Lika always tried to behave honestly. Most of the time she succeeded, but over time she came to understand a bitter truth: to treachery, one must respond either with cunning or cold indifference. Among her circle were people who shamelessly took advantage of her kind heart and connections but never once thanked her. And when Lika herself needed help, everyone suddenly became busy — some with family, others with work, and some simply disappeared.
When her daughter Sonya fell ill, Lika decided to turn to those she considered close for support. It turned out she had almost no true friends. Everyone had their own problems, and no one had money. Even in medicine, no one could do anything. What hurt the most was that Lika knew people who had both connections and resources, but one after another, they all refused to help.
Sitting by the window, watching the wet street, Lika racked her brains over what to do next. People hurried somewhere under umbrellas, while she wanted to hide, fall asleep, and wake up when all of this was just a bad nightmare.
She remembered yesterday. At work, the kindergarten teacher called her to say Sonya had a high fever. Lika immediately asked for time off and went to pick up her daughter. Approaching the kindergarten, she noticed an ambulance.
“Just hope it’s nothing serious,” she thought, and ran inside.
At the entrance, she ran into doctors who were carrying Sonya on a stretcher.
“I’m her mother! What happened?” Lika cried, gasping with fear.
“Get in with us, you’re going to the hospital,” the doctor answered briefly.
“But at least tell me what’s wrong with her?!”
“It’s too early to draw conclusions. We need to do tests. We have suspicions, but they’re not confirmed yet. I don’t want to scare you prematurely.”
The doctor’s words brought no comfort, but arguing was pointless. Sitting in the ambulance, Lika looked at her little girl and recalled all the hardships she had gone through to give birth to her.
She was 38 years old. She got married at 26, believing she had found a reliable person. But reality was harsh. Her husband, Anton, first started drinking on weekends, then every day. She understood him, made excuses, endured — for seven years. But when he hit her for the first time, Lika realized it would only get worse. She left. And just a month later, she found out she was pregnant.
The pregnancy was difficult. Lika spent a lot of time in the hospital. Stress and exhaustion took their toll, and she had no appetite. The doctors warned her the chances were slim. She couldn’t work either — massage required strength, and she had none. But she carried the baby to term and gave birth to a healthy girl.
And now this girl lay in the ambulance with an unknown diagnosis. Lika’s heart pounded anxiously, her breathing faltered, and her throat tightened with fear.
“Don’t overthink it. Nothing terrible has happened yet!” she tried to calm herself.
In the emergency room, Sonya was immediately taken for tests, and Lika was asked to fill out paperwork. The girl would soon turn four, and it would be hard without her mother, but the nurse said it was up to the doctor — they would decide after the examination.
After filling out the forms, Lika waited. Time seemed frozen. Minutes stretched into eternity. Finally, the doctor who received Sonya from the ambulance appeared.
“Are you Sonya’s mother?”
“Yes, doctor, what’s wrong with her?” Lika’s voice trembled.
His expression said it all. Her heart froze.
“Please come to my office. We need to talk.”
That tone confirmed her worst fears. Lika followed the doctor like a condemned person. Her legs gave way, her breathing became shallow, and her vision blurred.
In the office, she didn’t sit but collapsed onto a chair.
“Please… tell me the truth. I can’t take it anymore!”
“The situation is complicated but not critical yet. However, treatment must begin immediately.”
“I agree! What needs to be done?”
“We won’t arrange anything yet. We need money. This is paid treatment.”
“I understand… How much?”
The doctor named a sum. Lika froze. Tears filled her eyes.
“It’s a large amount, I realize. But it’s about your child’s life. Try reaching out to charity funds — maybe they can help.”
“Okay… How much time do I have?”
“A week.”
“And what about Sonya? Without me?”
“Don’t worry. We will take care of her. Children often stay without parents. Your main task now is to gather what is needed.”
Lika left the hospital in a daze, sat on a bench near her home, and cried. Collecting such an amount in a week was nearly impossible. Selling the apartment would take time, finding a job with such a salary was unrealistic. But visiting her daughter every day was a must.
“Why is it so unfair? Everything was starting to get better: work, kindergarten, even the ex became calmer. Maybe I should tell him?”
Lika dialed Anton’s number.
“Hi, Anton. Sonya’s in the hospital.”
“What? What happened? Seriously?” he replied worriedly.
After the divorce, he still helped the daughter, though irregularly but generously.
“Yes, very bad.” Lika told him the diagnosis and the cost of treatment.
“That’s really a lot. I don’t have that kind of money now, but I’ll try to borrow somewhere.”
“Okay. I’ll try too.”
Lika returned home, closed the door, and collapsed on the couch without taking off her clothes. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Why is this world so cruel? Why must this little, kind girl suffer?”
