Part 1
In a small, cozy office the curtains were drawn, a pleasant half-light enveloped the room, and the air was filled with the scent of incense as a fortune-telling session was underway. Opposite a young, pleasant blue-eyed woman—who by appearance did not at all look like a fortune-teller—sat a pregnant client, looking at her with both anxiety and hope. Karina quietly said:
“Give me your palm, and concentrate on your problem. I’ll try to see something…”
At first she ran her finger along the lines on the client’s palm, closed her eyes, and focused as if reading the lines of fate. Then she furrowed her brow, paled, and recoiled. Shaking her head, she said:
“So you say your husband left you—a scoundrel who doesn’t want to raise a child. Yes, that’s right. But this isn’t his child, is it? You had an affair with a man on a business trip—a tall, brown-eyed, dark-haired fellow. And your husband found out recently, started a scandal, and left. Isn’t that so?”
The client looked at the fortune-teller both shocked and guilty:
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened. But how did you know? Did you really see it on my hand? I myself don’t even know who the baby’s father is. And now my husband’s left, and the lover has gone off to his wife’s. So it turns out I’m completely unwanted. I love my husband, truly, but that affair—it was just an act of revenge, a way to spite my spouse! I’m so frightened! What will happen next? Am I really doomed to raise this child all alone?”
Karina closed her eyes again, moving her hand as images flashed before her eyes as though scenes from a film were unfolding. After a moment, she came back to herself and said:
“No, you won’t be alone. Your husband will forgive you and come back. He loves you too. But not immediately—only after the baby is born. So just wait. Don’t pressure him; give him time to forgive…”
The client began thanking the fortune-teller, shoved some money into her hand, and ran off smiling.
And Karina exhaled, deciding to take a break. After each session she needed time to recover. She sipped a mouthful of aromatic coffee and closed her eyes, trying to relax and regain her composure.
This gift had been passed down to her from her beloved grandmother Agafya—a well-known herbalist and fortune-teller in the neighborhood. As a child, Karina often visited her and was very fascinated by everything her grandmother did; it was she who taught her the art of divination, explaining how the lines of fate flowed and what could be read from them. Together they would gather herbs, and the little girl loved it all, though at that time no one spoke yet of any “gift.” After all, such a gift either exists or it doesn’t.
She first realized she could see the future when she and her friend Anya were chatting while lying on a couch. In a teasing manner, Anya extended her slim palm and said:
“Come on, look—will I have a rich fiancé? When will I get married?”
Karina read the line of fate just as her grandmother had taught her, closed her eyes, and concentrated. Suddenly an image appeared before her: Anya in a wedding dress with their mutual friend, Zhorik!
The girl burst into laughter and startled her friend:
“I see that you will marry our Zhorik! As for whether he’ll become rich, I don’t know!”
Anya snorted and pouted:
“You didn’t inherit your grandmother’s talent, did you? You said that on purpose just to be mean! Really? I need a stud, someone who’s a head taller than me. And your jokes are so silly!”
But when, a year later, they all danced joyously at Anya and Zhorik’s wedding, everyone began to believe in Karina’s talent. At first, only acquaintances came to her, especially when life was difficult and everyone wanted to know their fate. However, the young woman couldn’t always see anything; there were moments when the gift seemed to vanish—especially when she herself was ill. And she couldn’t predict anything about herself either; she only saw darkness, and nothing more.
After school, Karina went to study psychology—which was close to her talent—and simultaneously earned money through her fortune-telling sessions, having rented a small office in a hotel. She didn’t have a price list; her grandmother had strictly warned that one must not set such prices. Otherwise, the gift might leave forever and misfortune would be invited. One must help people selflessly and wholeheartedly, though it wasn’t wrong to accept sincere gratitude.
So she was pleased with whatever people offered her. Not long ago, Karina had met Sasha. He, too, was just taking his first steps in his professional career, trying to develop his network marketing business. Although things were difficult and clients were few, the young man hoped that soon he’d get on his feet and business would take off. They met completely by chance—and in an unusual way. It was winter; Karina was getting off a bus, slipped, and fell into the snow. Sasha rushed to help her up and brush the snow off, like a true gentleman. The young woman grabbed his hand to stand up, and suddenly it was as if electricity had passed through her; she looked at him piercingly and suddenly said:
“Thank you, please be careful! You don’t need to go anywhere today. Otherwise, trouble will befall you!”
The man was taken aback and replied:
“Are you a seer? How do you know what will or won’t happen? Or is this your original way of introducing yourself? I’m flattered!”
But Karina, with complete seriousness, answered:
“I’m just an ordinary girl, far from being a seer, though sometimes I can see the future in a palm. Listen to me—I’m not joking! Do not leave the house today. You’ll thank me tomorrow! And here’s my business card!”
They said goodbye; Sasha was amused, thinking that the girl had just tried to be original. He was quite taken with her. Yet that very day he was indeed invited to a birthday party by an acquaintance, but for some reason he didn’t feel like going! He declined, citing tiredness and busyness. And when, the next day, he learned how that drunken party had ended, he immediately remembered the acquaintance from the day before! At that birthday, everyone had gotten into a fight and the police had arrived. It turned out that this chance acquaintance had actually saved him from trouble! And she wasn’t a fraud at all. The man was moved and decided to search for her in order to thank her. That’s how they began to be friends, and then eventually started dating, falling in love with each other. He didn’t shower her with extravagant bouquets or sing serenades; he simply loved her quietly and faithfully, always being there. Karina treasured what she had. After all, she had already experienced a difficult relationship with a previous boyfriend that ended in breakup. Therefore, she valued her relationship with Sasha—they rarely quarreled. They started living together; everything was fine, except that both very much wanted children, and they were nearly thirty. But early in the relationship Karina had honestly confessed to her fiancé that she would never have children—that she was infertile. The problem had first emerged when, with her first fiancé, she had tried to become pregnant. But after thorough examinations, the doctors had put a cross on her: she would never have children, period. Because of that, her first boyfriend had left her. Karina was deeply troubled by her diagnosis, feeling that she was somehow different, an empty vessel. The mere thought that Sasha might also one day not be able to bear it and leave her was unbearable. But Sasha was not that kind of man—he truly loved her and accepted her just as she was. He often reassured her that he would always be by her side, no matter what happened, though deep down he too dreamed of having children.
