– Ah, Anna Alekseevna… The concert at the cultural center, yes-yes, you asked me to remind you, – Lenochka sang, glancing at the clock. – You’ll make it, just in time!
The secretary knew that if Anna Alekseevna had gone to the cemetery, she’d forget everything. She called, warned, kept track, like a second mother, or even the first, since Lena didn’t have her own. Yes, that’s how it was.
They met at a concert, the same as today. Two years ago. Lena, an orphan from the orphanage, was helping the artists. Quick and efficient, she managed everything: calming down, fixing a hairstyle, complimenting a child. Everyone loved her – caregivers, teachers, children. And Anna Alekseevna helped talents from orphanages find their way in life. There were plenty of talents there, but no one saw or developed them.
After her husband and son died, she first focused on charity, but soon realized it wasn’t enough. She decided to take another approach. Now, people went to concerts, bought tickets, and invested money into orphans.
Anna Alekseevna got up and wiped the monument with a handkerchief.
– Well, my dear ones, I’ll be going now. The guys are waiting for me, hoping. Don’t miss me, I’ll be back soon.
A tear rolled down her cheek, lonely. Five years… Five years since Vasya was gone… Young, poor, happy – it seemed like everything was so simple. And it worked!
They opened their farm in three years, and in four, people were talking about them. Everything together, never fighting. But then… The doctors said – everything’s fine, don’t rush. They believed, smiled, supported each other. Then – pregnancy, twins. Vasya, like a hen, hovered over her, wouldn’t let her take a step. And then, Vasily came.
– Anya, we need to talk. – Her heart skipped a beat.
– Was it the doctor?
– He called…
– What about the boys?
Vasya sighed.
– Anya, one boy is fine, but the other… He’s much more active. He’s taking up more space, you know… One fetus is bigger than the other. They’ll be boys when they’re born. The doctor, well, asked me to prepare you… One child, most likely.
She cried for several days. Vasya walked around grimly, but what could he do? It was probably harder for him. The labor started earlier, and she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Then – hell. Anya felt that something was wrong, but she didn’t have the strength to ask. Then – darkness…
She woke up, broken, as if from a nightmare, and the question in her mind: “Well, what happened?”
– Anya, we have a son! A miracle! – the voice sounded.
One son… Her eyes closed, tears flowing. Her heart clenched, but when they brought Kirill… everything was forgotten. A copy of Vasily! From birth – the same face. And he grew up to be such a handsome, intelligent boy.
One day, Vasya went to work, forgot something. Kirill – followed him, though he was only four, but stubborn. Vasya smiled: “Alright, let’s go, but quickly.”
Anya was making their favorite casserole; the men loved that dish. And the work was so close, no need to even drive to the busy street. The casserole was ready, but they weren’t back yet. Anya went outside. They might have met a snail, a butterfly… and got distracted. She knew them like the back of her hand. There was no one in the yard. Not beyond the gates either.
At the intersection… a crowd, flashing lights, cars. Anya – one step, another step, and ran. A blue car… like Vasya’s. They wouldn’t let her through, but she fought, screamed, scratched, bit… Two men in uniform held her tight. Darkness…
– Anna Alekseevna! Anna Alekseevna! – the kids shouted, running to her.
She smiled, stopping.
– How beautiful you are today! Ready? Didn’t forget your lines?
The children crowded around, bragging excitedly.
– Well done, you’re clever! I’m proud of you! Let’s show them what we’re capable of!
The young caregiver rushed to them.
– What is this! You can’t take your eyes off them for a second! Anna Alekseevna, you should rest, take off your coat…
– Nelya Sergeevna, don’t scold them, everything’s fine! The sponsors are here!
Nelya Sergeevna pressed her hands to her cheeks.
– Oh, you don’t even know how many people are here! And they’re all so important!
– That’s good, very good. Is Andrei Ivanovich here?
– Yes, he’s already in the hall, he asked about you.
Anya smiled. Andrei – a new person in her life, but already a helper, a friend. He was promoting this charity concert, selling tickets. Anya hoped that the money would come, as the people here were serious. The orphanage – needed a music studio, badly.
She entered the hall, and there wasn’t a single free seat, except for one in the front row, next to Andrei. The audience applauded, children from other regions began performing. The concert was positive, with a funny song from little Vanya. He was no newcomer, the audience greeted him like a native. The host stepped forward.
– Now you’ll hear the wonderful voice of a boy from another city. He has had a difficult fate, and maybe that’s why he sings sad songs the best.
Andrei whispered to Anya.
– Anna Alekseevna, may I invite you to a restaurant after the concert?
Anya looked at him sharply.
– Andrei, are you starting again!
– Of course! Why would such a beautiful woman make herself a nun?
Anya shushed him and turned to the stage.
