Success has a bitter aftertaste when your own mother suddenly opens her arms only because you now have money and a house. And the most astonishing thing is watching the flawless “golden daughter,” praised on a pedestal for years, slide into the abyss of a bad marriage while the family’s despised “black sheep” builds her own happiness.
As a child, my life felt like an endless lecture on who I was supposed to be.
— Lina, your things are scattered everywhere again! — Mom would fume whenever she found my clothes on the armchair.
— It’s convenient for me like this, Mom! — I’d answer, not seeing the problem.
— Tidy up immediately! You’re under my roof, so you follow my rules. I want this place spotless in five minutes! Look at Katya — does she do that? Learn from her!
Ekaterina, my older sister, was my mother’s ideal of perfection.
— Sunshine, are you working on your homework? — Mom would ask my sister sweetly.
— I’m getting ready for tomorrow’s algebra quiz, — Katya would reply.
— Well done, sweetheart. You’re so sensible and diligent. Not like your little sister. She’s always glued to a gadget and lazing around instead of studying.
— I’ve finished all my assignments! — I would protest.
— If you’re finished, do something constructive instead of hanging out online! Better help around the house.
— I want to rest a little.
— You’ll rest later! Enough lying around doing nothing! Run to the shop for some flour; I’ll make pumpkin pancakes.
— I can’t stand that stuff!
— Don’t be rude! It’s your sister’s favorite treat, so stop being fussy.
My teenage years turned into a string of conflicts with my mother. While she coddled Katya, she tried to “fix” me.
— Football is my passion! Don’t you dare forbid me from training! — I shouted.
— Oh, I dare! That’s a man’s sport, not a lady’s! Do you want to turn into a boy? Maybe shave your head with clippers, too? Then no one will be able to tell!
— If I want to, I will!
— How dare you talk to your mother like that, you insolent girl? Think everything is allowed? You’d better take your sister as an example — she loves needlework, makes stuffed toys. She’ll grow into a real lady, and what will you become?
— Certainly not like you!
— How dare you!
My mother never accepted my defiant nature. Because of it, she saw me as a failure to be corrected — I was always rebelling, arguing, and hardly shining with achievements. As a kid I mostly befriended boys; girl groups annoyed me. They gossiped, talked only about boys, trendy rags, and makeup. All of that was foreign to me until university.
After I enrolled, I endured another year under my parents’ roof, working hard on the side to gain independence. Meanwhile, Katya married some guy named Artur who treated her with disdain.
— Where’s your husband? — I asked when I visited my sister.
— As usual, out partying with his buddies at a club, — Ekaterina answered sadly.
— And you’re here, babysitting and meekly waiting for him to come back?
— Lina, please don’t start.
— Sis, I’m worried about you. You tied your life to a man who doesn’t care about you or the child. You sit and wait patiently every night while he’s probably having affairs left and right.
— Stop it, Lina.
— Stop what? You know I’m right. It’s long past time you left him.
— I can’t, we have a child. And I’m expecting another.
— You’re pregnant again?
— Yes.
— Katya, what is this? He humiliates and insults you — I’ve seen it myself. Leave before it’s too late.
— I’m not going anywhere, Lina. I can’t cope with two kids alone. And Artur, even if he runs around, earns decent money.
— So you intend to spend your life with a tyrant who sees you as domestic help and a baby factory? What about the love you always talked about?
— I love Artur.
— Sure, it shows. You can’t live without him, so you put up with everything. Is that what love looks like?
Ekaterina was silent, tears welling in her eyes.
— It’s useless explaining anything to you. Live as you wish, — I concluded.
— You’re heartless, — my sister said.
— But I’m honest. I used to be gentle about it, trying to tell you that you deserve better. Now I’m tired of tiptoeing, even though you ignore plain words too.
I started getting ready to go home.
— You won’t abandon me, will you? — Katya pleaded.
— Where would I go?
As angry as I was at my sister for her blind faith in her husband, I still worried about her and tried to help somehow. I’d heard about Artur from friends. He thought he was the center of the universe, bullied anyone he considered weaker — including my sister. One meeting was enough to see what he was.
We were chatting in the kitchen, laughing over some funny story. That’s when her husband appeared, and Ekaterina’s face changed at once. She hurried over to him.
— Hi, dear. We’ve got a guest — my sister.
— Wonderful. Have her get out; I just got home.
— But she only just arrived.
— Was I not clear enough? She should leave.
— Maybe we can sit in the kitchen a bit longer? We won’t bother you, I promise.
I saw Artur roughly twist my sister’s arm.
— Do I have to repeat everything to you a hundred times?
— Let go of my sister right now, — I cut in, stepping between them.
— Oh, so you’re brave and cheeky, huh? Don’t stick your nose in matters that aren’t yours!
— Katya is my sister, so it is my business. Let her go. Now!
Artur gave an ugly smirk and released her. Ekaterina rubbed the reddened spot on her arm.
— And how often do you torment my sister like that? — I pressed.
— Lina, don’t, please, — Katya whispered to me.
— What was that?
— You heard me. If I ever see you lay a hand on my sister again, you’ll regret it.
— Oh, listen to you talk. Get out of my home, pipsqueak. And don’t you dare use that tone with me.
I was about to fire back, but Katya grabbed me and gave me such a pleading look that I kept quiet.
— Better go, Lina. Everything will be fine, don’t worry.
I seethed with anger. At Artur for treating my sister that way; at Katya for putting up with it; and at myself for being powerless to protect her or at least convince her to leave. In the end, when Ekaterina had already given birth to a third child by Artur, I gave up.