A year passed; they lived in harmony, hardly ever quarreling, and finally decided to adopt a child from an orphanage—to raise him, love him as their own, and find meaning in life! After all, it is for the sake of children that we strive and achieve something in life!
Karina decided to visit the orphanage with Sasha to take a look, saying:
“Let’s not overthink it—whether it’s a boy or a girl, I believe my heart will guide us to either a son or a daughter!”
Part 2
They spent an hour in the children’s room, talking with the little ones; Karina nearly wept—she felt so sorry for these tiny beings, for they were unwanted by everyone. The children clung to her and Sasha, scrambling for their arms and telling their little stories, asking to be played with. The woman was at a loss; she didn’t know which one to choose. Sasha was even more stunned; he had never imagined how many abandoned, unfortunate little ones there were in the world. And then Karina saw a small, skinny, almost emaciated boy, about five years old, sitting under a table on the floor and staring blankly into space, seemingly unresponsive to the guests. It seemed as if he wasn’t interested in what was happening in the room, and that was very strange. Karina decided to try to warm him up a bit and, bending down, asked:
“Hello, little sunshine! What’s your name? Come join us on the couch. It’s fun here and there are plenty of gifts. Don’t be sad. Would you like an apple? Or perhaps a chocolate candy?”
The boy turned his face toward her; his eyes were filled with an indescribable melancholy, like that of an adult. He remained silent, sighed heavily, and turned away again…
This reaction completely surprised the woman. She and Sasha exchanged glances and decided to inquire about the child with the orphanage supervisor. The supervisor immediately began to dissuade them:
“If you’re talking about Sergei Govorov, I wouldn’t advise you to take this child. He is very sickly—a whole bouquet of problems. He barely speaks, stammers, and isn’t doing well with his mother; you’ll have a hard time with him. For two years now he’s been unresponsive, avoiding both children and adults, and won’t make any contact. He lives in his own world and won’t let anyone in. Apparently, some deep psycho-emotional trauma from childhood has taken its toll.”
Karina, struck by the sad, almost old-man-like look of the child, said with determination:
“May we speak with him alone, at least try? Please!”
The supervisor shrugged:
“It’s your business—try, but I warn you it’s all useless. Everyone has tried—doctors and psychologists alike—and nothing has worked.”
They led the boy into a small office; the supervisor tactfully excused herself. The boy sat on the edge of a chair, timidly and distrustfully staring at the couple like a frightened wolf pup, ready to retreat into a defensive shell.
Karina cautiously attempted to extend her hand toward him, but he pulled his away, making it clear he did not want to be acquainted. Undeterred, she began speaking softly—as if not even to him, but aloud:
“Little Sergey, my name is Karina, and this is Sasha, my husband. We’ve come here hoping to find a child to love and care for. I would read you fairy tales, and Sasha would teach you to ride a bike. I really want you to know that my heart has chosen you. Tell me, would you like to live with us? Or do you like it here?”
The boy suddenly looked at her intently, almost like an adult, and timidly extended his tiny hand to her, even managing a small smile. The woman nearly burst into tears—she realized that his frozen heart was beginning to thaw, and that he was open to contact, which meant he was not entirely against it.
She gently stroked his thin hand and said:
“I want you to know that Sasha and I will never abandon you. Do you trust me? Nod for me, please, sweet one! Will you wait for us?”
The boy nodded his head and finally spoke his first word in all that time:
“I don’t feel well here…I want to go home. Go back soon, Mom!”
Tears welled up in Karina’s eyes as she could no longer hold back her emotions. She embraced the little boy tightly and, deep in her heart, understood: this was her child! She deliberately refrained from trying to read his palm—whatever was destined to happen would unfold as it must. Yet she decided for herself that they would no longer be looking after anyone else. Sasha too had grown fond of the boy; he felt so sorry for him. Yes, they would have to work hard with him, for the child was clearly very neglected and frightened. They would have to invest much effort to help him open up and give him a happy childhood.
The supervisor was quite surprised to see that Sergey was engaging with Karina—until then, no one had managed such a breakthrough. It seemed fate itself had led them to him. Therefore, she decided not to delay the guardianship procedure: the people were good, and the boy’s situation would surely improve compared to the orphanage. While the commission was reviewing the documents, Karina and Sasha visited the little one frequently, talking with him so that he would get used to them faster. The boy gravitated toward them and eagerly waited for the day he would finally be taken home.
A month later the couple officially brought Sergey home. At first he was very shy, but gradually he adjusted and grew accustomed to his new life. On the very first day, Karina filled the bathtub with warm water, added some children’s foam, and called the boy in to bathe—she wanted to pamper him. He went gladly. He loved splashing around in the tub, rather than taking turns in the shabby communal shower with other children. The woman even bought him a bathrobe specifically for a little boy, and then went into the kitchen to prepare dinner, leaving him in his room watching cartoons. Soon after, Sasha returned from work. He greeted them, began chatting with his son, and suddenly noticed a small pendant around the child’s neck. With interest he asked:
“What an interesting little trinket! May I see it? Where did you get it? Well, look at that—I have the very same one, silver, with a little horse! How can that be? Come on, let’s compare!”
