Svetlana lay motionless, breathing steadily, shielding her eyes from the light of the nearby night lamp with her palm. Evgeny sat on the edge of the bed, holding his phone close to his ear, whispering but clear.
— Mom, I’m telling you, she’s asleep. I checked three times; she won’t wake up.
There was a pause, then with urgency:
— What difference does it make? Tomorrow morning, you go to the ATM and withdraw everything all at once. One transaction, you got it? In full, so she can’t do anything.
Svetlana felt her fingers clench into a fist beneath the blanket. Four years prior, she had married Evgeny, believing he was dependable. He didn’t yell, worked as a manager, and surprised her with flowers.
Moreover, he had a mother who, since their first encounter, had appraised Svetlana like merchandise in a marketplace. She repeatedly mentioned that families should support each other, insisting that money shouldn’t be hoarded but rather invested. Svetlana nodded along, silent, but kept her own money from selling her late uncle’s apartment separate. And she had been right to do so.
— Four-seven-zero-three, did you write it down? — Evgeny listened intently, then sighed. — Good. Nine in the morning at the ATM, no witnesses. You’ll return the card to me immediately; I’ll put it back before she wakes up. She won’t even know. We’ll split the cash later as agreed: you’ll take yours for repairs, and I’ll take mine for the car.
He hung up, sat silently for a moment, then rose. He walked over to her bag on the chair, unzipped it, and pulled out the wallet. Through her eyelashes, Svetlana saw him take out the card, glance at the light, and then put everything back. He lay down next to her and, within five minutes, began to snore.
Meanwhile, Svetlana remained wide awake until dawn.
At eight in the morning, she informed Evgeny that she was heading to the post office. He nodded, absorbed in his phone. By half past eight, Svetlana found herself sitting in a bank opposite a weary-looking employee.
— I need to change my PIN and set a limit on all transactions. Also, I’d like to open an additional card with the old PIN.
The employee raised her eyes, surprised but asked no further questions.
— What limit do you want?
— Any transaction no more than thirty thousand.
— And why a second card?
— For a new account, one without any funds. Just deposit three rubles in it.
The employee blinked, then gave a faint smile. Such situations occurring evidently wasn’t unheard of. After fifteen minutes, Svetlana exited with two cards: one containing her money and the new PIN, and the other with three rubles and the old PIN. She placed the second card in the same pocket of her bag from which her husband had taken the original.
Upon returning home, Evgeny was still perched on the sofa with his laptop. Svetlana stepped into the kitchen, chopping vegetables for lunch while she waited. Tomorrow, Lyudmila Petrovna would attempt to withdraw money. Then the real excitement would begin.
At half past nine, the phone rang.
— Svetlana Igorevna? This is the bank’s security service. There was an attempt to withdraw a large sum; the operation was blocked due to exceeding the limit.
— Are you aware of this transaction?
— Yes, we are. It’s my mother-in-law. I won’t file a complaint.
— Understood. We’ll document the incident; call us if anything else arises.
Svetlana ended the call. Evgeny remained in the kitchen with his sandwich, not even looking up as she walked in.
— Your mother just tried to take my money, — Svetlana spoke evenly, without raising her voice. — You gave her the card the other night and dictated the PIN over the phone. I heard everything, Evgeny.
He froze with his sandwich in hand, then slowly placed it on the plate.
— What do you mean?
— No need to pretend. Four-seven-zero-three, remember? The card you gave her had just three rubles. I swapped them in advance.
Evgeny’s face paled, then he attempted a smile, which turned out crooked.
— Sveta, what’s wrong? My mother needed money; I thought you wouldn’t notice, we’d return it later…
— You thought I wouldn’t notice all my money was missing? Seriously?
— Well, we would return it gradually! It’s family; we have to help each other!
Svetlana stepped closer, giving him a gaze that made him turn away.
— You planned to steal my money. Not to ask, not to discuss, but to steal. While I was sleeping. With your mother’s help.
— What crime is that? We’re husband and wife!
— No, Evgeny. That money was mine; I earned it before we got married. You knew it perfectly well. Pack your belongings; you’re leaving today.
He jumped up, raised his voice, claiming she was greedy, that he had done so much for her, that she owed him. Svetlana stood silently until he ran out of steam. Then, she simply repeated:
— Pack your belongings. Today.
Evgeny departed two hours later with a hastily packed bag and a face that betrayed offense. He slammed the door behind him, not bothering to say goodbye.
Three days later, Lyudmila Petrovna called herself. Her voice trembled with anger.
— What do you think you’re doing?! You’ve set us up! I was almost detained by security; I spent an hour explaining that it was a misunderstanding!
— Lyudmila Petrovna, you attempted to withdraw someone else’s money using a stolen card. That’s called theft.
— What do you understand! Zhenya said you were okay with it! That it’s shared money!
— Evgeny lied. Moreover, you both knew what you were doing.
— You destroyed the family! My son is out on the streets because of you!
— Your son robbed his own wife because of you. Goodbye, Lyudmila Petrovna.
Svetlana hung up the phone. They never called back.
The divorce was finalized in three months. Evgeny tried to demand a share, but the apartment was registered in Svetlana’s name before the marriage, and they found no joint savings. The court proceedings were swift.
Evgeny moved back to his mother’s place. Lyudmila Petrovna immediately began criticizing him, saying he couldn’t keep his wife or her money and now she’d have to feed him. Neighbors complained about daily arguments. After half a year, the mother-in-law decided to sell their two-room apartment and buy something smaller to have some funds left. Evgeny convinced her to invest in his business project, promising profits. The project failed within two months. With what was left, Lyudmila Petrovna bought a one-room apartment on the outskirts, in a building without an elevator. Evgeny rented a room from acquaintances, scraping by with odd jobs.
Svetlana learned of this through a mutual friend who encountered her mother-in-law at a clinic. Lyudmila Petrovna looked unwell, lamenting about her son, life, and the lack of assistance. Svetlana listened and didn’t think of them again.
Almost two years passed. Svetlana was sitting in a café when the door opened, and in walked Evgeny. His jacket was wrinkled, dark circles under his eyes, unkempt hair. Upon seeing her, he froze, then walked straight to her table.
— Sveta, listen, I’m really in a tough spot, but I need your help, — his voice was soft, almost pleading. — I’m completely broke, and so is my mother. Could you lend me something? I promise I’ll pay it back.
Svetlana studied him for a long moment, then took a sip of her water.
— Evgeny, I don’t lend money. It’s my rule. You remember that.
He stood there, opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found no words. He turned and headed for the exit.
Svetlana finished her drink, paid, and stepped outside. She walked through the evening city, past glowing shop windows, reflecting on how happiness isn’t measured by the number of zeros in one’s bank account. It lies in not being afraid to fall asleep next to someone. Not checking if the bag is still there. Not listening at night for footsteps.
She had spent four years on edge without even realizing it. Now she let out a breath and that felt right.
The struggle wasn’t over money. It was about retaining her humanity, not merely being a wallet. It was about having the right to say no without guilt. It was about choosing whom to trust.
Evgeny remained back there in the past, with his schemes and resentments. Lyudmila Petrovna with her greed and empty one-room apartment. But Svetlana moved forward, towards places where people don’t take advantage of her.
And that was her choice.