Albina had always been the responsible one. When Semyon lost his job, she took on extra shifts, covered the rent, and bought the groceries. At first, he seemed grateful, promising he’d find something soon. But months passed, and his search remained half-hearted. He spent more time on the couch than on job sites.
One evening, as she returned from work, exhausted, she found him scrolling through his phone, the apartment a mess.
“You could at least clean up,” she muttered, dropping her bag.
Semyon sighed, putting down his phone. “I was busy. Listen, my mom needs some help. Can you send her some money?”
Albina blinked. “What? I already pay for everything here.”
“She’s struggling,” he insisted. “Just a little—she’s my mother.”
Albina crossed her arms. “Your mother? And what about you? When was the last time you even applied for a job?”
His jaw tightened. “I’ve been looking! It’s just hard right now. You know that.”
She exhaled, shaking her head. “I’m not your ATM, Semyon. I’ve done everything I can, and you just… expect more?”
He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Wow. So now you’re just going to leave my family out in the cold? I thought you cared.”
That hit a nerve, but Albina stood her ground. “Caring doesn’t mean being taken advantage of.”
He muttered something under his breath, grabbed his phone again, and turned away. Albina felt a weight lift. Maybe, for the first time, she was seeing things clearly.
That night, she made a decision. The next morning, as Semyon slept, she packed a bag, left a note, and walked away from the life she had been forced to carry alone.
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