Karina was dumbfounded when she went in and saw that her husband was holding two identical pendants. He explained everything. They asked the boy:
“Sweetheart, can you tell us where you got this pendant? Do you remember?”
The boy nodded and said:
“My mom gave it to me—the one I lived with before… She was kind, loving.”
Tears welled up in Karina’s eyes, and she cautiously asked:
“And what happened to your mom afterward? How did you end up in the orphanage? Do you remember anything?”
Sergey suddenly covered his face with his hands and began to cry, stuttering heavily from emotion:
“I don’t know… she disappeared, and then some nasty, unfamiliar aunts took me to the orphanage! I cried and pined so much, and the caregiver kept saying that my mom abandoned me and would never return… I don’t believe her—she’s lying! They’re all lying! My mom would never abandon me! I think maybe she died. But they just won’t tell me…”
The boy burst into bitter, inconsolable sobs and clung to Karina trustingly. She gently stroked his light hair and whispered:
“Now, now, don’t cry or be upset, my little one. Everything is behind you now. Sasha and I will love and protect you, and we won’t let anyone hurt you! I promise!”
The child quieted down, was soon soothed, and before long began softly cooing in the arms of his new mother. In Karina’s heart, she felt as if she’d never known such warmth—it was the true feeling of motherhood, knowing that you were responsible for the life of a tiny, defenseless human being.
Sasha said softly:
“But still, I don’t understand. How did it happen that our Sergey and I ended up with identical pendants? They are handcrafted—such things are not available for sale. Tomorrow, I’ll go and ask your parents straightforwardly. This mystery won’t leave me in peace. After all, my pendant was given to me by my father on my birthday when I was little. How can it be that you chose that very boy by intuition because he had the same pendant as mine?”
The next day, Sasha went to his parents’ place. He hadn’t visited them as often lately—life, responsibilities. They were very happy to see him; his mother even set the table, and his father began asking in detail about his family and work, eager to hear the news about the adopted son. Then Sasha got to the main point:
“Dad, Mom, look at these two pendants! One is mine—the one you, my father, gave me—and the other was on our son’s neck when we picked him up from the orphanage. How is this possible? Dad, you yourself told me countless times that you made mine on special order, one of a kind. Please, tell me the truth!”
An awkward silence fell; his father and mother exchanged troubled glances, as if weighing whether to speak or not.
His mother couldn’t hold it in any longer:
“What are you staring at me for, Lena? It’s time, it seems, for you to confess in front of your own son—not just in front of me! Why are you silent? Tell us, is it your sin?”
Sasha couldn’t understand, and his father sighed and began to speak, realizing that there was no other way to keep quiet:
“It happened a long time ago. Galia and I had just married. I loved her deeply, but we were so different—both hot-tempered, constantly quarreling. And then the devil took hold of me—I began an affair with a woman named Raya. I thought it was nothing serious, but then I got carried away, running back and forth, living a double life. Of course, Galia found out and was shocked when she discovered she was pregnant—I had no idea. But I’m no scoundrel who would leave a child fatherless, so I broke off with that woman and chose your mother instead. And as a memento, I gave that very pendant to her—and the other one to your mother. It was meant to be a symbol of my love for both of them. Don’t look at me like that—no one is without sin! I haven’t heard anything more about Raya. I lived my whole life with Galia. Over time, she forgave me—thank God. And I even reproached myself later when the obsession passed. I know, I acted dishonorably.”
Sasha stared at his father in shock:
“Well, you don’t say, Father! You and Mom have always been my ideal family, and now this comes out. I’m honestly in shock. But if the boy is wearing the pendant now, maybe he’s related to me? If we suppose theoretically that Raya was also pregnant by you—how did he get it then?”
His father flailed his arms and began crossing himself:
“No, no, that’s impossible—Raya was never pregnant by me! I’m sure of it. Besides, she had problems with that matter—I remember it clearly!”
Sasha asked for the address where Raya once lived and decided to go there. After all, perhaps she still lived there? The mystery of the pendant was becoming more and more tangled, and thus even more intriguing.
At the given address, Sasha discovered an old, abandoned house, clearly uninhabited for a long time. It was overgrown with grass up to the waist, the fence had collapsed, and the lock on the door was completely rusted. He flagged down a neighbor—a woman returning from shopping—who was passing by:
“Hello. Could you tell me where the woman who once lived here, Raisa, moved to? I really need to find her! It’s very important!”
The woman shook her head sadly:
“Raisa died, may she rest in peace—about ten years ago. So there’s no chance of speaking with her now. She was very ill, suffered for a long time, and everyone pitched in for her funeral.”
Sasha asked:
“That’s a pity. Did she have any children? A husband? A family? Not a single soul? Can that really be?”
The neighbor sighed:
“Raya never married and had no children, that’s for sure. With her illness, it was impossible. She lived alone, like the tip of a finger—always caring for stray cats and dogs. She was a kind, good woman.”
Sasha left, utterly confused. What connection could there be, then, between him, the adopted son, and the pendant—if Raya had no children? It was an enigma, that’s all!
That evening, when Sergey was fast asleep, Sasha told Karina everything, and she pondered:
“What a mystery! Just like something out of a detective story! We must find out something more about this Raya. She must have had friends, acquaintances, a job somewhere. Maybe then a thread leading to the truth will appear! Otherwise, it’s just a dark forest!” Suddenly, her husband said:
“Listen, Karina! You’re a fortune-teller—can’t you see something on Sergey’s palm? Please, try!”
