front of the bathroom door. Her mother-in-law’s voice was quiet, yet every word pierced her heart like a glowing nail.Tamara Stepanovna stood before the mirror, phone at her ear, without turning around:
— From the orphanage, can you imagine? She has no one. Andruscha just took her in to have children. I checked — there were no twins in her family. Definitely not her own. But he’s weak, let himself be wrapped around her finger.Anna pressed her hands to her belly. Eight months.
The dress squeezed her ribs, her legs burned, as if they might give way at any moment.Her mother-in-law turned to her. Her face remained cold, yet the chill was penetrating. She put the phone away.— Feeling unwell? Then go, rest. But don’t sit at the table—you’ll ruin the guests’ appetite.
Should I call a taxi?Anna nodded silently and left the room. In the hall, music blared, Andrej shouted a toast, his face red. He didn’t even glance up as she passed.Ten minutes later, the taxi arrived. Anna sank into the back seat, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, and only now did she realize she was crying.
The labor came at night, suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, stealing her breath. Anna dialed emergency services with trembling hands, then Andrej’s number—no signal.She called her mother-in-law.— Tamara Stepanovna, I’m having contractions. Andrej isn’t answering.
— He’s on a business trip. Important negotiations. Don’t disturb him, Anna. Did you call the ambulance? Fine, go. We’ll come later.But they didn’t come.The delivery room smelled of bleach and metal. The doctor worked silently; the nurse looked away. When two wet, warm,
crying babies—a boy and a girl—were placed on her chest, Anna realized she was truly alone.The first three days, the phone remained silent. On the fourth day, Anna called herself.— Andrej, we’ll be discharged soon.A pause. Then her mother-in-law’s voice in the background:
— Don’t you dare take them. The papers aren’t ready, the DNA test hasn’t been done. Leave them there until everything is proven.— Anja… — Andrej’s voice was dull, drunk. — Mother says the documents aren’t right. Stay there. I’ll come later.— Later when?
— I don’t know. When it’s settled.He hung up.Klawdija worked at the food station but stopped at Anna’s room every day, bringing broth, biscuits, napkins.— All alone?— Completely alone.— Where’s your husband?— I don’t know.
Klawdija was silent, then pulled a pack of diapers from her bag.— Here. My old ones. Washed, but good. Take them.When Anna was discharged, Klawdija brought her brother, Stepan. Tall, bent, limping, spoke little. He carefully carried the bags and the babies, holding them close to his chest.
— Where do you live?— One room. Communal apartment.Silently, they carried the babies to the third floor. Stepan set the carriers down, scanning the room.— The radiators barely work. Get a space heater.— I will. Thank you.A week later, Andrej showed up, sober, angry, phone in hand.
— Mother saw the video.Anna rocked her daughter; the boy slept in the corner.— What video?— The camera outside the clinic. Stepan is carrying the babies. Who is this man?Anna froze.— The brother of the woman who helped me. You didn’t come. He helped.
— Helped? He carried you out of the hospital as if you were his wife. And I’m the idiot?— You didn’t come. Your mother forbade it.— She didn’t forbid it! She said we should wait until the tests are done.— Which tests? These are your children.
Andrej stepped forward, raised his hand, then stopped. He looked at the babies.— Mother says I should file for divorce. She says you planned everything. That I ruined my life because of you.Anna looked at him calmly.— Then file.He turned and slammed the door.
Tamara Stepanovna held a parent meeting at school. She loved the stage, the audience, the attention.— Today we’re talking about moral values, — she began, clicking through the projector menu. — Here’s an example…Clicked the wrong button. The video appeared. Stepan carrying the babies.
Anna beside him, pale, carrying bags. The room fell silent.— This is my daughter-in-law. She ran away with a stranger… —— Stop.Boris, a father in the room, stood up:— I know this man. Stepan Kowaljow. Four years ago he saved my son from a burning car. They’re calling him a lover now?
Murmurs in the room. Tamara turned pale.— Where can I find him?Tamara grabbed the tablet and ran.The next day, Boris came to Anna. Stroller, clothes, baby food.— Where does Stepan Kowaljow live?Anna gave the address. Boris disappeared without explanation.
That evening, Stepan called.— Anna, what happened?— Boris was at your place.— Yes. He’s offering me a job. With a salary.— Then take it.— I’m lame…— You’re needed. Take it.— Alright. I agreed. Thanks.The video spread through the city in two days. Tamara Stepanovna was shunned.
Andrej turned to drinking, lost his job.A month later, Andrej came to Anna.— Forgive me. Let’s start over.Anna stood in the doorway. Stepan helped with renovations, watched the children.— No, Andrej.— But these are my children!— Your children were in the hospital. You didn’t come.
You always listen to your mother.— I’ll change!— Too late. The divorce is filed. Go.She looked at Stepan.— Because of him?— Because of you. Because you’re not a man. Go.He left. Didn’t return.Six months later, Anna pushed the stroller. Stepan walked beside her, holding her hand.
The children laughed. Anna kept walking, not slowing. Tamara Stepanovna stood alone. Andrej drank, lost everything.Anna looked ahead. Green. Spring. Children’s laughter. The purest sound in the world.
