Oksana rushed in, tired after her shift at the store. She threw her bag on the coat rack and took off her shoes. Usually, the smell of food and Iulia’s laughter greeted her at home. But this time, it was quiet. An eerie silence.
— Iulia? — she called out, taking off her coat. — Are you home?
No answer. From the kitchen, the clinking of cutlery could be heard. Oksana walked in and saw Elisabeta sitting at the head of the table, with a sour look and a face red with anger. On the table, three steaming meatballs sat on a clean plate.
— Where is the child? — Oksana asked, feeling her stomach tighten.
— In her room, where she belongs. Disobedient children do not sit at the table with adults, — the mother-in-law said coldly, without looking at her.
— What did you say? — Oksana stepped forward. — What did you do to my daughter?
— Nothing. I just showed her the limits. Someone else’s child is not my son’s concern. If you want to indulge her, do it yourself, but not with our money.
Oksana was breathless from the words. She wanted to respond, but at that moment, the door to the room slowly opened. Iulia stood there with red eyes and wet cheeks.
— Mom… — she said softly. — I was hungry.
That was all Oksana needed. She walked past her mother-in-law without a word, took the plate of meatballs, and placed it in front of her daughter.
— Eat, sweetheart. Eat peacefully.
Elisabeta exploded:
— You are teaching her wrong! This is how it starts: today a meatball, tomorrow she will ask for half the house!
Oksana turned around, looking her straight in the eye.
— Half the house? Don’t worry. We will leave this house. Today.
Elisabeta laughed scornfully.
— And where will you go, with your miserable salary? To rent?
— If I have to, yes. Better in a small studio, but with peace, than in a palace full of hatred.
Then she turned to her daughter:
— Iulia, gather your toys. We are leaving.
The little girl blinked in surprise, not knowing whether to believe it.
— Now?
— Yes, now. I don’t want to see you crying because of anyone anymore.
As Iulia gathered her things, Elisabeta continued to murmur discontentedly, but Oksana no longer heard anything. Something had broken inside her. For years, she had been afraid to leave, ashamed that she had nowhere to go. But now she didn’t care.
They left the apartment without looking back. On the stairs, Iulia held her mother’s hand.
— Mom, will everything be okay?
Oksana smiled at her, tears in her eyes.
— It will be better than ever. We will see what home means, not just a roof over our heads.
That evening, they slept at a good friend’s small studio, but it was full of warmth. The friend brought them hot tea and apple pies. Iulia ate eagerly, while her mother watched her with a mix of pain and relief.
They had nothing certain for the next day, but for the first time in a long time, they felt that their breath was free.
Elisabeta was left alone in the cold kitchen, with a plate full of meatballs. The smell that once seemed inviting now turned her stomach. And for the first time in a long time, in that heavy silence, she felt a void in her chest that no amount of food in the world could fill.
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 the portrayal of characters 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.