The woman immediately refused:
“I won’t, don’t even ask! First of all, my gift doesn’t seem to work with my own relatives—I’ve tested it a hundred times. And secondly, who knows what I might see? No, let it be as it’s destined. I’ve already paid dearly for my grandmother’s gift with my infertility! I don’t want to invite more misfortune.”
But Sasha couldn’t let go of the mystery of the pendant, so he again inquired among Raya’s neighbors, hoping to learn even a little about her. He was lucky—a neighbor, a nurse named Evdokiya who lived across from Raya, recalled something important:
“Raya didn’t have many friends—almost no one visited her. She was always secretive and withdrawn. And when she was really ill, the hospital’s cleaning lady, Marina, who worked in therapy, used to visit her regularly. They couldn’t afford to hire a nurse for injections and drips for Raya, so Marina did it for next to nothing, grateful for every penny. She visited Raya almost until her very death and, of course, was at the funeral, crying—she had clearly grown attached. And, well, I do remember that Marina has a little boy of her own; she came here a couple of times with him, obviously having no one else to look after him. That’s all I recall. Oh, dear, poor Raya died so young—what a pity.”
Sasha returned home with this news, told Karina, and then asked suddenly:
“What do you think, dear—should we even dig any further? Should we look for this nurse? Or should we just drop it and live, raising our son? What business is it of ours, who his mother was and where that paternal pendant came from? We might only end up with more problems. What if it turns out that Sergey’s mother is not dead and later comes to take him away from us? Then what will we do? The little one is just beginning to blossom—it wouldn’t be good to traumatize him further.”
Karina thought long and hard, weighing everything, and then answered:
“You’re right, Sasha—it’s simpler not to know anything and just live peacefully, raising our son. But you know I’m superstitious. Think about it—was it not fate that led me to choose Sergey at the orphanage? And he was the only one who reached out to me! After all, the supervisor said it took him two years to show any contact! Perhaps this is a sign of destiny—that we were meant to see the pendant! And perhaps his mother can be found? Remember how he spoke about his mom—with such love and tenderness! It doesn’t seem that his mother is utterly lost. No—let’s see this through to the end. Whatever is meant to be, will be. And if we learn that Sergey’s mother is dead or that she doesn’t want her son, then we can finally have peace and live on without this mystery haunting us!”
With his wife’s support, Sasha went to the very department where Marina worked. First he approached the front desk nurse and began to ask:
“Good afternoon. How can I find Marina Pirogova? She’s a nurse here. I really need to speak with her. Can you help? Which shift is she on?”
For some reason the nurse grimaced and answered sharply:
“Not at all! She no longer works here. It’s been six months. Now, if you’ve finished, please leave. This is not the place for idle chit-chat—just look at the queue of patients!”
Sasha was disheartened—the last thread of hope had been cut off. What should he do now? Where could he possibly find Marina? He didn’t know her address, and no one would give it to him—it was a dead end!
Then an elderly orderly caught up with him, tugged on his sleeve, and began pushing him toward a storeroom for supplies. Muttering in a confused tone:
“I know everything about Marina. Don’t believe Svetka—she’s lying. Marina didn’t quit on her own; she was accused of stealing drugs and was imprisoned. I can’t say exactly where she’s being held—rumor has it in Tver. But she didn’t take anything, you understand? The supervisor set her up! He had it in for her, and she wouldn’t have it any other way! Moreover, once she found out about his shady dealings, she wanted to go to the police. And that’s when he got rid of her—making sure no one would ever trust her again, painting her as a thief, and pinning all his own misdeeds on her! Marina is a good woman—you’ll sort it out, she’s not to blame; she’s paying for someone else’s sins. It’s not right!”
Sasha perked up and asked:
“But didn’t she have a son—a little boy? What happened to him? Where is he now?”
The orderly answered:
“They know where he is—he was taken to an orphanage! They don’t have any relatives, so the poor boy is now suffering in the orphanage because of that scoundrel, our supervisor! And no matter what, he seems to have no conscience—living his life as if nothing happened!”
Sasha thanked the talkative woman and handed her a little money. He already knew what he had to do next. He would put everything on hold and go to the correctional facility. He had to find out everything, to speak with Marina and reassure her that her son was safe—that Sergey was with them! Unbelievably, how many torments had been imposed on her! Karina supported her husband, packing him a travel bag with a thermos of tea, sandwiches, and warm clothes. Meanwhile, she stayed behind with the little one at home. Sergey became more attached to her, ate well, stopped crying at night, and even his stuttering nearly disappeared. The boy loved to draw—that was his favorite activity. Karina bought him paints and a sketchpad, and he happily spent hours drawing. Mostly he drew animals or cars, but often one same gloomy drawing appeared—a scene of spears and arrows flying from all directions, with some strange figure lying on the ground. Karina sensed that this drawing was somehow connected with his past, but remembering his recent painful reaction to probing questions, she didn’t delve too deeply. They took long walks in the park; Sergey was a calm, thoughtful boy who didn’t like to run wildly like other children. He adored feeding pigeons and also stray kittens. They would purposely bring soft pâtés to feed the kittens that had been born behind the pizza stand. Sergey would hold a tiny kitten in his arms, stroke it gently, and whisper:
“How lovely you are—eat up, I brought this for you. I’ll come back tomorrow—will you wait for me?”
Karina’s heart ached for the little foundlings. She asked her son:
“Sergey, would you like for us to take one home with us? To live with us? Choose whichever you like best.”
