From Childhood Crowding to Personal Freedom: Karina’s Story
Karina’s memories of her childhood vividly captured the endless struggle to claim a slice of privacy. The cramped two-room apartment on the third floor of an aging Khrushchev-era building was home to five people: her mother Svetlana, father Nikolai, grandmother Anna Petrovna, younger brother Maxim, and herself. The parents’ bedroom doubled as the living room, while the second room was bisected by a wardrobe; one half was for grandmother, the other shared by the children.
“Karina, move over! I have nowhere to spread my notebooks,” Maxim grumbled, elbowing his sister.
“Where am I supposed to go? There’s only one desk for both of us,” she replied, clutching her textbooks.
Each morning commenced with a line outside the sole bathroom. Grandmother occupied it for half an hour, after which their parents rushed off to work, and the children found themselves running late for school. In the evenings, the whole family gathered at the kitchen table, where Karina struggled to find room for her homework amidst pots and plates.
“Your books are scattered everywhere again!” her mother exclaimed. “Clean them up immediately; dinner’s almost ready.”
“Where else can I put them? I don’t have my own place!” Karina burst out.
It was then, standing amid the cramped room at fourteen years old while gazing at her sleeping grandmother, that Karina vowed to herself: one day, she would own a flat all her own. One free of interference — where no one would dictate where to place a cup or how to arrange belongings.
An Accomplished Dream and Growing Family Tensions
Two decades later, Karina stood in her own one-bedroom apartment. Thirty square meters of space that she had earned through dedication and hard work. Employed as a translator for a large firm, she accepted additional assignments evenings and weekends, carefully budgeting every expense to save for this achievement. At last, her dream had come true.
Karina’s chance encounter with Andrey in a bookstore began their story. They reached simultaneously for the same classic novel, and he offered her the book with a smile.
“Please, take it,” Karina said politely.
Their conversation unfolded naturally after that meeting, leading to dates and eventually a proposal a year later. Andrey’s large, close-knit family lived nearby — his parents, two brothers, and sister Elena with her husband, plus their twins. Frequent visits initially delighted Karina, who had always yearned for a strong family bond.
Unwelcome Visits and Subtle Criticism
However, after the wedding, visits from relatives became a source of tension. Andrey’s mother Galina Ivanovna would drop by under the guise of checking on the newlyweds but often found petty complaints.
“Karina, dear, why is your fridge almost empty? Andrey’s a working man — he needs hearty meals,” she remarked, opening the refrigerator door without asking.
“I cook daily but buy groceries as needed,” Karina patiently explained.
“Sure, sure,” her mother-in-law shrugged. “We always keep a reserve, just in case.”
Similarly, Andrey’s sister Elena sometimes appeared on a Saturday morning, wrinkling her nose at Karina’s casual attire.
“Still in pajamas? I’ve already been busy with three chores this morning,” Elena boasted. “Well, I do have two kids; no time to lounge around.”
“Today’s our day off,” Karina responded. “Andrey and I planned to rest a bit.”
“Of course,” Elena nodded knowingly. “Motherhood sure keeps you disciplined.”
These consistent little jabs continued, with hints about childlessness from her mother-in-law, criticisms of the apartment’s order from Elena, and surprise from other relatives questioning why Karina’s modest flat matched her income.
“Karina chose to keep calm, understanding any conflict might hurt her relationship with Andrey.”
Despite the provocations, Karina maintained her composure, smiling, agreeing, or remaining silent, attributing these behaviors to her in-laws’ personalities.
Increasing Intrusions and Growing Discomfort
In recent months, Elena’s arrivals increased in frequency and stopped coming with prior notice.
“Karina, I was nearby and thought to stop in,” she said breezily, entering with her children. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Of course, Karina could not refuse. Her children played noisily while Elena settled comfortably on the sofa, launching into complaints.
“You wouldn’t believe the mess in our rented flat,” Elena sighed. “Leaky pipes flooding the bathroom, noisy upstairs neighbors disrupting our kids’ sleep, and the landlord constantly blaming us for furniture damage or excess water use.”
“Sounds tough renting with little ones,” Karina sympathized.
“It really is,” Elena confirmed. “Especially with young children who need stability. Just yesterday, the landlord said she wanted to sell the place.”
Meanwhile, Elena looked Karina’s apartment over with a meaningful glance, as if evaluating her resources. Karina sensed the underlying intention but kept her thoughts to herself.
- With each visit, Elena’s complaints grew more persistent.
- Stories of failing plumbing, troublesome neighbors, and demanding landlords became routine.
