Philip had loved Elizabeth since school, and they planned to get married in the future.
Philip’s mother, Angelina Semyonovna, who headed the maternity department at the hospital, disapproved of her son’s choice. She had long favored nurse Christina, hoping her son would marry this girl, who was liked not only by the hospital staff but also by the patients—a girl from a dynasty of doctors.
After graduation, Philip enrolled in a medical institute, and Elizabeth in a foreign languages institute, aspiring to become an English translator like her mother and grandmother. The classmates decided to celebrate this event in nature and went to Philip’s parents’ country house.
They spent almost a whole month there and did not want to return home. But the school year was starting soon, and they needed to prepare.
In the fall, Liza told Philip:
— I’m pregnant. How will you react?
— How do you think? Of course, I’ll carry you in my arms to the registry office.
— I’m not alone and I’m heavy.
— Found something to scare an athlete with. It wasn’t for nothing that I was into wrestling at school. You’re light as feathers to me, — joked a delighted Philip.
— But what about our studies?
— Yes, Liza. It seems you’ll need to take a break for a year after giving birth.
— I’ll switch to distance learning, like my mom. She had me at nineteen and managed everything. But let’s agree, Phil, after the wedding you move in with us. Respect your mother from a distance. I’ve known for a long time she won’t accept me. She’s got quite the personality.
— Only for your peace of mind, Liza, — agreed Philip.
Elizabeth and Philip filed their marriage application and returned to their respective apartment entrances. At Liza’s place, guests had arrived. A friend of her father’s had come with his wife and son Alexander, sixteen years old but looking older.
At home, Philip informed his parents about the new event in his life and warned them to prepare for the wedding.
Angelina Semyonovna disliked this, and she went to Elizabeth’s parents in the evening to create a scene. She rang the doorbell several times, but no one answered. In the living room, they were setting the table, and music was playing, similar to the doorbell tune, and no one noticed because they weren’t expecting anyone. Guest Alexander was taking a shower at that time and was surprised that no one responded to the doorbell. He wrapped a towel around his hips and opened the door.
At first, Angelina Semyonovna was flustered, but realizing she had a phone in her hand, she pressed record and filmed the hallway, starring Alexander in such a state.
— Are you looking for Anna Nikolaevna? — not understanding the movement of this woman’s phone, Sasha asked.
— Not anymore, — and Philip’s mother hurried down the stairs.
At home, she showed Philip the footage, emphasizing that they took long to open the door.
— Recognize Liza’s hallway? It’s still unknown who she’s pregnant by.
— I understand, mom. You were right. She’s not for me.
Philip sent an angry message to Elizabeth on her phone, then turned it off completely. Liza didn’t understand, but couldn’t reach Philip and went to him, despite the late hour.
Angelina Semyonovna anticipated that Liza would rush to her son for explanations and watched her entrance from the window. When she saw the girl, she rushed to the hallway and opened the door herself. Not letting Liza in, she stepped out onto the stair landing.
— What did you want from Philip? He’s already asleep. And you, with one and with another? Keep having fun with other guys, two-faced, — and, returning to her apartment, she slammed the door.
Elizabeth didn’t understand anything and burst into tears, sitting on the step. After some time, she returned home. In the kitchen, Anna Nikolaevna was washing dishes, and her tearful daughter hugged her.
— Liza, what’s with you? The wedding is soon, and you should be happy.
— Mom, nothing will happen now, except that I’m carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred up trouble after learning that we applied for marriage, — and showed her fiancé’s message mentioning an unknown Liza cheating on Philip.
— If Philip behaved like this, he will continue to listen to his parents. God has spared you from him. We’ll raise the child ourselves, — her mother tried to console her.
After the fallout with Philip, Elizabeth struggled to recover and had a difficult pregnancy. She was rushed to the maternity hospital, and her parents were at work. She gave birth to her son under anesthesia, as it couldn’t be done otherwise. In the ward, she was informed that the baby was born stillborn.
After the paperwork, the newborn’s body was handed over to the parents, and they buried him. Elizabeth was still in the maternity hospital, so the ceremony went on without her.
After this incident, Philip’s parents quickly sold the apartment and moved out of the area.
— It’s for the best, my daughter. You painfully endured accidental meetings with Philip, and he passed by with a haughty look.
— I also hope, mom, that I’ll forget him faster.
Eight years passed.
Elizabeth worked as a translator in a small firm, and suddenly Philip entered her office.
— Why have you reappeared in my life? I’ve long forgotten you.
— Sorry, but misfortune brought me to you.
— It’s strange to hear that, Phil. Your cool mom is better suited for trouble. I don’t have time for you. Please leave my office.
— Liza, I beg you to listen to me. It’s important for you too. I’ll wait after work in the cafe across the street.
— I’ll come out of curiosity only, — Elizabeth turned her gaze to the computer screen, signaling to Philip that the conversation was over.
In the evening, Elizabeth and Philip met.
— Sorry, Liza, but my son is ill, and he needs a donor.
— You’re at the wrong address, Philip. Your mother has more opportunities in this area.
— We’re waiting, waiting, and there’s still no donor. I even put my apartment up for sale. You’re a mother, and you have a better chance of helping our son.
— Is this a joke, Philip? Our son was born dead. My parents buried him.
— He’s alive, and he’s already eight years old.
— Then how did this happen?
— Remember the day we filed for marriage?
— I’ll never forget your nasty message.
In response, Philip repeated his mother’s story about whom she saw in her apartment.
Liza explained who Sasha was, and Philip turned pale. He still loved Liza and had not married. She also wasn’t married, fearing she couldn’t bear a living child again and didn’t want to go through that grief a second time.
— Phil, let’s go back to our son. What did your mother do?
— When you were in the maternity hospital, my mother was there and saw you being wheeled down the corridor to the operating room. She had a 50/50 suspicion that you were pregnant by me. The test confirmed my paternity, but she didn’t want to give you the son. I’m guilty for agreeing to this. The grudge against you gave me no peace. Apparently, God punished us, that’s why our Seryozha is ill.
— Let’s go to him. Let them check me for compatibility. If you’re not suitable, then he must have the first blood group, like me.
— Yes, Liza, I have the third.
Elizabeth’s hands trembled and her heart pounded wildly when she saw her boy in the clinic’s ward.
— Seryozha, I found our mom. We’ve been lost for a long time, but people helped us meet, — Philip said this, and Liza as if froze.
— Mom, I’ve been waiting for you and imagined just such a person. Although we don’t have your photos in our apartment.
— Son, everything will be fine. I’m here and will do everything to make you well, — Elizabeth cried, embracing her son.
— Son, let your mom go. She needs to talk to your doctor.
Elizabeth qualified as a donor, and Seryozha was cured. Philip sold the apartment and paid off the clinic. They live together in an apartment with Liza’s parents.
— Lizonka, forgive me, but we need to get married, and you need to have another child. I want everything to be fine with our son, but his treating doctor warned me that siblings are better donors than parents.
— I, Phil, have read about this and am ready for everything for the health of the children.
Philip and Elizabeth got married and now, besides Seryozha, are raising two more children: a son and a daughter.