The little one burst out with joy and hugged Karina with his warm, childlike arms:
“Thank you, Mom! Of course I do! I was just too shy to say it. Let’s take this one—the gray one, he’s so funny, with a little white bow tie on his chest. Let’s call him ‘Pushok’ (Fluff)! Look how fluffy he is! I’m so happy—now I’ll have my best friend! But what about his brothers and sisters? Mom, you don’t come to them? They can’t take care of themselves, right? They’ll die, won’t they? I feel so sorry for them…”
Karina felt a pang of shame—the little son turned out to be kinder and more considerate than she was herself! She immediately replied:
“Of course, we can’t take everyone home. Let’s take them to an animal shelter. Surely they’ll find good owners for them, and they won’t be lost forever!”
Sergey looked at her in an unexpectedly mature way and asked:
“What about me? My mom is probably dead now, and you’ve become my new mom, haven’t you? So I won’t be lost? I feel so good with you, Mommy! And Dad is so cool! I love you both! We’ll always be together now, won’t we? I don’t want to go back to the orphanage—it’s so awful there. But you know, sometimes I miss my mom so much…”
Karina couldn’t help but burst into tears; her emotions overflowed as she hugged the little one and tried to comfort him:
“What are you saying, my dear? You’re not a stray kitten—you are our most beloved little person! We’re together now, forever. Don’t worry—no one will send you back to the orphanage! Without you, your Dad and I would be lost. And it’s perfectly normal that you miss your mom, because you loved her. Everything will be alright. Together, we’ll manage. Now, take Pushok, and I’ll pack the others in a little box. Shall we go arrange our little furry gang? We’ll even need to buy everything for your new pet—so many things to do!”
The little boy immediately forgot his sad thoughts and began chattering excitedly about which litter box to choose, what kind of bowl Pushok should have, what food they should feed him, and how Dad would be surprised when he returned!
Karina answered him cheerfully, while inside her heart something unthinkable was happening. She thought: “My God! What has happened in the life of this little boy that at five years old he speaks as if he were an old, wise man? Where did his mother vanish? It’s clear he was deeply attached to her and loved her—so she certainly wasn’t an alcoholic or a lost soul! Something tragic must have happened! No, Sasha and I must get to the bottom of this; I can’t live in peace unless I know what really happened to his mother, who she is, and where she is.”
Meanwhile, Sasha was speaking with the head of the correctional facility in distant Tver. The man said:
“You’re too late, sir. Marina Pirogova died two months ago along with other female inmates in a fire. It’s true that a couple of people escaped, but they will certainly be caught in time. Marina’s body was so badly burned that it was unrecognizable—only her smock with a number miraculously survived. So, I’m afraid I can’t help you with anything.”
Sasha was distraught—after such a long journey, it turned out it was all for nothing! He only asked in parting:
“You know, I spoke with one of her colleagues, and she believes that it was our supervisor who defamed her. And Marina was not at fault at all! In your opinion, as a professional, could something like this really have happened?”
The stern man softened a bit and said:
“Believe me, I’ve seen all kinds of people here—every day I come across murderers, drug addicts, thieves, and all sorts. This woman was quiet and pleasant, never one to pick a fight. Her workmates abused her; she even ended up in the prison hospital a couple of times. It was hard for her here, to say the least. As for whether she’s guilty or not, it’s hard to say. In my opinion, she doesn’t strike me as the calculating drug peddler type. And who knows…”
Sasha returned by train, feeling sorrowful. “So it turns out that Sergey’s mom has perished, and now we’ll never know where that pendant on my father’s neck came from on the boy? But then again, perhaps with time everything will settle, and Sergey will forget the past, and for us he will always be the most precious and beloved mom and dad!”
Sasha went back and told his wife everything; together they sympathized with poor Marina, who might have been Sergey’s mother. What a twisted, complicated fate—how terrible it was to be burned up alive! And they decided that they would not pursue the mystery any further, for all the threads leading to the secret of the pendant had been severed.
Sasha was overjoyed with the new addition. Pushok was so cute and affectionate—he clung to everyone, and little Sergey practically never left his side. He cared for him so much, adored him, and invented all sorts of little entertainments. The child truly came to life with the appearance of the pet—he laughed more often, smiled, and gradually recovered from all that he had experienced. Karina slowly began to get Sergey accustomed to interacting with other children. After the orphanage, where he had been treated so harshly, he found it hard to make contact. At first, the woman simply took him to the shopping center with a children’s playroom with attractions. The little one longed to jump on trampolines or crawl among soft balls, but there were already other children there! And he was afraid that they might push or hurt him. Karina didn’t force him, waiting for Sergey to overcome his fear on his own. And then a cheerful, chubby-cheeked little girl helped him. She confidently approached him and said:
“Hi! Let’s be friends! My name is Yulia! And you? Come on, let’s jump! I can do flips—can you?”
Sergey was astonished, and shyly replied:
“I’m Sergey. I’d like to be friends! But… you won’t fight, will you?”
Yulia laughed:
“Why would I fight? Decent kids don’t fight! That’s what my mom always says. Let’s be friends! Come on!”
They took each other’s hands and ran off to the trampolines! Karina watched her son with bated breath. He was laughing and chattering with the girl—and she exhaled, thinking to herself, “Thank God! At last, Sergey understands that not all children are bad and that it’s possible to be friends with them. Now everything will be alright! I never imagined I’d care so much about my son! He has made such a small step forward, and I feel as if I’ve won a million dollars! That is what it means to be a mother—when everything that happens to your child matters more to you than your own life!”
Part 3
One day a strange woman came for a session. She was very poorly dressed, and a huge, unsightly scar from a burn marred her cheek. The client was visibly nervous and began immediately with the most urgent request:
“Hello. I desperately need your help—you could say you’re my last hope! You see, I’m searching for my son; due to some misfortune I ended up in the orphanage with him. But I don’t even know which one! I have no idea where to find my little boy! My heart is breaking, and I cry every day! I beg you, help me find him! I have no money—I assume your services are fee-based?”
