“Get to work, how long can you sit on my neck?! I work like a damn slave every day, and you’re just resting at home! And don’t tell me you’re looking after the children! Your mom helps you, the older one is about to go to school soon, there’s no need to watch him anymore. Look for a job and finish your maternity leave already.”
Dima met Liza when she was twenty, and he was five years older than her. At the time, he had already graduated from college, securing a promising career in the gas industry with a stable job and opportunities for advancement. Liza, on the other hand, was in her fourth year of university, preparing for a career as a civil servant. They met at a gathering of mutual friends, a lively party filled with unfamiliar faces. While others enjoyed the energy of the evening, Liza found herself standing to the side, uninterested in the noise and commotion. She had only attended because a friend had convinced her to come.
A young man approached her with a playful tone. “Miss, why aren’t you having fun with everyone else? Let’s get to know each other, we don’t do boring here. My name is Dima, and you are?”
She hesitated before replying. “I’m Liza. I’m not bored, I just don’t really like all this noise and fuss.”
“Honestly, me neither,” Dima admitted with a grin. “I just needed to get away for a bit. Lately, my mind has been consumed with work. How about we step outside for a walk? The weather’s great, and the avenue is beautiful at night.”
Liza agreed, feeling more comfortable with the idea of a quiet walk than enduring the loud party. They strolled through the brightly lit streets, sharing ice cream, listening to street musicians, and talking about everything and nothing. That night marked the beginning of something new.
After that first meeting, Dima took the initiative, inviting her to cafes, movies, and more walks. Their connection grew stronger, and one day, he unexpectedly invited her to a family gathering. Liza hesitated.
“Maybe you should go without me? Your family will be there, and I don’t know anyone. They might not like that you brought someone new.”
“Don’t worry, let’s go together. I’ve wanted to introduce you to my parents and relatives for a while now. They keep asking where I disappear to all the time. It’s time they met you.”
Despite her initial reluctance, Liza attended the gathering, which turned out to be a celebration for Dima’s father’s birthday. His mother, Margarita Semenovna, welcomed her warmly, staying by her side and making sure she felt comfortable. By the end of the evening, Liza was dancing with the birthday celebrant and enjoying a delicious homemade cake.
Their relationship deepened, and within a year, they got married. After the wedding, they moved into Dima’s apartment, a two-bedroom that his parents had gifted him after his graduation. The place had been rented out for years, but they decided to do some minor renovations and settle in.
Half a year later, Liza became pregnant. The couple eagerly prepared for their first child’s arrival, and just as she graduated from university, she gave birth to a baby boy they named Roma. With Dima’s career progressing and his salary increasing, Liza stayed home to take care of their son.
As Roma grew, she enrolled him in sports and English classes, managing his activities along with household responsibilities. When he turned five and a half, Liza became pregnant with their second child. They had planned for another baby, and both were excited about expanding their family.
One evening, Dima returned home with unexpected news. “I have to go on a business trip. It’ll be for a long time—about six months to a year.”
Liza stared at him in disbelief. “Dimka, how can this be? Our baby is about to be born, and you’re leaving me alone?”
“It’s not like that,” he tried to reassure her. “I don’t want to leave, but I have no choice. We’re opening a new branch up north, and I’m responsible for setting things up. It’s a huge opportunity, and the salary increase will help us in the long run.”
Despite her protests, Dima had already made up his mind. “To make things easier for you, why don’t you move back in with your parents for a while? Your mom will help, and you won’t be alone. Plus, we can rent out our apartment for extra money.”
Liza was hurt. “You’ve decided everything for me, but did you even ask if I want to move back home?”
Despite her frustration, she packed her things and returned to her parents’ home. They had a three-bedroom apartment, so there was enough space, but they weren’t thrilled about her moving back in. They had grown accustomed to a quiet life, and Roma’s energy disrupted their routine.
“Daughter, calm Roma down, he’s too loud. Your father has high blood pressure; he needs peace. Keep the child busy with something calmer,” her mother complained.
“Mom, he’s six years old! He spent the whole day behaving in kindergarten, of course he needs to run and play now.”
Three months later, Liza gave birth to a baby girl, whom they named Mashenka. Dima managed to visit for a week, bringing a bouquet of roses and meeting his daughter. Liza hoped this meant he would stay, but her hopes were quickly crushed.
“I’m going back,” he told her. “There’s still work to be done.”
With her husband gone again, the days blurred together. Despite living with her parents, she received little help. Every morning, she took Roma to kindergarten, carrying Mashenka in a stroller. At home, she handled cooking, cleaning, and endless laundry. Over time, her mother stopped helping, saying, “Since you’re living here again, you should take care of the household.”
Three months passed, and her parents began pressuring her to go back to work. “There’s a new nursery that takes babies from three months. Roma will be in school soon, we’ll enroll him in after-school care. You need to start earning money; how long will you sit around doing nothing?”
“Mom, Mashenka is still a baby! She needs me, not strangers at a nursery.”
But no one listened. Even Dima, when she called him for support, dismissed her concerns. “Liza, stop sitting on my neck! Roma is going to school soon, and Mashenka can go to the nursery. Your parents are right. You’ve been at home for six years now, it’s time to work.”
“Dima, I’m breastfeeding her! How can I leave her at a nursery all day? You earn well, why is there such urgency?”
“I’m the only one making money, and your maternity benefits are barely anything. Stop being lazy and find a job.”
Hoping for some support, Liza turned to her in-laws, but they agreed with Dima. “You haven’t worked a single day since university,” her mother-in-law told her. “And where will your pension come from? It’s time to go back to work.”
Only her friend Lena defended her. “Are they insane? Do they even know what nurseries are like? Two caregivers for a dozen infants! And Roma will need help with school too. They want to dump him in after-school care all day? That’s cruel!”
“Lena, what do I do? Everyone is pressuring me!”
“You need to decide for yourself. If your husband is so eager to send you to work and doesn’t care about your baby, maybe he has someone else. Think about it—how has he been away for so long without female company?”
Liza suddenly saw the pieces fitting together. Dima rarely called, sounded distant, and no longer expressed affection. That same day, she searched for a rental and moved into a small studio near Lena.
She filed for divorce and alimony. Dima didn’t even act surprised. Later, she found out he had indeed started a relationship with someone else up north.
The first months were difficult, but she managed. With alimony and some savings, she survived. Eventually, she found remote work, and when Mashenka turned two, she placed her in daycare and returned to work. Life was hard, but at least now, it was hers to control.
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