— Are you deaf?! I’m asking you for the third time: when will the transfer come through?Denis stood in the middle of the cramped, shabby kitchen, impatiently drumming his fingers on the cracked countertop. The sound made the cheap furniture tremble slightly.
Nika stood by the sink, calmly scrubbing a burnt stain off the stove. The air was thick with dampness and neglect — the ventilation hadn’t worked in years.
— I already told you — she replied without looking at him. — There will be no transfer. That money is mine. My grandmother’s inheritance. And it’s going toward our housing, like we agreed a year ago.
Denis exhaled loudly.— Veronica, let’s drop this provincial selfishness, alright? My brother is in a serious situation. His wife is pregnant. They need a bigger place right now. If we don’t put down the deposit, they’ll lose the apartment.
Nika rinsed the sponge slowly.— Your brother? — she turned slightly. — The one who can’t hold a job longer than a few months? And your mother,
who takes money from us every month for “medicine” and trips? And us? We’ve been sleeping on a second-hand sofa in a rented dump for five years.
Denis’s face flushed.— We’ll get it back later! It’s just temporary! You’re always like this… my mother was right, you’re selfish!
Nika didn’t answer. Only exhaustion settled in her eyes. She thought of her grandmother — of trembling hands carefully counting every bill. “This is your start, my girl. Don’t waste it,” she had whispered.
Denis was already putting on his coat.— Listen — he said from the doorway. — My mother is coming for lunch. Make everything nice, cook properly, and apologize for not giving her the money. Do you understand?
— I understand — Nika said quietly.The door slammed shut. Dust drifted from the ceiling.Silence.Nika slowly reached for her phone.— Hello… Mr. Matvey? We need to talk.
On the other end, a tired sigh.— If Denis is complaining about water pressure again, I swear I’ll shut the pipes off myself.— It’s not that — she said. — Your nephew is still looking for a place, right? The one you mentioned?
A pause.— Yes… why?— He can move in. We’re leaving.Silence stretched.— You’re serious?— Completely.Within an hour and a half, boxes stood by the door. The moving worker worked quickly and silently.
The apartment began to feel unfamiliar, stripped of its warmth — mugs, blankets, little shared objects disappearing one by one.Nika packed only her belongings: books, clothes, a coffee machine, a few dishes.
Then a message appeared:“Hey Nika 😍 Denis said everything with the money is sorted. Send 100k for the baby stroller, there’s a discount!! We’ll deduct it from the fund!”
Nika stared at the screen. No reply. She locked the phone.By noon, the apartment was empty.At 12:30 the new tenant arrived — young, strong, cheerful. He immediately sat on the sofa as if it had always belonged to him.
At 12:50 sharp, Denis’s car turned into the courtyard. His mother sat beside him, dressed as if for an occasion.— We’re here! — Denis called out as they entered. — Hope lunch is ready!
Then he stopped.In the living room, a stranger was sitting on their sofa.— Who the hell are you? — Denis snapped.— A tenant — the man said calmly. — I paid.
Behind him, Matvey appeared.— Your wife moved out — he said evenly. — She terminated the lease. This is a rented property now.Denis froze.— This is my apartment!
— No — Matvey shook his head. — You were renting it.The new tenant slowly stood up. He was bigger. Stronger. Unbothered.— Pack your stuff, man.
Outside, Nika sat in the moving truck, calm.Her phone rang. She put it on speaker.— NIKA!! WHAT IS THIS?! — Denis’s voice roared through.— Moving — she said simply.
— Have you lost your mind?! My mother, my brother—everyone is there!— Then they can help each other — she replied. — Just like you said.Silence.Then Denis’s voice cracked:
— You’ll fail without me!Nika looked out the window. The rain had stopped. The city shone clean and bright.— No — she said softly. — This is where I start.She ended the call.
The truck drove forward, leaving behind the damp, suffocating past — and heading toward something new, quiet, and finally her own.