Feeling deep pity for this unfortunate, lost woman who was fighting for her son, Karina replied:
“Don’t worry about the money—I’ll look at your hand for free. Now, give me your palm, focus, and think of your child; I’ll do my very best to help you.”
The fortune-teller first examined the lines of fate on the client’s palm, then began to run her hand along it again, closing her eyes. Suddenly a vivid image appeared before her:
Flames, panic and chaos, agonized screams! And then, suddenly, this woman—she is holding little Sergey in her arms, stroking his fair head, saying:
“My little darling, happy birthday, my sweet! I prepared a little gift for you and baked a delicious cake. I love you so much, my baby—grow up healthy for your mom’s sake!”
The boy clung to his mother, snuggling, laughing joyfully! Karina immediately opened her eyes, paled, and sweat began to bead on her temples—she felt faint! A thought pounded in her head: “So it is her—the very Marina, Sergey’s mother! She isn’t dead! She’s alive! Oh my God, what will happen now? No—I have no right to hide the truth; it isn’t right! I must tell her everything!”
The visitor interpreted the seer’s alarm in her own way and almost screamed:
“What did you see? Don’t keep silent! Something terrible must have happened to my son, hasn’t it? Is he alive? Please, tell me the truth—I’m completely exhausted!”
Karina exhaled and answered decisively:
“Your son is alive, don’t worry. And I know where he is now…”
Karina hesitated to reveal the most important truth, stumbling over her words. Marina looked at her with such hope in her eyes that, with tears glistening, the fortune-teller finally gathered her resolve and said:
“It so happened that my husband and I recently took a little boy from the orphanage because I’m infertile. And that boy turned out to be your Sergey. Sasha noticed a very special pendant on his neck—just like mine! And that’s how everything began. We started to unravel the mystery of the pendant—it’s a long story! In short, my dear, Sasha was recently in the correctional facility, and they told him that you were declared dead.”
Marina began to cry. She grabbed the fortune-teller’s hand and pleaded:
“Are you telling the truth? You have my Sergey? Oh, what happiness! I’ve found my son! Please, allow me to see him, even just for a moment! I’d get down on my knees if necessary—I risked everything for him! I know I’m doomed, they’ll eventually find me, but I just couldn’t live without my son! Tell me, does he call you ‘mom’? Have you forgotten about me? It’s been two years, hasn’t it?”
The fortune-teller said:
“Sergey is a wonderful little boy. He calls us mom and dad—he loves you. He was barely pulled away from the life in the orphanage, and it was terribly hard for him. But he remembers you—if only partially. He mentioned several times that he loves his mom and misses her. I don’t know what to do, honestly. May I call my husband? I need to consult with him.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Karina phoned Sasha at work and told him everything. He rushed over immediately. He bombarded Marina with questions:
“Tell me, how did it happen that you ended up in prison? I spoke with a nurse at your department—she’s sure you’re innocent. And how on earth did you survive? In the correctional facility, they all assumed you were dead!”
Marina sighed heavily and began to recount everything:
“You ask how I ended up with the pendant—it’s simple. I spent a long time caring for a sick woman named Raisa. She had almost no money to pay me, so she gave me this little pendant. Later, I had my little Sergey, and I put the pendant on him when they took me away… I was just working as a nurse, trying to help people, never lazy. But then, somehow, our supervisor began harassing me. He was quite the playboy—not letting a single skirt pass him by. Many girls agreed to it and put up with it, for fear of losing their jobs. But I simply couldn’t—it was unbearable. And one day, I saw how Gleb Petrovich was taking drugs for himself—powerful narcotics and tranquilizers, which were supposed to be accounted for. He then sold them for a large sum. I told him off, calling him a fool, saying that if he didn’t leave me alone, I’d tell the police, and that would be the end of his career! If only I had known how it would all end, I would never have done it. But that scoundrel managed to set me up—within a week, he framed me! I don’t know who slipped those drugs into my bag, but he pulled them out in front of everyone and called the police. And then, under cover of confusion, he pinned everything on me! I was given a three-year sentence—two and a half of which I’ve already served!”
Sasha was astonished:
“So then, why did you run? You didn’t have much time left, did you? And now they’ll come looking for you? They’re convinced you’re dead! But how will you live if your documents say you’re dead? That would be even worse—a non-existent person! You wouldn’t be able to get new documents or find a job.”
Marina sighed heavily and continued:
“I wasn’t planning to run. Where would I go! It was our boss, Sima, who decided to force my escape. She orchestrated a fire in the dining hall—a complete uproar, everything flared up in an instant. And I just happened to be there. I thought then, perhaps this is my only chance to find my son! You have no idea what it’s like when, for nearly two years, they’ve tried to strangle you every night, beaten you professionally so that no trace is left behind! I’ve been in the prison hospital twice with concussions, once even stabbed with a knife. Yes, you say it’s only been six months! But I was simply afraid I wouldn’t live to see the end of my sentence! So I discarded my smock with the patch and bolted into the yard, climbing into a truck that was hauling our handmade mattresses. I’m so short—I barely exceed the height of a pot—and they didn’t even notice me during inspections. And that’s how I managed to escape! But then, what good did it do? I didn’t even know where they had taken my son! What happened to him? Where do I search for him? I wandered the streets, and that’s it. Then I happened to see your advertisement stating you could help see the future. I never really believed in such things, but somehow my feet brought me here—and for a reason!”
