Bathed in golden June sunlight, the kitchen gleamed as Anna slowly prepared her morning coffee. The foam crescendoed in the cezve, releasing an inviting fragrance that filled their apartment.
At the doorway appeared Igor, casually buttoning his shirt.
“Good morning! The aroma is amazing!”
Anna served the coffee into cups, well aware that her knack for brewing the perfect cup was always one of Igor’s favorite things.
“Did you sleep well?” she inquired, setting a cup before her husband and taking a seat beside him.
“Fantastic. By the way, my mother called yesterday while you were out.”
Anna took a deliberate sip, fighting to keep composed. Calls from her mother-in-law seldom brought good tidings.
“Did something happen?” she questioned.
“Nothing serious,” Igor replied. “She only wanted to ask if you could drive her to the clinic tomorrow for her nine o’clock appointment.”
Time seemed to freeze as Anna gripped her cup. She had a crucial client presentation scheduled the next day—a project she had devoted two weeks to.
“Igor, I can’t possibly do that tomorrow. You know how important this presentation is.”
“Oh, Anya, but it’s just mom,” Igor said, his voice tinged with reproach. “She rarely asks for favors. Couldn’t you help her out?”
“What about taking a taxi? Or perhaps Lena—she’s free.”
“Lena is busy with the kids, and a taxi would just be an unnecessary expense when family is right here,” Igor replied.
Anna sighed deeply. These conversations were becoming more frequent. Initially, they were small asks: buying medicine, cleaning assistance, driving to the dacha. Gradually, the demands escalated.
“Alright, I’ll try to reschedule the meeting,” she reluctantly conceded despite her inner resistance.
“Excellent!” Igor exclaimed with joy. “I’m so fortunate to have such a understanding wife. You always prioritize family.”
He pronounced “family” with a special tenderness. Since their relationship began, he constantly stressed the significance of closeness and support during hard times.
Later that evening, Anna received a call from Lena, Igor’s sister.
“Anya dear, could you help with the kids on Saturday? My husband and I have wanted to go to the theater for ages and already bought tickets.”
Anna was preparing to visit her parents—her mother had invited them for lunch weeks ago.
“Lena, I’m sorry, but we planned to visit my—”
“Oh, come on! Your parents can wait!” Lena’s tone grew irritable. “Do I often ask for favors? The kids adore you.”
Unconsciously, Anna glanced at the calendar. It had been a month since her last meeting with her parents.
“Okay,” she gave in once more.
When Igor arrived home that evening, Anna told him about the phone call.
“Good on you for agreeing,” he approved. “Lena really needs a breather; she’s with the kids all day.”
“And what about me? Don’t I need a break?” Anna whispered.
“Oh, please, you’re at the office all day—that’s completely different.”
Anna stayed silent; arguing seemed pointless.
A week later, Viktor Mikhaylovich, her father-in-law, called.
“Annyushka, the car’s broken down and we need to get around. Could we borrow yours for a couple of weeks?”
Anna was stunned. Without her car, her world stopped—she had meetings and work dispersed across the city.
“Viktor Mikhaylovich, I really can’t cope without my car. My schedule is packed.”
“Oh, don’t fret, dear. A few rides on the metro won’t hurt,” her father-in-law said cheerfully. “We’re family, and families help each other.”
Later, Anna confronted Igor.
“Igor, how can I manage work without my car? Meetings, presentations…”
“Anya, it’s temporary. Your dad truly needs it. Besides, for family, you can endure a little discomfort,” Igor insisted.
Anna increasingly realized that life was a constant series of sacrifices. Whenever she attempted to refuse, the response was invariably: “We’re family.”
The ultimate challenge arrived with her promotion at work. After years of dedication and effort, Anna was elevated to department head.
She excitedly shared the news with Igor. “Imagine—we can finally fulfill our long-awaited dream! Remember our plan to travel through Europe?”
Igor gave a peculiar smile.
“Well, there’s something else… My parents are renovating the kitchen, and with Katya’s wedding soon…”
Anna’s heart sank. Once again, relatives’ needs took precedence over their plans.
“What do you mean?” she inquired cautiously.
“They need financial help. Now that your salary’s higher…”
Anna struggled to believe her ears.
“So, you want me to give my money towards the renovation and wedding?”
Igor shrugged.
“Why not? We’re family.”
She stared at him like seeing him anew. When had his family eclipsed their own?