I focused on my own path. Despite my childhood aversion to “girly” pursuits, ironically I became a manicurist. I don’t know why, but the profession captivated me — and it paid well.
One evening I stayed late at work and missed the last bus. My friend Oleg happened to drive by and offered me a lift. He was with his friend Sveta and some guy. All the way home I chatted with Oleg and Sveta — the only girl I actually liked. The young man, who introduced himself as Aleksandr, immediately caught my eye. I invited the group in for tea, and everyone agreed.
Aleksandr and I kept exchanging glances. It might have looked childish, but very few people had appealed to me the way he did. When our friends were getting ready to leave, Aleksandr seized a moment alone and asked me out. That’s how our love began.
My relationship with Aleksandr changed me. From a rebel and a scrapper I turned into a calm, gentle young woman. Aleksandr helped me find confidence and raised my self-esteem. Every two weeks, flowers appeared in the house — which had never meant anything to me before. But now, coming from the man I loved, they had meaning. He supported me constantly, showered me with compliments, and showed with his actions how important I was.
Two years later we got married. A year after that, our son was born. At first we lived in my husband’s apartment, which he had practically bought on his own, and then my husband suggested something better.
— Lina, would you like to live in a house? — he asked unexpectedly.
— What do you mean? What house? — I didn’t understand.
— Our own.
I stared at my husband, not knowing what to say.
— I think we could sell this apartment, save up a bit, and ask my parents for help if needed, — Aleksandr mused aloud. — And build our own house. Our little one needs more space.
— What about work?
— I’ve already found a plot outside the city. It’s quiet, but the city is within easy reach. I’ll commute like usual, and you can set up your own studio and see clients. Or, if you want, you don’t have to work at all.
I was surprised by my husband’s sudden wish, but I fully supported the idea. I had always dreamed of having my own house. So we began to build.
A few months later we moved in for good. Aleksandr and I were happy, and our little boy rejoiced at having more room to play. I decided to invite my sister over to show her the house.
— Amazing, Lina, what a beautiful home! — Ekaterina said with genuine admiration.
— Just an ordinary house, — Artur remarked dryly.
My sister came with her family. Of course, Artur’s presence didn’t delight me, but Katya wouldn’t have come without him. The kids ran out to the yard to play ball, the men discussed something on the terrace, and I showed my sister the rooms.
— Your bedroom is gorgeous! And that closet, the bed. You finally bought that vanity you wanted!
— Yes, it was a gift from my husband.
— That’s wonderful — you two are doing great.
— Are you okay? — I asked, suddenly worried.
— Don’t fuss, Lina. Artur has changed; we hardly quarrel after I threatened to take the kids and leave, — Katya smiled slyly.
— I see. I’m glad, — I laughed.
— Have you told Mom?
— Told her what?
— About the house, Lina!
— Not yet; we aren’t in touch.
— You should tell her — she’ll want to visit. It’s time you two made peace.
— We’ll see.
It wasn’t even a few days before my mother started calling. She invited herself over, and I reluctantly agreed.
— Hi, Mom.
— Hello, Lina.
— Come into our humble little nest.
Mom began inspecting every room and every nook of our house. I watched her smile and nod approvingly. When the tour was over, we went down to the living room.
— Lina, you two found yourselves an excellent place — sign it over to me, — my mother declared.
I was stunned.
— On what grounds?
— On the grounds, daughter, that you owe me compensation for all the nerves you cost me. All your childhood and youth you gave me no peace with your football and roaming around. And I, by the way, fed you, clothed you, gave you money. Now I can finally live in a decent house. I’ll move Katya and the kids in here, and we’ll all live together as a family in peace and harmony.
— Mom, stop! I’m not going to give this house to you or anyone else. Aleksandr and I built it with our own money and furnished it to our taste. Handing it over isn’t in our plans.
— Not to “anyone,” Lina — to your own mother! Do you think you’d have achieved anything without me? If not for me, you’d be a nobody.
— And what did you do for me? You forgot about me the moment I moved out. You worshipped Katya and held her up as an example, and you didn’t even keep an eye on her to keep her from marrying a tyrant!
— Katya is a grown woman; she’ll sort out her life herself!
— I’m not a child either, and I decide for myself what to do! I’m not giving up my house!
My husband, hearing our argument, came into the living room.
— What’s going on here?
— My mother wants to take our house, — I said, scorching my mother with a look.
— I don’t want to take it — I want to live here! — my mother protested. — You know, Aleksandr, my daughter owes me for giving birth to her and raising her!
— From what I know about your relationship, you didn’t do much raising, — my husband defended me. — You and Lina haven’t spoken in years, and the moment we built a house, you show up.
— How dare you talk to me like that, boy?! I’m your mother-in-law; show some respect!
— I would respect you if you respected your own daughter. The house is ours, we personally oversaw the construction, and we won’t be giving it to anyone.
— Greedy, heartless people! I never thought I raised such a daughter! And you chose a worthless husband!
Mom spewed a lot of nastiness and stormed out, making a huge scene. I only rolled my eyes and realized that what she wanted from me were material benefits.
— Well then, my “worthless” husband, shall we have dinner? — I quipped.
— Only if you don’t get stingy, — Aleksandr played along.
I quickly forgot about the incident because I saw no point in dwelling on it. The situation didn’t surprise me; it only confirmed that my mother, as always, didn’t truly care about me. And instead of being hurt and spoiling my mood, I rejoiced in my wonderful husband and our lovely son — and the fact that we were now living in a home of our own.