These questions tormented her till morning. She started calling acquaintances. Everyone refused. One offered a small loan — even worse than a flat refusal. Lika hung up and, exhausted by emotions, fell asleep fully dressed.
In the morning, Lika got ready for work. She hoped to ask the director for a loan for a year — though she’d have to give back half her salary monthly. There were no other options. But, as usual, troubles come in packs: the director left for a symposium and would return only in two weeks. Without him, no one would handle financial matters.
Lika left the reception upset. One last hope remained — Anton. She called him again, but he didn’t answer.
“Where the hell are you?” she whispered irritably.
At work, Lika tried to concentrate. She had six clients today. She was an experienced massage therapist; even some well-known people in town booked sessions with her. If Lika knew how to use her connections properly, she could achieve a lot. But she didn’t like asking for favors and wasn’t used to relying on contacts.
A man was already waiting outside her office. Impatiently checking his watch. Lika recognized him immediately — one of those influential and mysterious businessmen rumored to be tough and heartless. In person, he seemed young, charming, and almost friendly — a strange combination.
“How long must I wait?” he started sharply.
“Hello. Sorry, but I wasn’t keeping you. The session starts in five minutes,” Lika answered with a trembling voice, thinking, “So he really is like they say. Not a man, but a monster.”
“Then why not start earlier? If no one else is here?”
“In principle, yes. I’ll get ready and invite you in.”
Lika entered the office feeling down but knew she had to work. There was no way around it now. After preparing everything, she called the client in. At that moment, her phone rang. Rules forbade distractions, but it was Anton calling, and Lika couldn’t just ignore it.
“May I take this call? It’s very important,” she asked the man.
“Are you serious? What could be more important than my session?” he replied coldly.
Something inside Lika exploded.
“Are you even human or a robot? Do you know the word ‘compassion’?” she raised her voice. “My child is in the hospital, and you’re angry about two minutes!”
The man looked at her surprised — his reaction was genuine, but Lika didn’t notice.
“Well, if that’s the case — answer quickly,” he said calmer.
“Thank you,” Lika muttered and picked up the phone. Anton had already hung up. She called back herself.
“Did you find anything?” she asked hopefully.
“This isn’t Anton,” an unfamiliar male voice answered. “I’m an ambulance doctor. Your husband was in an accident. We’re taking him to the third hospital. Can you come?”
Lika froze. She didn’t expect such a turn.
“Is he alive? How is he?”
“In serious condition. Urgent surgery needed.”
“Understood. Thank you for the information.”
She slowly sank to the floor, unable to stand. Hope vanished completely. Bitter tears streamed down her cheeks. Seeing her state, the client asked worriedly:
“Are you okay? Can I help?”
“What can you do for me?” Lika said bitterly, looking at him. “No one can help now. My daughter will die.”
A hysterical fit was beginning. The man came closer and sat beside her.
“Maybe tell me what happened? Maybe I can help.”
Lika didn’t believe anyone could, but she needed to vent.
“Go lie down on the table, I’ll be there soon. Just wash your face a bit.”
“Of course.”
She was surprised by his compassion, which she hadn’t expected from such a person. Returning, Lika started the massage and told him everything — about Sonya’s illness, the huge sum needed, the impossibility of getting a loan, problems with Anton.
“So what now? Selling the apartment takes time, banks refused. And now this… Sometimes you begin to understand why people turn to alcohol. You want to forget.”
“Don’t think like that. Drinking is running away from the problem. Especially when you have someone to live for. You have no right to give up, Lika.”
“I know… But what if I have no strength left?”
“Sometimes help comes from where you least expect it. Life can surprise you.”
“I stopped believing in miracles a long time ago. They are more often nightmares.”
The session ended. The man got up, dressed, and handed Lika an envelope.
“Please take this. It’s for your Sonya.”
“What is this?” Lika wondered.
“Just take it. It’s help for your girl. I can afford it. I ask for nothing in return. I’ve always believed helping others is normal, especially when you can.”
Lika looked at him through tears of gratitude. For the first time, she met someone who thought like her. Who helps not out of duty, but desire.
“I don’t even know what to say…”
“Don’t say anything. Consider it payment for the massage,” he smiled.
“You’re an incredible person. People judge you wrong. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
“Don’t believe the rumors. People often gossip out of envy. Glad to help. I hope your daughter will be okay.”
“Me too. Thanks again. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Nonsense. Although…” He thought for a moment and added with a smile, “I’d be glad if you and Sonya come to the park with me and my son. We’re also a single-parent family.”
Lika looked at him surprised.
“With pleasure. As soon as she recovers.”