She had taken a day off from work, hoping to escape to the cottage and relax for a bit. That morning, she had woken up with a sharp, unbearable headache — so strong she couldn’t work properly and asked to leave early.
She didn’t want to go home: cleaning, cooking, and endless chores awaited her there, and she dreamed of getting away from all of that, even if just for one day. So, almost impulsively, Anna decided to head to their cottage outside the city — a place she hadn’t visited for a long time, a place where she thought she could finally lie down, drink some tea, and simply be alone.
She didn’t tell her husband — not because she was hiding anything, but because she wanted silence, a day without conversations or demands.
As soon as she got behind the wheel, she felt relief: the road stretched through the forest, golden leaves lay along the sides, and with every kilometer the heaviness in her chest faded a little.
Three kilometers left. Then two. One.
When the old cottage appeared ahead, Anna even smiled.
But her joy vanished instantly.
The gate was slightly open. As she came closer, she noticed the front door wasn’t closed either. Her heart lurched. Anna carefully stepped into the yard and approached the window, trying not to make a sound.
There was someone inside.
She leaned closer — and saw her husband and her mother-in-law in the kitchen. They were standing very close, speaking tensely and seriously, clearly discussing something important.
Anna listened — and in the next moment she froze in horror. Because they were talking about…
Continued in the first comment
Anna stood motionless, not immediately understanding what exactly she was hearing. At first, the words were fragments — quiet, strained, as if they were talking about something delicate. She leaned closer to the open window to catch every phrase.
— You understand that she’ll never manage, — her mother-in-law said in a harsh tone. — Her character is soft, weak. A person like that can’t carry a family.
— Mom, come on… — her husband replied wearily, annoyed. — Stop pushing. I’m already exhausted with everything.
— And I will push, — she cut him off. — Can’t you see it? She’s not the right woman for you. You come home every day drained, and she doesn’t even notice. She’s not a homemaker, not a wife, not support. She is… an accident.
A cold shiver rose from Anna’s feet to her chest. Her heart pounded so loudly she was afraid they might hear it from inside.
She couldn’t believe her ears. Her husband didn’t defend her even once. Not a single word in her favor.
— So you’ve already decided? — his mother asked.
Her husband let out a heavy sigh.
— I guess… yes. I just don’t know how to tell her.
Something inside Anna collapsed. She covered her mouth with her hand so they wouldn’t hear her gasp.
She understood: they weren’t discussing chores, plans, or everyday problems.
They were discussing her.
Her place in her husband’s life.
Her future.
Their future.
Anna stood by the window, unable to move, understanding only one thing: life would never be the same again.