The woman fell to her knees and again began to plead:
“Please, may I see my son? I love him more than life itself! I ran for him! I so long to hold him, to cuddle him, to kiss my little one!”
Sasha consoled her, saying:
“Please understand, Marina, we’re not opposed to you seeing Sergey. But get your wits about you! Do you really think this is a good idea right now? The boy has just calmed down—he’s stopped being wild and withdrawn and is even making friends with other children. And now imagine: you come and declare that you’re his mother! The boy, of course, will be happy and excited! But then what? No matter how you twist it, you’ll have to come out and confess, serving the rest of your sentence. And what will happen to Sergey? He will consider it a double betrayal! Don’t you understand? Once his mother disappeared, he barely survived it, and now that she’s been found, she vanishes again?”
Marina fell silent for a long while, deep in thought, and then said:
“You’re probably right. I can’t hide forever—and without documents, I can’t live. But what should I do? I won’t go back to the correctional facility until I see Sergey!”
Karina then devised a solution:
“You look very different now—Sergey will hardly recognize you. Come with us to our home; I’ll say you’re an acquaintance. You can stay with us for a while, without revealing the truth to him, alright?”
Sasha added:
“And meanwhile I’ll find you a good lawyer who will help make sure you don’t get extra time added to your sentence—after all, they might charge you for escaping! I promise that we will tell Sergey the truth eventually—when he’s older, so as not to traumatize his psyche!”
Marina, with a heavy heart, agreed. It was better than nothing—even though the couple might have thrown her out on the doorstep, since legally she was considered dead and had no rights over Sergey now! How awful it was to realize!
She entered the home on trembling legs. Sergey was drawing under the supervision of a nanny. Upon seeing Karina and Sasha, he ran joyfully toward them:
“Hooray! Mom, Dad, you’re here! I missed you so much! Oh, who’s that? We have guests?”
Karina replied as delicately as possible:
“Yes, sweetheart, this is my good acquaintance Marina. She’ll be staying with us for a little while.”
The boy looked at Marina so intently, as if trying to recall something—and for a moment, her heart sank to her heels! She longed to embrace, kiss, and cuddle her own son, but remembering Sasha’s words, she restrained herself and kept her promise—not doing so, however, was incredibly painful for her. The woman simply smiled, ruffled the boy’s curly hair, and said affectionately:
“Hi there! Let’s be friends, shall we? Show me your drawings! Wow, they’re beautiful!”
That evening, Marina read him a fairy tale and put him to sleep, then went into the kitchen and began to weep silently, covering her face with her hands. Karina and Sasha tried to console her:
“Marina, what’s wrong? Everything seemed fine—you met with your son. Why are you crying?”
Marina mumbled incoherently:
“It hurts so much—so terribly—that Sergey didn’t recognize me. He remembered something, but he couldn’t identify his real mother! But what can one expect? When I was taken away, he was only three! He cried so hard—he screamed until his voice was hoarse. They literally tore him away from me! And prison does nothing for anyone—my voice is forever hoarse now, and my face is disfigured after the fire! You can’t imagine how unbearable the pain is—I just want to close my eyes and have everything go back to the way it was! It was just me and my son, and nothing was wrong!”
Sasha sighed and said softly:
“Unfortunately, that can’t be undone. But you must believe that better days are ahead. You need to serve your sentence, and don’t worry about your son—look how well he is with us! We’ve grown so attached to Sergey; we love him with all our hearts, and the very thought of parting with him is unbearable. But no matter how difficult it is, Karina and I understand that a mother is a mother, and we won’t stand in the way of your contact with him. I only ask one thing: let Sergey grow up, and once your life is settled, then we will tell him the truth. If we do it right now, he will close himself off again and stop trusting people!”
Marina wiped away her bitter tears and replied quietly:
“You’re right—I have no other choice. Even though I bear the cross for someone else’s sins, it seems that this is my fate. And thank you both so much for taking Sergey from the orphanage! I can only imagine what he went through there… Sergey has always been such a gentle, quiet child; he even hated kindergarten and, above all, the orphanage.”
Sasha eventually persuaded Marina, and with the help of an experienced lawyer they had hired, her sentence wasn’t lengthened—and he managed to secure acceptable conditions for her. The bullying against Marina stopped, and after six months in detention she was finally released. In order to always be near her son, Karina allowed her to work for them as a nanny. The woman was overjoyed—now she could see her little one every day, know how he was doing, talk with him, and love him. Karina and Sasha couldn’t ignore Marina’s plight; together they collected money and had a corrective operation performed on her face so that her appearance was no longer as off-putting. Strangely enough, the newlywed couple became very close with Marina—even though the situation might suggest otherwise, since sooner or later they would have to return Sergey to his mother, and they couldn’t imagine how to do that, as they had grown to love this serious, clever little boy so much. But regardless, they saw that Marina was a very good woman who truly loved her son—she was just unfortunate to have had a scoundrel ruin her life by separating her from her own child! And they had no moral right to deprive her of motherhood.
Sasha and Karina helped her fix up a small apartment of her own; they did fresh repairs and replastered the walls—now it was a place where she could live with her child. The question of employment still remained. It was very difficult because with a criminal record, no one would hire Marina even for a simple job as an orderly. Then Sasha got her a job at his company as a caretaker, where Marina was responsible for supplying the office with stationery, water, kitchen supplies, and ensuring that all the taps and appliances were in working order. The woman tried very hard and was grateful to these people who were doing so much for her. And every second she counted down until the day when they would finally tell Sergey the truth and she could take him home.