- Karina anticipated Elena’s disapproving eyes scanning her tidy home.
“Can you imagine? Yesterday, the landlord accused us of using too much electricity,” Elena recounted. “She said the bills soared just because we run the washing machine and keep lights on at night — normal things for any family.”
“Maybe you should look for a new place,” Karina suggested gently.
“We’re always searching, but no one wants to rent to families with kids. When we do find something, the prices are astronomical,” Elena replied distractedly.
Unexpected Move-In: The Breaking Point
One Saturday morning, a determined knock startled Karina. Opening the door, she froze — Elena’s entire family stood there: Elena with a radiant smile, her husband Igor wearing a scowl, their five-year-old twins Artyom and Alisa, and an assortment of suitcases, bags, and bundles.
Without waiting for an invitation, Elena chirped, “Karina, dear! May we come in?”
The family squeezed into the small hallway. Igor silently dragged in the luggage, while the children immediately scattered through the apartment. Karina stood stunned in the doorway.
“Elena, what’s happening?” she asked finally.
“Oh, I forgot to explain!” Elena laughed lightly, removing her jacket. “The landlord threw us out! This morning she and some guy came and said she’d sold the apartment and demanded we vacate by evening. Can you imagine? With kids, no less!”
“And what does that have to do with me?” Karina stammered.
“Well, I talked with my brother, and Andrey said we could stay with you. He understands families with children can’t be homeless. Right, dear?” Elena said confidently.
Karina’s anger flared. Andrey had not mentioned any such plan. Meanwhile, Elena was already hanging children’s jackets on Karina’s rack as though it were a foregone conclusion.
“Elena, wait,” Karina began, but was interrupted.
“It’s only for a week — don’t get upset,” Elena waved off. “Maximum ten days until we find new housing. It can’t be a problem, right? Your apartment is spacious, and only you and Andrey live here.”
Igor silently settled on the sofa with his phone, while the children rummaged through couch cushions and clamored for breakfast.
Karina remained motionless, watching as her sanctuary morphed into a communal space. Elena had already opened the refrigerator and was inspecting its contents.
“Oh, you have borscht!” she exclaimed happily. “The kids are hungry, we can heat it up.”
Without waiting for permission, Elena removed the pot of borscht Karina had prepared the night before and placed it on the stove. Then she began searching the cupboards for plates.
“Alisa, Artyom, wash your hands! Food’s coming!” she commanded the children, who had already scattered throughout the apartment.
Igor turned on the TV and switched it to children’s channels, filling the room with cartoon noise. A wave of childhood memories overwhelmed Karina — the same chaos she had known in their cramped two-room flat: people crowding together, grabbing others’ food, and commandeering the TV without permission.
Something inside her clicked. Without uttering a word, Karina flung open the front door and grabbed the closest suitcase.
“What are you doing?” Elena gasped, seeing Karina carry the luggage to the stairwell.
“Putting your things where they belong,” Karina replied, continuing to move bags, toys, and jackets outside.
“You’ve lost your mind! We’re family! The kids are here!” Elena screamed.
Karina ignored the protests, methodically carrying out the belongings. Then, heading to the bedroom, she began packing Andrey’s clothes into a bag.
“Karina, stop!” Igor finally spoke that day. “We agreed on this!”
“Yes, you agreed,” Karina said calmly, tossing Andrey’s shirts into the bag. “But no one consulted me. This space is mine, and I decide who lives here.”
The children cried, Elena yelled about lack of compassion, but Karina continued. Once the last suitcase and uninvited guests were outside, she shut the door and locked it.
Aftermath and Regaining Solitude
Her phone rang incessantly throughout the evening. Andrey, the mother-in-law, and even unknown numbers called.
“How could you do this to my grandchildren?” Galina Ivanovna wept. “Your heartless act threw them into the street!”
“Your children are grown and can handle their own affairs,” Karina replied. “My apartment belongs to me, and I have the right to decide who is allowed inside.”
A month later, the divorce was finalized. Karina found herself alone in her one-bedroom apartment. The silence she longed for had finally returned. No one opened her refrigerator without permission, no channels were switched without consent, and the bathroom was no longer a contested space. She could read peacefully at the kitchen table, no longer clearing space for someone else’s dinner.
Conclusion: Karina’s journey from a crowded childhood to owning her personal space highlights the value of boundaries and self-respect. Though solitude replaced companionship, it came with the freedom to live by her own rules. Her resolve ensured that future relationships would align with her terms, securing the sanctuary she had dreamed of since adolescence.