Come in quickly,” Varya felt a strong push in her back and, by inertia, took a few steps forward and collided with the conductor.
“Sorry,” Varya mumbled. She looked back and threw an angry glance at the young man who had squeezed into the train behind her.
“It wasn’t on purpose,” the young man looked nervous. “The train is already leaving, and I was afraid I wouldn’t make it,” he said. “Sorry…”
Varya sighed and turned back to the conductor.
“Please, go to your carriage. Young man, let me see your ticket,” the conductor said. “Otherwise, you might have rushed for nothing, and you might need a completely different train,” she added. Varya smirked—well, such situations probably happen.
…
Varya didn’t really like traveling by train. The reason was that after a few hours, she would get a headache, which would only stop when she reached the station she needed. It seemed that if you didn’t like trains, you should fly by plane! But no, Varya was even more afraid of flying. In fact, she dreamed that one day a machine would be invented that could instantly transport a person to the place they wanted to go. And even if it was an expensive luxury, she would definitely pay for it.
…
Then Varya reached her carriage, found her compartment, put her suitcase away, and immediately climbed onto her upper bunk to avoid disturbing anyone. She spent almost the entire journey there. The next day, after they arrived at their destination, Varya gladly stepped onto the ground, smiled at the warm sun, and felt a wave of holiday bliss.
“I’m on vacation!” she thought. “That means I don’t have to rush anywhere,” she was happy.
She then stepped aside and started watching the crowd of people exiting the train, heading to buses or taxis. Varya knew they were all trying to get to their guest houses or hotels quickly and go to the sea.
“I wonder where that guy is?” Varya thought. He definitely didn’t pass by her. The stream of people became smaller and smaller until it stopped.
The conductor of the last carriage ran past Varya.
“He left last night,” she told Varya.
Varya opened her mouth in surprise: what was that? She really didn’t care about that guy; she saw him once in her life, and that was it. They wouldn’t meet again, and why did the conductor think she was looking for him? Actually, she had a husband waiting for her, and she was heading to him right now.
Varya grabbed her suitcase and headed for the station exit.
…
Time passed. Varya’s vacation flew by in a day. She had already returned home and went back to work. She was already dreaming about her next vacation.
“Varya, we need to conduct a training for our clients,” her boss told her and sent her on a business trip for a few days.
To Varya’s luck, the client was accessible by electric train. So, she nodded and said that she would gladly escape her daily work routine to visit another city.
Do you think she met that guy again on the train? No. It wasn’t like that. The trip was canceled, and instead, Varya ended up at a conference she hadn’t planned to attend. There, at the entrance to the event, she collided again with that same guy who had bumped into her on the train. Once again, he apologized, but this time Varya noticed that he was holding a book and a magazine.
“I’ve already read that book,” Varya said after they recognized each other at last. “And I watch that magazine every evening.”
“Probably because we work in the same field,” said Andrey.
“That’s right,” Varya nodded.
Then Andrey gave Varya his business card, and she gave him hers. They parted ways, just like ships passing in the sea.
“Such a handsome guy,” said Sveta, her colleague. Varya had come to this conference with her. “Did you notice, he had the same keychain for his car as you?” she asked.
“I didn’t pay attention,” Varya smiled. She didn’t want to tell Sveta that her keychain had gone missing. Recently it had broken, so she had put it in her bag’s pocket, but when she wanted to fix it, she couldn’t find it.
“Anyway, call him. Oh my God, he’s such a catch!” Sveta exclaimed again. “If you’re not interested, then at least be friends with him, and introduce me to him,” she winked at Varya.
“Okay, I’ll introduce you to him,” Varya suggested.
“Ah… you still think you can fix your relationship with Dima. Well, well…” Sveta shook her head.
“Why not? We’re planning to go to a psychologist together. I think everything will be fine,” Varya smiled.
“God willing,” Sveta said.
“So, what do you think? Should I introduce you to Andrey?” Varya asked.
“Of course!” Sveta replied.
…
Varya was sitting in the kitchen, listening to Dima shouting at her.
“Who told you I’m going to a psychologist with you? I’m normal! You’re the one who’s doing everything wrong. You’re the one with all the problems!” he yelled.
“But… we agreed. We picked a time together. I made the appointment…” Varya said.
“And how was it?” Dima barked.
“I went,” Varya nodded.
“And what? That psychologist probably told you I’m bad, and you’re all perfect, right? And instead of saving our relationship, she probably told you to divorce me,” Dima looked at Varya with a victorious expression.
“No, that’s not true,” Varya shook her head.
“Then listen. No more psychologists. We’ll manage ourselves. Let’s talk about our life together,” Dima sat down opposite Varya. “What’s missing for you?” he asked, staring at her. And while Varya was thinking of an answer, he continued speaking. “I don’t need much from you. Clean house, well-cooked food, clean clothes. Is that so hard to organize?” he asked.
“Wait… You work, I work. You need rest, and I need rest,” Varya began, but Dima interrupted her.
“Listen, you don’t know anything. Look how dirty our place is. I’ve been telling you to take a couple of lessons from my mother on how to manage a household,” he said.
“Dima,” Varya didn’t want to say what she did, but she couldn’t hold it in. “I’m not your mother! I can’t always focus on household chores and home care and always please you like she does. Why should everything always be the way you want? Where am I in this relationship?” she yelled.
Her outburst opened Pandora’s box. Dima started yelling that his mom was perfect and that Varya shouldn’t compare herself to her. And, as usual, he said a lot of hurtful things. Varya cried, and Dima, as always, spat, waved his hand, and went into another room.