Sergey went on to first grade. All three of them—Karina, Sasha, and Marina—took him there, and each worried for their first-grader: How would he adjust to the class? Would he like his first teacher? But everything went splendidly. The boy went to school happily and brought home good grades. He had long grown fond of Marina—he did his homework with her and shared his joys and sorrows. And during a family meeting they decided that they couldn’t wait any longer—they had to tell Sergey the truth rather than let the secret torment them any longer. At night, Karina would cry into her pillow, realizing that soon Marina would take Sergey away, and she and Sasha would be left alone once more. It was almost unimaginable.
Sergey was playing with toy soldiers when all three—Marina, Karina, and Sasha—entered his room. As the head of the family, Sasha took on the responsibility of beginning this delicate and important conversation with the little one. He started cautiously, his voice trembling:
“Son, we need to tell you something very important. We have found your real mother—the one you lived with before the orphanage. She never abandoned you, nor did she die as we had thought. It was just that some wicked man put her behind bars. But all these years she has loved you, never forgotten you, and missed you terribly. Tell me, would you like to see her?”
At that, Sergey suddenly sat up, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed loudly:
“Is it true? Mom is alive? I knew it! She could never have abandoned me! But where is she?”
Unable to hold back any longer, Marina rushed toward her son:
“I am your mother, my dear! I love you! Do you remember the song I used to sing about the little bear? How we used to build a snowman in the yard? How I used to call you my little kitten? I’m not to blame for our separation, and I’m so grateful to your new mom and dad for taking you from the orphanage! Come to me—let me finally hold you in my arms!”
Sergey immediately ran to her, now recognizing the voice he had known before. He even burst into tears from the shock and overwhelming joy! Karina, who had been standing there as well, could no longer hold back her own tears—a turmoil of emotions filled her heart. On the one hand, she was happy that mother and son were finally together, but on the other, she had also grown to love the little one so sincerely that she couldn’t imagine life without him!
Sasha was also very saddened; he had grown so used to the idea that the child was living with them, that he called them Mom and Dad, and the responsibilities of caring for him had united the family. How would they manage without their little rascal?
The farewell was heartbreaking. Karina promised Sergey that they would still see each other often, that they’d remain friends, but the pain of loss was almost unbearable. The boy was confused too—he had grown attached to his adoptive parents and felt sorry to part with them, yet he longed for his own mother.
On an emotional high, Karina felt completely overwhelmed. The house suddenly felt empty—there was no one left to care for, to check homework, or play with! A deep melancholy took over her; she lost her appetite and even felt nauseous to the point of vomiting! She completely abandoned fortune-telling—what was the use of it when her own fate was falling apart and she couldn’t even help herself? The gift was gone; she saw nothing anymore!
Unable to bear his wife’s suffering, Sasha, with tears in his eyes, said one evening with determination:
“This can’t go on any longer! Tomorrow we’ll see a doctor! You look so pale, like a shadow—always nauseated. This isn’t a joke anymore! I love you, dear, and I don’t want to lose you! As if it wasn’t enough that you’re ill—we must accept everything that’s happened and move on, do you understand? Perhaps we could even go back to the orphanage and pick up the little one again?”
Karina shook her arms dismissively and replied with trembling lips:
“No, I don’t want anything! Why should I be with you, Sasha? I’m a worthless woman—a hollow shell. I couldn’t even give you a child, and yet in the orphanage I somehow ended up choosing Sergey—whose mother is alive and loves him—and now I’ve lost my son! I don’t want to live!”
Turning away to a wall, she broke down in uncontrollable sobs.
Understanding that arguing would be futile, Sasha simply gathered her in his arms like a child and gently stroked her, thinking to himself, “My silly girl—I love you, no matter what.”
Despite her resistance, Sasha eventually took Karina to the hospital. He couldn’t bear to see her suffer as she looked like a ghost, barely moving, always in distress. Time seemed to stand still in the hospital corridor as they waited for her examination. Soon a doctor emerged and said sternly:
“Please come into my office. I know what is causing your wife’s condition.”
Everything in the man shrank; images of one horror followed another flashed in his mind—but he resolved that, no matter what, he would fight alongside Karina for her health!
Inside the examination room, Karina lay on a couch, pale and frightened, staring in shock at the monitor. Sasha stood by her side as the doctor ran a probe over her, explaining:
“See that small spot in the corner? That’s your little one—your wife is pregnant. With her condition, it’s nothing short of a miracle! Congratulations. Nausea and morning sickness are normal in the early stages. And the sharp mood swings are also normal due to the hormonal changes. I’ll prescribe vitamins and medication to improve her condition. So, please wait for the heir and take care of your wife. No stress—just calm and positive emotions. I expect you back in a month for follow-up registration.”
Sasha couldn’t believe it—Karina was crying too, for she had long believed herself to be barren! And now, such happiness! They were expecting a child—the long-awaited, dearly suffered-for, and beloved one!
Instantly, joy soared; she wanted to shout her happiness to the world! And in Sasha’s mind only one thought echoed: “I’m going to be a dad soon! Little feet will be pitter-pattering in our house once again, and even if we lose sleep, I’ll never let go of my child!”
Sasha doted on Karina, attending to her every need, circling her like a guardian angel, while she bathed in love and eagerly awaited the arrival of the baby. Naturally, they told Marina and Sergey everything. Marina herself rejoiced for the couple and breathed a sigh of relief:
“Thank God! At last, my conscience will no longer torment me! I was so worried that—even if only by accident—I had caused you pain, for you had come to love Sergey. And now, everyone will be happy! You’ll have your own baby! It’s nothing but a gift from God!”
Karina resolved never again to practice divination and to focus solely on her family—after all, that is the most important thing in life! And what will happen, how things should turn out, is not for us mere mortals to decide—it’s all in God’s hands…