Inside a cold courtroom, a gavel struck for the last time. In just fifteen minutes, three decades of marriage were officially over through a swift legal procedure.
Natalia gripped the papers tightly, deliberately avoiding the man whose presence had dominated her life for so many years.
“Well, that’s that, Natasha,” Oleg said, smiling widely. His expression held an odd mix of triumph and relief, as though he had just hit the jackpot rather than ended a family.
Trying to steady her voice, Natalia replied, “Yes, Oleg. No hard feelings.”
Waiting just outside near the entrance stood Marina — fifteen years younger, with bold lipstick and perfectly styled hair that likely cost more than what Natalia and Oleg had built together. Natalia instinctively smoothed her own simple hairstyle.
Feeling eager to leave, Oleg glanced between them and said, “How are you?”
“Fine. Go ahead—she’s waiting,” Natalia answered quietly.
Oleg nodded, as if granted permission. “We have a table reserved to celebrate. If you ever need anything, call me. You are the mother of my children, after all.”
Natalia bit her lip and turned away. Moments later, Oleg was already holding Marina close, her giggle like that of a carefree schoolgirl.
Back alone in her now-empty apartment, Natalia collapsed onto the couch. Her phone lit up with a message from her daughter: “Mom, how did it go? Are you alright?” She stared at the screen, words failing her.
“Thirty years… all wasted,” she whispered to the silence, finally allowing herself to weep.
The following morning brought sharp temple pains and a hollow feeling.
Natalia rose automatically, putting two cups on the table before hesitating and removing one.
“Get used to this, Natasha. You’re by yourself now,” she murmured.
“For the first time in years, I’m making choices just for me.”
Her phone buzzed again — a message from Vera, a friend Oleg had never approved of: “Hey, gorgeous! Fancy dinner tonight? Long time no see!” Her finger hovered over the keyboard, recalling how Oleg might have snorted, “That bimbo stealing you away again?”
“But Oleg isn’t here anymore,” Natalia whispered and quickly typed, “Yes, let’s meet at seven.”
After so many years, she experienced an empowering yet bitter liberation: making decisions without seeking someone else’s permission.
Looking at her reflection, she reassured herself, “It’s alright, Natasha, we’ll get through it. Let’s see who prevails.”
Rebuilding a Life Piece by Piece
Six months later, Natalia stood before a mirror in a sharp business suit, preparing for an interview at a top company — a chance to escape temporary jobs.
“You can do this,” she encouraged herself. “You are intelligent, experienced, and not as old as you think.”
The phone rang, displaying Oleg’s name. Her heart skipped.
“Yes, I’m listening,” she responded, masking her emotions.
“Natalsha! Hi! How are you?” His tone was unexpectedly light.
“I’m fine. Why are you calling?”
“Nothing special! Just wanted to check. We’re adults now—shouldn’t we talk normally?”
She smiled wryly at his sudden civility.
“I’m busy,” she said. “Preparing for an interview.”
“An interview? You?” His surprise was audible. “At your age?”
Counting to five before responding sharply, she said, “Yes, me. At this age, believe it or not.”
“Aren’t you financially secure? I pay child support.”
“The kids have grown. Child support isn’t relevant anymore. More importantly, I want to work and develop myself.”
There was a pause.
“Listen, perhaps you could stop by? Marina’s away visiting her parents for a week. We could catch up like old times.”
Her smirk was instant.
“No, Oleg. I won’t come. Have a good week.”
Hanging up, she felt a rare freedom: for the first time in decades, she had said “no” without guilt or fear.
The next day, the job offer arrived.
Client Relations Manager — not her dream role, but a doorway to new beginnings.
“Here’s to fresh starts,” she toasted in her empty home.
The phone rang again. Oleg.
“I was at the interview, couldn’t answer,” she said before hello.
“So? How’d it go?” His tone carried subtle condescension.
“I got it.”
“Really? What’s the salary?”
“Enough. What do you want?”
“Well… could you lend me a couple thousand until payday? I miscalculated expenses.”
Frozen, Natalia thought how she once would have sent the money silently and then scrimped on herself.
“No, Oleg. I don’t have spare cash.”
“Come on, Natasha, you just started! Can’t you spare a little?”
“I can’t,” she asserted. “And don’t call with such requests again.”
She hung up and blocked his number. Moments later, she unblocked it—perhaps for the children’s sake. Yet, the boundary felt right. She was learning to respect herself.
- Focused on career growth
- Started professional development courses
- Enjoyed cultural outings with friends
Months flew by. Natalia dove into her work, enrolled in skill-building classes, and ventured out with friends to the theater. Slowly, life regained its vibrant hues.
Unexpected Encounters and Firm Boundaries
One day at a supermarket, Natalia unexpectedly crossed paths with Oleg.
He looked worn and fragile.
“Hi,” he muttered, embarrassed. “You look fantastic.”
“Thanks,” she replied, noticing no stir of past feelings.
“How’s work?”
“Great. I earned a promotion and now lead a department.”
He shifted uneasily.
“And you? How are things?”
“Not so good. Marina left me, saying I’m too old.”
Natalia studied him — frayed shirt collar, tired eyes, uneven stubble — his neglect was clear.
“Sorry to hear that,” she responded coolly.
“Come on, Natasha,” he tried a smile, “you’re secretly glad. You always said she stayed for the money.”
“I’m happy because I’m thriving,” she answered firmly. “Your troubles are no longer my concern.”
He slumped, then eyed her groceries.
“Maybe we could meet up and reminisce?” he suggested.
“No, Oleg. I have an English class,” she declined.