It felt like a slap in the face… so strong that her vision blurred. On the stage, with a microphone, stood her Kirill! Well, he had grown, of course, over five years, but she would have recognized him in a thousand. – Son! – she screamed, scaring the boy, but Anya didn’t see this.
She woke up backstage, beside her was the doctor, a pale Andrei, and someone else she knew.
– Anya, what’s wrong with you? – She sat up abruptly, her head spinning. The doctor grabbed her hand, but Anna Alekseevna pushed him away.
– Where is he?
– Anya, who?
– My son!
Andrei and the others exchanged looks. Anya grabbed her head. “Do they think I’m crazy?”
– The bag!
Someone handed it to her, she pulled out her wallet, took out a photo. A perfect copy of the boy on stage, just older.
A few minutes later, Anna Alekseevna was walking towards the dressing room, where the children gathered before performances. The boy had just finished singing and should be there. And the caregiver too. She saw him – Kirill’s eyes, frightened. – Are you Kirill? – she breathed.
But no, it wasn’t him. Anyone else wouldn’t have noticed – the mole wasn’t exactly in the same place, the nose was a different shape… but Kirill had a scar, barely noticeable, from when he fell off a swing. She looked for the caregiver with her eyes – she knew all the local ones, but this woman was unfamiliar.
– Excuse me, may I step out to talk? In a café, perhaps.
– Yes, of course, girls, I’ll be back in a minute, watch over Kostya. – The caregivers nodded, and they went out.
– I assume you want to know about Kostya?
– That’s right.
– I’ve only been working here for three years. Kostya was brought here from the children’s hospital; he spent almost a year there, three surgeries… a terrible story, they say. He was born in such a condition that no one did anything, there was no point. The doctors said he would live for a few hours. They transferred him to the children’s ICU, not to save him, but because it’s the protocol. His heart barely worked. But there was a doctor there, one who cared. And when the doctors saw that the child was fighting for his life, they decided to fight too. And at that time, a professor was visiting the hospital, a heart specialist. No one knows why he offered to operate on Kostya for free. The operation was ridiculously expensive, – the caregiver said. – He took him abroad, the professor did, and they operated on him there. When Kostya was almost a year old, the professor returned. I don’t know his parents, and I don’t know what happened to them… they probably refused, since he was so sick. Or maybe something else…
– I wish I could find out more, – Anya said thoughtfully.
– Excuse me?
– Just thinking aloud. Could you write me the orphanage’s address, please?
And there was something else Anya needed, so she asked the caregiver to bring it.
– Don’t… don’t tell anyone, okay? When I understand what’s going on, I’ll tell you everything. I’ll come tomorrow to see your talents.
Andrei, after listening to everything, said:
– Are you going there?
Anya looked at him in surprise.
– How do you know?
– It would be strange if you did anything else.
She smiled.
– I’m holding on by a thread. I’ll try to figure it out as soon as possible.
She saw Kostya every day. The boy wasn’t scared anymore, he even smiled. But Anya’s heart ached. She couldn’t be wrong, she couldn’t. But… so many questions, and no answers. Vasya wasn’t around to ask how they buried the second boy, if he had even seen him. Ten days later, Andrei came. Anya was on the brink of breaking down. You can’t hide a secret forever, the whole orphanage was whispering.
– Anya, honestly, I haven’t heard anything about this, – said Andrei. – Kostya – your son? The doctor who delivered him said the child was born dead. But when it turned out he was alive, they didn’t want to admit their mistake, so they just left everything as it was. You had already checked out… The prosecutor’s office is looking into it now, so don’t worry, and don’t get involved.
– Kostya, she’s really your mom! – Suddenly, a boy jumped out from behind the door, probably eavesdropping. He ran down the corridor, shouting for the whole orphanage. Children poured out of the rooms, and at the end of the corridor, Kostya stood, looking at Anya. And she couldn’t move, her whole body screamed, it hurt. Finally, she went, then ran. They met in the middle of the corridor. She dropped to her knees, hugged her son, and cried.
She took Kostya right away. The director protested weakly, but Anya responded:
– Are you serious? They took my son away, and I didn’t even know about him! And now you can’t give him back because of some laws? Absurd!
Andrei drove the car, glancing in the mirror – at her, at the sleeping Kostya.
– Where to? To the cemetery?
It seemed like Andrei wasn’t surprised. He understood her. They stopped at a beautiful monument, and Anya quietly said:
– This is where your father and brother are. You’re twins… They died five years ago.
Anya had already stepped beyond the fence, and Andrei stayed behind. She looked at him in surprise.
– I didn’t know you, – he said, looking at the monument, – but I think you’re a good person. I wouldn’t have lived without Anya. Let me… let me make her happy. Maybe not the way you did, but I’ll try.
Anya smiled faintly. Now she felt at peace. Andrei – he was her man. Yes, she wouldn’t be as happy as before, but she would be a happy wife and a cheerful mother, not a grim woman.