That night, Anna wavered between memories of their shared dreams and the relentless impositions of his relatives.
“We need a serious talk,” she affirmed as she entered the room where Igor watched television.
“About what?” he asked without looking up.
“About us. About finances. About our plans.”
Igor reluctantly turned off the TV.
“Why are you upset? Supporting family is normal.”
“It’s not normal,” Anna said, sitting on the chair’s edge. “This is my income. I worked hard for my promotion.”
“And now? Will you control all the money alone?” Igor suddenly stood. “You’ve changed, Anya. You’ve become selfish.”
His words stung deeply. Anna clenched her fists.
“I think about us,” she responded firmly. “About our plans and promises.”
“When will you find time to dream?” Igor scoffed. “Your sister’s wedding is near, and my parents need renovating.”
“What about our family? Our dreams?”
“Enough!” he snapped. “In a normal family, the wife helps the husband’s relatives. That’s natural.”
The days following spiraled into a silent war. Anna left before dawn and returned late, greeted by darkness. Igor ignored her existence.
Her mother-in-law, Nina Pavlovna, played her part too. Each day, she called Igor loudly criticizing Anna.
“Your wife has lost all manners,” Nina lamented. “In my time, no one behaved this way. We knew our place.”
Anna feigned deafness, immersing herself deeper in her work. The office valued her professionalism rather than judging her selfishness.
Their fifth wedding anniversary neared. Anna hoped it might mark a turning point—perhaps Igor would recall their happiness and mutual support.
But that evening, she found Igor sitting tense at the kitchen table.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began with a heavy sigh.
Anna halted in the doorway, sensing a difficult conversation ahead.
“Of course, you have opinions, but remember this: family supports each other.”
He paused, giving her a chance to respond, but she remained silent.
“My mother gave me her life,” Igor’s voice rose with emotion. “Sleepless nights when I was sick, three jobs for my schooling. How can I not help her now?”
His voice quickened, as if convincing himself as much as Anna.
“And Katya—twenty years old, a wedding soon. We have enough to assist.”
Each word hit like a blow. Anna felt misunderstood and hurt.
“You are my wife, not someone else’s!” she said coldly.
Igor rolled his eyes.
“Always the same—money is all you care about,” he sneered.
That night, sleep escaped Anna. Lying awake, she reflected on missed visits to her parents, weekends helping her mother-in-law, and money lent without hope of repayment. The endless cycle of concessions overwhelmed her.
Early the next morning, Anna awoke before usual, unpacked a large suitcase and began gathering documents. Igor observed with a mocking grin.
“What’s this about? A drama?” he jeered.
“I’m leaving,” she stated calmly, locking the suitcase.
Igor laughed.
“You’re being dramatic. You think I’ll believe you?”
Without replying, Anna took the suitcase and headed for the door. Igor’s eyes widened.
“Are you serious?” he asked, voice trembling.
Within an hour, she unlocked the door of an old studio apartment she’d once bought to rent. Now, it felt like a sanctuary—no demands, criticism, or judgments awaited her.
For the first time in ages, freedom enveloped her. No longer accountable for every expense or time sacrificed to others. She could truly live for herself.
“True freedom comes when you reclaim your life from the endless demands of others.”
Weeks became months as Anna immersed herself in work, socialized, and began exercising. Life radiated newfound vibrancy.
Three months later, Igor reached out. Late one night, his voice was gentle and pleading.
“Let’s talk. I understand now and promise change.”
Anna smiled softly at her phone.
“Too late,” she whispered. “Far too late.”
Igor misunderstood the core issue: the break wasn’t about refusing his family’s requests. It was about being seen only as a resource instead of a whole person.
Their fifth anniversary passed unnoticed; Igor forgot the date. For Anna, it was one more sign. She spent the day at work, then walked along the embankment as the sun set.
Surprisingly, relief replaced sorrow—a heavy burden lifted from her shoulders. At last, her life was her own. There was no need to accommodate anyone but herself.
Anna opened an airline website on her phone. Her vacation started in a week. It was time to pursue her cherished dream: traveling across Europe. Even if it meant going alone, she would embrace the journey on her own terms.
In essence, Anna’s story reveals the delicate balance between personal aspirations and family obligations. Genuine support should honor individual dreams rather than overshadow them. Recognizing and respecting these boundaries is essential for nurturing healthy relationships and preserving one’s identity.