“English? At your age?” he blurted.
“Exactly my age. It’s never too late to learn,” she said, turning away.
She felt his gaze linger but did not look back.
In a year and a half, Natalia’s career flourished. Her apartment was renovated, furnished anew, and she could afford a trip to Spain by herself. When her daughter gave birth to twins, weekends with the grandchildren became a joyful part of her life.
An Unexpected Request
One day, an unfamiliar number called.
“Natalia Viktorovna? This is Sergei, a friend of Oleg Nikolaevich. He asked me to contact you.”
“What’s wrong?” Natalia asked, tense.
“He’s hospitalized. He wanted you to know.”
Frozen, Natalia’s instinct was to rush to his side. Yet, a powerful barrier held her back.
“Is his condition serious?”
“Stable, but he really wishes to see you.”
“Tell him I hope he recovers quickly,” she replied after a pause.
“But…” Sergei started.
“I have the grandchildren now. If it’s urgent, please let me know.”
She hung up, overwhelmed by a strange emotion — not triumph, but liberation. Previously, she would have dropped everything to help. That Natalia no longer existed.
Three days later, a knock came at the door. Oleg stood there, thin and carrying medication.
“Natalsha, may I come in?” he asked quietly.
After a pause, she opened the door wider.
“Come in. Tea?”
Sitting in her kitchen, Oleg glanced around.
“You’ve remodeled. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“You didn’t visit me in the hospital,” he said reproachfully.
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
She studied him carefully.
“Why should I have?”
“We shared so many years together…”
“We did. But we divorced three years ago.”
Oleg looked down, regretful.
“I was on a drip, believing I wouldn’t make it. I realized I was foolish. I traded our family—you—for Marina. She left when troubles started.”
Natalia stared silently at her tea.
“Natalsha, I wanted to ask… maybe we could start anew? I’ve changed. I understand family’s value now.”
She met his gaze slowly.
“Oleg, you’re not asking because you value family but because you’re alone—jobless and unsupported.”
“No, Natasha, that’s not true.”
“The truth is that desperation, not love, brings you here.”
Oleg flushed.
“You’ve always been blunt.”
“And you have always avoided responsibility,” she replied calmly.
An awkward silence settled. Natalia viewed the man she had devoted most of her life to. Where once his smile made her heartbeat quicken, now she felt only pity.
“What happened to you, Natasha?” Oleg broke the quiet. “You’ve become so cold.”
She sipped her tea thoughtfully.
“I’m not cold. I simply don’t waste myself on others anymore. Didn’t you say I think too much about others and not enough about myself?”
“But not about me!” he exclaimed.
Natalia laughed — sincerely and without bitterness.
“That’s just you, Oleg. For thirty years, I lived to care for you, the kids, and still work. Yet, even now, you demand the old Natalia who drops everything to fix your problems.”
“I’m not demanding…”
Her glare silenced him.
“You are. You never asked how I am or what’s new. Do you even care if I’m happy?”
“And are you happy?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” she replied simply. “For the first time in many years, I am genuinely happy. I have engaging work, friends, hobbies. I travel and help with the grandkids. I live for myself.”
Oleg lowered his eyes in shame.
“And I am alone. No family, no support. I was laid off a month ago. Marina left earlier, taking half my savings. The friends I had were only around while I helped others.”
“I’m sorry,” Natalia said, truly meaning it.
“Help me,” he suddenly pleaded. “I didn’t expect this. I thought at fifty-nine I’d enjoy life fully—not be sidelined. Help me get back up.”
She fixed her gaze on him.
“What exactly do you want, Oleg?”
“Perhaps I could stay here a while until I find work? I’d help around the house…”
“No,” she said firmly.
“Natalsha…”
“This is my home, my life. I won’t let you ruin it.”
“But we were family! Don’t thirty years mean anything?”
“They do,” she acknowledged. “They taught me to respect myself, guard my time, and resist empty promises.”
Oleg clenched his fists.
“So you won’t help me if I’m in trouble?”
“I never said I wouldn’t help,” Natalia responded coolly. “But you will not live here.”
She stood, retrieving a business card from a drawer.
“My company needs a logistics specialist. No leadership role, but stable and well-paid. I can recommend you if you really want to work and avoid shortcuts.”
Oleg examined the card, stunned.
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely. Also, I know a realtor who can find you affordable accommodation. I’ll pay for the first month; after that, it’s your responsibility.”
“Why help after everything?”
She smiled gently.
“Because I can. Because I’ve moved past resentment. And because helping isn’t the same as returning to the past.”
Oleg studied the card long, then met her eyes.
“I never saw you as this strong. I always thought you were just convenient.”
“I know,” Natalia said. “That’s why we divorced.”
Walking him to the door, she said, “Contact me about the job or the realtor. But don’t come without notice or try to manipulate me. I see through that now.”
“You’ve changed,” he remarked as he left.
“I’ve grown up, Oleg. You should try it too.”
When the door clicked shut, Natalia felt neither triumph nor bitterness—only quiet contentment that her journey had come full circle. From pain and loneliness, she had uncovered her true self.
The phone rang again; her daughter invited her to spend the weekend with the grandchildren.
“Of course, sunshine,” Natalia answered warmly. “I’ll bake your favorite pie.”
Looking out the window, she realized: life carries on—and now, it was genuinely hers.
In conclusion, Natalia’s story portrays the challenging transition from a long, painful marriage to independent self-empowerment. Her journey reveals the strength required to set boundaries, embrace new opportunities, and find happiness on one’s own terms. It highlights personal growth through adversity and the importance of valuing oneself above past attachments.