“No. These relationships can’t be fixed,” Varya thought, sighing heavily. God knows, she tried, she put in the effort, but she couldn’t do it.
…
“What’s this business card?” Varya heard Dima’s voice and saw him in the kitchen doorway.
“What business card?” Varya asked.
“Here… someone named Andrey Anatolyevich…”
“He’s a speaker from the conference. I don’t understand what’s so interesting about this business card? I have a bunch of them on my desk,” Varya shrugged indifferently.
“It was on top,” Dima said. “So, you care about this person. Ah,” he took the card and tore it in half, then into quarters, glaring at Varya. He then threw all the pieces in the trash. “Well, go ahead, gather it up and tape it back together.”
“I’m telling you again, it’s just a contact from the conference, nothing more,” Varya said, thinking to herself that what Dima was doing now was abnormal.
…
Sveta dragged Varya to a coffee shop.
“Var, what’s going on? You’ve been so sad and moody… I think you made the right choice to kick Dima out,” Sveta said.
Varya remained silent and just sighed.
“Well, really, Var. Are you mad at me because I recommended that psychologist?” Sveta asked.
“No, not at all. He’s great. He made me look at my marriage from a different perspective. By the way, Dima thought the psychologist was a woman, but actually, he’s a man. And if he had found out, he would have definitely accused me of having an affair with him,” Varya replied.
Then she looked at Sveta and smiled.
“Let’s not talk about me. Tell me, how are things with you? Have you gotten together with Andrey?” Varya asked.
“Things are good. But nothing worked out with Andrey. So, I’m still free, and if you want to introduce me to someone, I won’t refuse,” Sveta replied. The girls chatted a little more and then went home. Actually, Sveta went to her place, and Varya headed to her friend’s house. Because she was afraid Dima might show up. After all, she had packed his things and put them outside. Then she changed the lock and called him to tell him to pick up his things and leave. She went to her friend’s house, arranging to stay with her temporarily. Dima probably raged and called her, demanding she come and talk to him.
No way! Varya wasn’t planning to do that. She was relieved that Dima didn’t know her friend’s address and couldn’t find her through her since he never took an interest in her job.
Varya went down to the subway and saw that her train was about to close its doors. She would have just waited for the next one, but the person behind her didn’t want that, and almost carried her into the carriage.
“Sorry,” came the now-familiar voice, and Varya turned around and smiled at Andrey.
“And if I don’t forgive you, what then?” she asked.
“Varya…” Andrey smiled. “Listen, my car didn’t start today, and I think it happened for a reason.”
They sat down and started chatting. It turned out they lived almost next door and had a lot in common: they liked the same music, read the same books.
For some reason, Andrey pulled out his car keychain, and Varya realized it was the same as hers.
“It’s just a coincidence,” she told herself, but in her heart, she thought maybe there was really some connection between them, and all these meetings weren’t just random.
…
“Of course, I’m happy for you,” Sveta said. “But sorry, not with all my heart. It’s a pity I’m not Andrey’s type.”
“Svet, we’re just friends,” Varya smiled.
The girls decided to walk around the park during their lunch break, and Varya told Sveta about her meeting with Andrey.
“You know,” Varya continued, “it’s so strange. On one hand, we have so much in common. Recently, he broke up with his girlfriend, and I can draw a parallel with me and Dima. It feels like fate is pushing us together. But on the other hand, I can’t see him as my boyfriend or husband. He’s just a friend, and that’s it!”
“And that’s great,” Sveta smiled. “Because that means I have a chance,” she explained.
…
That day was an ordinary weekend. Well, except for the fact that Andrey invited Varya to his birthday. Actually, Varya didn’t want to go, but Sveta convinced her.
“Varichka, what’s wrong? You’re so gloomy… I think you made the right decision kicking Dima out,” Sveta said.
Varya stayed silent and just sighed.
“Really, Var. Are you mad at me because I suggested that psychologist?” Sveta asked.
“No, not at all. He’s great. He helped me see my marriage in a new light. By the way, Dima thought the psychologist was a woman, but he’s a man. And if he found out, he would definitely have accused me of having an affair with him,” Varya replied.
Then she looked at Sveta and smiled.
“Let’s not talk about me. Tell me, how’s it going with you? Are you with Andrey now?” Varya asked.
“Everything’s good. But nothing worked out with Andrey. So, I’m still free. If you want to introduce me to someone, I won’t refuse,” Sveta replied.
Then they continued chatting and separated to head home. Actually, Sveta went to her place, and Varya went to her friend’s house. Because she was afraid Dima might show up. She had packed his things, placed them outside, changed the lock, and called him, telling him to pick them up and leave. Then she went to her friend’s house, planning to stay there temporarily. Dima probably was furious, calling her, demanding she come and talk to him.
No way! Varya wasn’t planning on doing that. She was glad Dima didn’t know her friend’s address and couldn’t find her through her since he had never been interested in her job.
Varya went down to the subway, saw the train doors closing, and would have just waited for the next one, but the person behind her was in a hurry and almost carried her into the train.
“Sorry,” came the familiar voice again, and Varya turned to see Andrey, smiling.
“And if I don’t forgive you, what will happen?” she asked.
“Varya…” Andrey smiled. “Listen, my car didn’t start today, and I think it happened for a reason.”
They sat and talked. It turned out they lived very close to each other and had a lot in common: they liked the same music, read the same books.
For some reason, Andrey pulled out his car keychain, and Varya realized it was the same as hers.
“This is just a coincidence,” she told herself, but deep down, she thought maybe there was really some connection between them and all these meetings weren’t random after all.