Vasily walked slowly through the park, enjoying the warm rays of the May sun. The foliage on the trees had already gathered strength and now rustled from a light breeze. The air was filled with the scent of blooming apple trees and lilacs. Somewhere in the distance, children’s voices could be heard. “Mine are already all grown up,” Vasily thought with a slight sadness, remembering his twins, Lera and Denis.
Fifteen years had passed since he left his family. Vasily remembered that day as if it were yesterday. How he packed a suitcase and told his wife that he was leaving. That he couldn’t do it anymore. He had met someone else. At that moment, it seemed to him that he was doing the right thing. He deserved love and happiness. And what if the feelings had passed? Their relationship had long outlived its usefulness.
Yet, it once seemed that they would be together… forever. He, a young lieutenant, having just been stationed in a distant garrison. And she, a student teacher, who happened to be in that God-forsaken corner for an internship. Their meeting was like a scene from a movie. He, tall and handsome, in dress uniform. And she, delicate and gentle, in a light lilac dress with a floral pattern.
Feelings flared like a fire. Then they married Olya. And like everyone else—family, children. Their twins, Lera and Denis, were born. Vasily was ready to carry his wife on his arms.
Years passed. From a naive lieutenant, Vasily turned into an experienced officer. He grew accustomed to strict military discipline and a clear routine. Olya fully dedicated herself to the family. Became a typical housewife. And Vasily began to notice that a chasm seemed to have opened between them. As if they had become strangers, speaking different languages.
Then he met Irina. She had the freshness, the spark that Vasily so lacked in his relationship with his wife. Irina looked at him with admiration, listened with interest. He rediscovered that long-forgotten taste of life and plunged into a new romance headlong.
So he decided—what about their relationship with his wife? Why torment himself? The decision to leave came easily to him. Conscience? No, the conscience did not trouble him. He had told Olya everything honestly. He offered a trade, left them the apartment. What more was needed? He didn’t even try to imagine how his ex-wife’s life would unfold. How she would cope alone with two children. She would probably find someone kind-hearted.
With Irina, initially, everything was perfect: passion, romance, dates. But over time, the euphoria passed, and harsh weekdays began. Irina had a completely different character, not like his ex-wife. She was more demanding, capricious. Irina was accustomed to living in luxury. She wanted a beautiful life, expensive things, travels. Vasily tried to meet her demands. He worked a lot, took extra shifts. But there was still not enough money.
Arguments, scandals, mutual reproaches began. Irina constantly nagged. She reproached Vasily for not earning enough. He was supposed to provide her with a decent life.
Still, he did not leave Irina. Maybe they argued often, but they also made up passionately. They even had a daughter in their marriage. But even the arrival of a child could not fully fix the family relationships. Irina was never satisfied.
Vasily tried his best to meet his wife’s demands, but it was all in vain. And one day, coming home early, Vasily caught Irina in bed with another man.
And she wasn’t embarrassed and didn’t even try to justify herself. She said she was tired of her husband and was leaving him. It turned out, this lover was a wealthy businessman. Irina found what she wanted…
Vasily was left alone again And suddenly realized that many years ago, he had made a mistake. He destroyed his family for a fleeting happiness… Betrayed his closest people—his wife and children.
And now, after so many years, he was here again. In this park, he once loved to walk with his little ones. So much here reminded him of the past! There was the same bench where he watched children running around the park. And there was the tree Denis tried to climb but fell and scraped his knee. Olya scolded Vasily then for not watching the child. At that time, Vasily was angry with his wife, but now he remembered those times with a smile.
Vasily sat down on the bench, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Suddenly, he so wanted to turn back everything. Correct his mistakes. Embrace his now-grown children. Tell them how much he loves them.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by someone’s voice.
“Dad?”
Vasily opened his eyes and saw a girl standing in front of him. Tall, slim, with long brown hair. She looked at him with wide eyes, full of surprise and… joy?
“Lera?” Vasily said uncertainly, not believing his eyes.
The girl nodded, and dimples appeared on her cheeks. Just like Olya’s.
“It really is you!” exclaimed Vasily.
He hadn’t seen his children for a long time. At first, he dutifully paid child support and saw the children. But then Irina began to nag. Why was he supporting “those”? Vasily gave in. He stopped seeing them and sending child support. And somehow, he distanced himself from this topic. He thought Olya would find someone
Lera came closer and hugged her father.
“We’re just walking here,” she smiled. “You haven’t changed at all,” Lera sat down next to him on the bench. “Only…,” she touched his hair. “You’ve gone a bit gray.”
“I can afford that after fifteen years,” Vasily tried to joke, but the joke sounded somewhat strained. “Lera, can you forgive me?” he asked quietly.
“For what?” Lera didn’t understand.
“Well, for what? For leaving then. Not calling, not visiting,” Vasily managed to say with difficulty.
Lera smiled weakly.
“We’re not mad at you. Well, we were, of course, at first. But then we forgave you. We realized it was better for everyone.”
Vasily looked at her in surprise. Had his children really forgiven him? After everything he had done? Had Olya not turned them against him?
“And how… how’s mom?” Vasily managed to say.
“Fine,” Lera replied. “She works at a kindergarten. Loves children. You know.”
Lera was silent.
“She’s doing well. There’s a man,” she added nonchalantly.
That phrase cut Vasily to the quick. Who was he? How long had this been going on? He himself had left his wife, and now he felt as if he had been betrayed. Vasily inwardly smiled. What a fool you are! What were you expecting? That she would wait for you? It’s been a full fifteen years!
Lera continued:
“And by the way, Denis is getting married soon. Call him. I’ll give you his number. Maybe he’ll invite you.”
Vasily called Denis. His son did not react with as much joy as his daughter. But they still managed to have a good talk. And Denis invited Vasily to his wedding. His heart was torn with conflicting feelings. On one hand, he very much wanted to see his son, meet his fiancée. On the other, he was afraid of meeting Olya. Afraid to see her happy in the arms of another.
But did he have a choice?
When Vasily entered the banquet hall, the guests were already gathered. Music played, waiters bustled between the tables. The air was filled with laughter and the clinking of glasses. Vasily felt slightly awkward.
“Dad!” he heard a familiar voice.
Denis hurried to him with a happy smile on his face.
“Hello, son!” Vasily responded and hugged Denis tightly.
“I’m so glad you could come! Come on, I’ll introduce you to Katya.”
Katya was a beautiful girl. Vasily was happy for his son. When the newlyweds moved away, the man looked around.
He was looking for Olya. And at that moment, he saw her. She was standing by the window. She wore an elegant blue dress. She had hardly changed over the years.
At that moment, their eyes met. He approached her.
“Hello, Ol.”
“Hello, Vasya,” she replied calmly. As if nothing had happened between them.
“You look wonderful.”
“You’ve held up well too.”
They talked a bit about the children, about everything and nothing. Then a man in his fifties approached Olya.
“Ol, aren’t you cold?”
“No, everything’s fine, dear,” she smiled tenderly at the man. “Meet Vasya. Denis and Lera’s father.”
The man extended his hand to Vasily.
“Sergey.”
Vasily shook the man’s hand. So, things between him and Olya were serious. He looked at the happy faces of his children. At Olya, who glowed with happiness next to another. And he felt so nauseous he could climb the walls. Life, like a mosaic, is made up of many pieces. And sometimes we don’t notice how we break this fragile picture with our own hands. And then we regret it for the rest of our lives.
