The apartment had been gifted to Alyona by her grandmother. It was a modest two-bedroom place in an ordinary apartment block on the outskirts of town, but Alyona had arranged every corner with her own hands. There was nothing luxurious about it, yet everything was neat, comfortable, and cared for. Her grandmother had not only transferred the property to her granddaughter but had also made sure every document was in perfect order. There were no disputes, no legal complications, and no problems with ownership.
Alyona worked as a mobile phone repair technician at a service center. The job demanded patience, precision, and a steady hand. She had to take apart tiny circuit boards, locate faults, and carefully restore damaged devices. She earned sixty-five thousand rubles a month, which was considered a very respectable salary in their town, especially for a twenty-eight-year-old woman.
Alyona had always tried to handle everything herself. When shelves needed to be installed, she picked up a drill and did it. When the walls needed repainting, she bought the paint and took care of it on her own. She was used to relying only on herself.
When she met Valery, she thought life might finally become easier. Surely sharing responsibilities with someone would be better than doing everything alone.
But it soon became clear that the idea of being a team existed only in Valery’s words.
After their wedding, he moved into Alyona’s apartment and almost immediately stopped working. At first, he said his old job was not right for him and that he was looking for something better. Later, he blamed the difficult economy. Eventually, he began talking about finding himself and discovering his true purpose.
The months passed, but Valery did not bring a single ruble into the household.
At first, Alyona tried to be patient. She told herself that everyone went through hard times and that the situation was only temporary. She paid the utility bills from her salary, bought all the groceries, and covered every household expense. When the bathroom needed repairs, she paid for them herself. When the refrigerator broke down, she bought a new one with her own money.
Meanwhile, Valery stayed at home, played computer games, or went out with his friends.
Every attempt to discuss work or finances ended in an argument. The moment Alyona mentioned employment or money, her husband became offended. He accused her of not understanding him, putting pressure on him, and expecting too much.
After such conversations, Valery sometimes disappeared to his friends’ homes for several days, claiming that he needed time to process how badly she had treated him.
Arguments gradually became the background noise of their marriage. Alyona grew tired of excuses, accusations, and endless promises. Eventually, she stopped asking him to change. She stopped expecting anything from him.
She simply worked, paid for everything, and silently endured his presence in her apartment.
Then, one July afternoon, she did something no one expected.
While Valery was out meeting friends, Alyona calmly gathered all his belongings. She folded his clothes neatly into bags and packed his books, discs, and personal items separately. Then she placed everything beside the front door.
After that, she went to the civil registry office and filed for divorce.
The procedure turned out to be straightforward. They had no children, and the apartment had belonged to Alyona before the marriage, so there was no jointly owned property to divide. The registry employee explained that she could return in one month to collect the divorce certificate.
When Valery came home and saw his bags by the door, he did not understand what was happening at first. Then he began shouting and demanding an explanation.
Alyona calmly informed him that the divorce application had already been submitted. In one month, the marriage would officially be over. There would be no disputes because there was nothing to divide.
Valery stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Later, he started calling. He tried to persuade her to let him return. He promised that he would find a job, change his behavior, and become a different person.
But Alyona had already made her final decision.
She no longer wanted promises, excuses, or Valery’s presence in her life. Whenever he called, she gave him the same brief answer.
Everything had been decided. There was no way back.
After her husband moved out, the apartment became peaceful again.
No one left dirty dishes in the sink. No one scattered clothes across the room. No one played loud music late at night. Alyona slept well and woke up feeling rested.
Work was going smoothly. Her home remained perfectly clean, and she no longer had to feed, serve, or clean up after another adult.
Nothing tragic happened.
She only felt relief.
It was as though a heavy weight she had carried for two years had finally been lifted from her shoulders.
One month after Alyona filed for divorce, the doorbell rang.
When she opened the door, she found her mother-in-law, Irina Vasilyevna, standing on the landing with her sister, Valery’s aunt. Both women wore light summer jackets and carried handbags. Their expressions made it obvious that they had arrived intending to explain everything to Alyona and put her in her place.
“Your son doesn’t live here anymore. I filed for divorce a month ago,” Alyona said without inviting them inside.
Irina Vasilyevna exchanged a glance with her sister. Confusion appeared on her face.
“What do you mean he doesn’t live here? This is his home. You’re husband and wife.”
