“Maybe we should give at least one to an orphanage,” my husband said when he arrived at the maternity hospital.
Arina never aimed for the stars. Raised in a humble countryside family where even an extra bit of butter on bread was considered a treat, her days were filled with caring for chickens in the morning, tending the garden by afternoon, and helping her mother in the evening. She grew up modest, unpretentious, yet kind and hardworking.
Since youth, local boys tried to win her affection, each seemingly better than the last. Yet, Arina’s heart remained silent. That was until one summer when Vladimir, a sturdy and confident man ten years her senior, came to the village. Rumors said he owned several fruit and vegetable shops in the nearby city—a wealthy man by village standards. Women swarmed around him like flies attracted to honey. Surprisingly, he took notice of Arina.
“You are unlike the others,” he told her one evening as they walked along the river path. “With you, I feel calm.”
At first, she felt embarrassed and skeptical. But after a few months, Vladimir proposed.
The wedding was a simple affair at the village club. Arina did not desire extravagance; she only wanted him near and loved. She dedicated herself to being a good wife—cooking, washing, cleaning, and ironing his shirts. She went to the market early for fresh vegetables and prepared warm dinners every night. Vladimir appeared satisfied but was always reserved. He avoided eye contact, did not hold her hand, nor said “I love you.”
Arina tried to ignore these signs. “Men are different,” she reassured herself, believing he would eventually open up. One evening, during dinner, when he mentioned considering children, her heart raced. Finally, she thought—he truly wanted a real family.
From that moment, Arina felt genuine happiness for the first time.
Life proceeded steadily. Arina never complained; their home was orderly, her husband was busy, and their finances stable. She dreamt of making pancakes for her son in the morning and reading fairy tales to her daughter at night. Vladimir spoke more often about “children,” in plural, and Arina quietly hoped these dreams would soon come true.
And they did.
The moment the pregnancy test showed two lines like lightning, Arina wept tears of joy. She was expecting, and they would become a complete family.
Vladimir’s reaction was muted and almost indifferent:
“Understood. It means preparations are necessary.”
Arina smiled through a hint of disappointment. “Men just don’t know how to express feelings,” she comforted herself. As long as he was not against it and had not left, it was enough.
She registered her pregnancy, took vitamins, and enjoyed walks outdoors. Everything seemed fine until an ultrasound dramatically changed everything.
The doctor announced casually, “You are expecting triplets: two boys and a girl.”
Arina was momentarily speechless. Triplets. Not one, not two, but three children with three beating hearts inside her.
Feeling dazed, she left the room, sat on a bench outside the hospital, placed her hand on her belly, and whispered:
“Are you serious?”
On one hand, there was unimaginable, wild, fairy-tale-like happiness. On the other, fear—not for herself, but for Vladimir.
She imagined his disappointed frown and heard him asking,
“Three? Are you out of your mind? How could we handle so many?”
She knew his practical nature—the man who never wasted money and bought her dresses only on sale, carefully calculating every step.
Therefore, she chose silence, at least until it was too late to change anything. Let him get used to the idea of becoming a father, then there would be no turning back.
Gently stroking her belly, filled with triple hope, she whispered,
“You are mine. No matter what happens, I will never give you away.”
Time passed swiftly, and her belly grew rapidly. Arina increasingly noticed the curious looks from passersby. Hiding her anxiety became more difficult. Three tiny lives grew inside her—alive, real.
Meanwhile, Vladimir seemed oblivious. He came home late as usual, avoided talks, and uttered,
“I’m tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
But the much-anticipated “tomorrow” never arrived.
Summoning courage, she approached him during dinner, poured him some soup, sat beside him, and said,
“Volodya, I went to the ultrasound.”
He barely glanced up from his phone. “Well? All good?”
She shrank inside, then confessed,
“It’s not one child.”
“Twins?” he asked wearily.
“Triplets,” she sighed.
He stared blankly, seemingly unable to grasp her words.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Two boys and a girl.”
He fell silent, then abruptly rose without finishing his meal, grabbed his keys, and said,
“I have a meeting. We’ll talk later.”
The next morning, Arina felt dizzy and rushed to wash dishes but clutched her belly in pain. Contractions struck panic inside her.
Vladimir was unreachable, his phone switched off. Alone, she called an ambulance, packed a bag, and made her way to the hospital.
The childbirth was difficult yet the triplets were born healthy—three tiny bundles of life.
Two days later, Vladimir called.
“Where the hell are you?!” he yelled. “You left without a word! I’m working, and you disappear like this?”
“I’m at the hospital, Volodya,” she calmly answered. “I gave birth.”
“What?”
When he arrived, holding a plastic bag of diapers, he turned pale upon seeing the babies.
“Are these all ours?”
Arina nodded.
He sat down, remained silent for a long time, then looked up and muttered,
“Maybe we should give one to an orphanage? At least one. It would save us some expenses.”
At first, Arina couldn’t believe he was serious. Then she quietly stood, approached, and said firmly,
“Take your diapers and leave.”
Vladimir lost control, yelling and insulting her. He accused her of trapping him, complained about the costs, and even doubted the children’s paternity. Finally, he slammed the door and vanished—forever.
Arina looked out the window. His bag remained on the windowsill. Nearby, in transparent cribs, her three babies slept peacefully. Her children. Her meaning. Her future.
She did not shed a tear.
Key Insight: Arina’s story exemplifies the profound strength and unconditional love of a mother who embraces her unexpected challenges and stands firm even when abandoned, cherishing the precious lives she nurtures.
This journey illustrates the triumph of maternal devotion over fear and adversity. Though faced with overwhelming uncertainty and a partner’s rejection, Arina chose to protect her children fiercely, affirming her unwavering commitment to their wellbeing and her hopeful vision for their shared future.