By the door, on an improvised coat rack, hung his travel bag. The same one he had taken on his “business trip.” And in the entrance hall, instead of his wife’s shoes, he saw a pair of unfamiliar men’s shoes.
– Svetlana? he called out, feeling his mouth go dry.
From the kitchen came the sound of dishes, followed by light footsteps. But it wasn’t his wife. A tall man with graying hair and a self-assured smile appeared in the apartment’s hallway. He was wearing Stepan’s bathrobe.
– Who are you? Stepan asked, feeling his tension rise.
– Boris, the other man replied calmly, extending his hand. A friend of Svetlana’s. Or maybe more than a friend, after this week.
Stepan remained with his hand in the air, refusing to shake.
– Where is my wife?
– In the shower, Boris replied, with the same unsettling calm. Come in, it’s your house after all.
Stepan stepped into his own apartment like a stranger. Everything seemed unchanged, but he felt that something fundamental had shifted. On the living room table were two half-empty glasses of wine and half-burned candles. Svetlana appeared from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, with wet hair. When she saw Stepan, she didn’t seem surprised at all.
– You finally came. How was the “business trip”?
Her tone was so calm that Stepan felt a shiver down his spine.
– What is that guy doing in our house? he burst out.
– Boris? He’s a colleague from the office. Very skilled in many areas, she smiled enigmatically. He took care of me while you were… busy.
– Why is he wearing my bathrobe?
– Because his is at the laundry, she replied simply. If I had known you were coming back today, I would have asked him to leave earlier.
Boris shrugged and returned to the kitchen, leaving them alone.
– Have you lost your mind? Stepan hissed. You bring men into our house?
Svetlana looked at him for a long time, with an expression he had never seen before.
– Strange that you say that. Do we have different rules, Stepa? You are allowed to spend a week with Larisa at the seaside, while I am not allowed to have company while you are away?
Stepan felt the floor shake beneath him.
– What are you talking about?
– Please, don’t play theater. I know everything about Larisa, about the apartment you rented for her, about your escapades. I’ve known for six months. Maybe longer than you know about Boris.
– How do you…
– It’s a small town, Stepa. And my friends have good eyes.
– And this is your revenge? Sleeping with this guy?
Svetlana tightened the towel around her.
– It’s not revenge. It’s… adaptation. I realized that our marriage has not existed for a long time. You live as you wish, and I decided to do the same.
– I want him to leave immediately! Stepan shouted.
From the kitchen, Boris appeared calmly, holding a cup of tea.
– I think I should let you two talk, he said. Svetlana, thank you for the wonderful week. I’ll call you tomorrow.
He entered the bedroom and came out a few minutes later, dressed. He walked past Stepan without looking at him and approached Svetlana. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and left.
The apartment fell into a heavy silence.
– I want a divorce, Svetlana finally said.
– Because you slept with another man? Stepan laughed bitterly. Do you think that’s a justification?
– No, Stepa. I want a divorce because I no longer feel anything for you. Not even anger. Just… indifference.
– You can’t do this!
– Yes, I can. And do you know why? Because, unlike you, I don’t need you. You told your friends, there at the garages, that “where would I go? She will take me back. Who would want her?” Well, it seems that Boris wants me. And more men than you would think.
Stepan looked at her in disbelief.
– How did you find out that I said…
– Someone sent me a video. One of your “friends” thinks I deserve to know the truth. To see how you boast about cheating and how you belittle me.
Stepan collapsed into a chair.
– Svetlana, we can talk about this. It was a mistake, a foolishness…
– No, Stepa. The mistake was staying with you for so many years. The foolishness was thinking I could change you.
She headed towards the bedroom.
– You can sleep on the couch tonight. Tomorrow I want you to take your things and leave.
– Where should I go?
Svetlana stopped and turned to him with a cold smile.
– Maybe to Larisa? Or, as you said yourself… “Where would I go? She will take me back. Who would want her?”
The bedroom door closed behind her, leaving Stepan in the living room, surrounded by the remnants of a life that had just fallen apart. For the first time, he realized how much he had underestimated Svetlana. And how dearly he would pay for this mistake.
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This work is inspired by real events and people, but has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or to real events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher do not assume responsibility for the accuracy of events or for how characters are portrayed and are not liable for any misinterpretations. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed belong to the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