“Not anymore. The divorce will be finalized in three days.”
“Without his consent?” Valery’s aunt interrupted.
“When there are no children and no property disputes, a marriage can be dissolved through the civil registry office after one month.”
Her mother-in-law blinked in disbelief. It was clear that neither woman had expected the situation to be so final.
“Where is Valery living now?” she asked.
“I don’t know. It’s no longer my concern.”
“What do you mean, it’s not your concern?” Irina Vasilyevna exclaimed. “You’re his wife!”
“I was. Soon I’ll officially be his ex-wife.”
Valery’s aunt stepped forward.
“You’re destroying a family and throwing your husband out onto the street!”
“I didn’t throw him into the street. I packed his belongings carefully. And the family fell apart two years ago, when Valery decided he no longer needed to work.”
“He’s going through a difficult time! A man needs support!”
“I supported him for two years. I paid for everything and tolerated everything. That was enough.”
“You can’t treat your husband this way!”
“Yes, I can,” Alyona replied calmly. “And sometimes it’s necessary.”
The two women looked at each other again.
They had clearly prepared for a very different conversation. They had expected to find Alyona crying, confused, and easy to persuade.
Instead, they found a woman who had made up her mind and had no intention of changing it.
“At least hear us out,” Irina Vasilyevna said. “We came all this way.”
“I’m listening.”
“Perhaps you could invite us inside. It’s awkward to stand in the hallway.”
“I’m not inviting you in. We can talk here.”
Her mother-in-law gathered her thoughts.
“Valery is suffering. He loves you and wants to repair the relationship.”
“It’s too late.”
“People can change. He’ll find a job, and everything will be different.”
“He spent two years looking. He found nothing.”
“He needs more time.”
“He has already had enough time.”
Valery’s aunt tried a different approach.
“How are you going to live alone? Without a family?”
“Peacefully.”
“A woman is supposed to be married.”
“A woman is supposed to be happy. I wasn’t happy in that marriage.”
“You could have been more patient.”
“I was patient long enough.”
Irina Vasilyevna softened her voice.
“Alyona, you shouldn’t destroy everything so suddenly. Valery is still young. He’ll come to his senses.”
“He’s thirty-one years old. It’s time for him to behave like an adult.”
“Men mature later.”
“Then he can mature somewhere else.”
“But where is he supposed to live?”
“With relatives or friends.”
“A wife must support her husband.”
“I did. I fed him, bought his clothes, and paid every bill. Now someone else can take a turn.”
“At least meet him and talk.”
“I don’t want to. Everything has already been said.”
“How can you be so cold?”
“Very easily, once you get tired of being treated like a cash machine.”
At that point, both women began talking at once, and their voices became sharper.
“You’re destroying your family because of money!”
“You’re ungrateful! Valery loved you and took care of you!”
“What exactly did he take care of?” Alyona asked calmly.
“He helped around the house. He kept you company.”
“He didn’t help. He only created more mess. And I needed a husband who worked.”
“It’s difficult to find a job!”
“In two years, a person can find something.”
“Not every job is suitable for him. He has an education.”
“Then let his education feed him.”
Alyona remained standing in the doorway, completely calm.
She listened to the accusations without interrupting and without raising her voice. She simply waited for their performance to end.
When they finally ran out of reproaches, Alyona spoke clearly.
“The divorce will be finalized in three days. This conversation is over.”
The visit ended quickly after that.
Once the women understood that Alyona would not make any concessions, they turned around and walked toward the elevator.
Alyona closed the door politely but firmly.
A few days later, it was time to collect the divorce certificate.
Alyona went to the registry office alone. Valery did not appear to collect his copy of the documents.
The employee handed Alyona the official certificate with its stamped seal and asked whether everything was all right.
Everything was perfectly all right.
Neither her former mother-in-law nor Valery’s aunt came back. Valery did not contact her again either.
Perhaps he found another woman willing to support him. Perhaps he finally got a job.
Either way, it was no longer Alyona’s problem.
The apartment was completely hers again.
The floors stayed clean because no one walked across them in dirty shoes. A warm lamp glowed above the dining table, where she could enjoy dinner in peace. The rooms were filled with silence, and in that silence, she could finally breathe freely.
Most importantly, there was no longer anyone in her home demanding that she explain why a woman had the right to live in peace.