Must’ve left it.”
“I wasn’t feeling well, I—”
Olesya dropped the phone. The world went black.
A man shook her awake. “Miss!
Are you okay?”
It was Dima—Andrey’s brother. He recognized her immediately from the stories Andrey had told. Without a second thought, he carried her to his car and called home.
“Mom, I found Andrey’s girlfriend at his grave.”
“Take her to the clinic,” Nina said.
“I’ll meet you there.”
At the clinic, Olesya awoke to Nina and Dima at her bedside. She instinctively pulled back.
“I’m Andrey’s mother,” Nina said gently.
“I didn’t come for help. I just wanted to say goodbye,” Olesya whispered.
“Tell me about you and my son,” Nina said.
Olesya shared everything.
When she finished, Nina asked, “Why didn’t you go with him?”
“I was scared,” she admitted.
“I grew up in an orphanage. I didn’t know how your family would react.”
“You’ve met the wrong people,” Nina said softly. “I’m not like that.
Rest now. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Later, Nina and Dima gathered Olesya’s things. Among them were photos of her and Andrey, smiling, happy.
Nina’s eyes filled with tears.
“He really loved her,” she said. “We’ll take care of her and the baby.”
Dima nodded. “Of course.”
Two years later…
“Karinochka!
Come to Grandma!” Nina called, arms open. Her granddaughter ran to her as Olesya looked on, smiling. She now lived in the city center, studying law, supported by Nina and a nanny.
But Nina sensed hesitation in her.
“Olesya, can we talk?”
She nodded, wary.
“Do you love Dima?”
“I do.”
“And he loves you.
So what’s the problem?”
Olesya hesitated. “It’s Andrey… I still feel like I’m betraying him.”
Nina spoke gently but firmly. “He’s gone.
But you’re alive. Andrey gave you love and a child. Now you have a future.
The living belong with the living.”
Nina left her in silence. Olesya stared at her phone for a long time.
Then, slowly, she opened Dima’s contact and typed:
“I’m ready.”
