Anya, open up, it’s cold out here!” a voice called from behind the door, drowning out the howling wind in the hallway.
Anna, standing in the hallway with a towel in her hands, froze. She expected to see her neighbor Ira, who always dropped by for some salt or advice. But the voice was unfamiliar. Or rather, long forgotten.
“Galya?” Anna’s voice trembled. She opened the door and was stunned. There stood her sister Galina, in an old down jacket, with two large plaid bags.
“Well, of course, it’s me! Who else were you expecting?” Galina slipped into the apartment as if she had been called long ago. Taking off her boots, she looked around and snorted: “Oh, it’s so warm here. I almost froze on the train.”
“You… what are you doing here?” Anna asked, bewildered.
“I’m going to live here,” Galina casually dropped her scarf. “My house burned down.”
“What do you mean ‘burned down’? When?” Anna still couldn’t recover.
Galina waved her hand dismissively.
“Just a couple of weeks ago. The stove, apparently, let the smoke out the wrong way. While I ran to the neighbor’s for some firewood, the fire took hold. And now I’m here. You can’t turn away your own sister, can you?”
Anna felt panic rising to her throat. The quiet evening she had been looking forward to crumbled under the weight of reality.
“You could have warned me. And Igor…” she began, but Galina interrupted her:
“Igor? What, does he own your house? I won’t say a word to him since he’s the boss around here.”
“Galya, don’t start. I just mean that it’s all so unexpected… Liz and I here…”
“Liza lives in her dorm, I know,” Galina stated flatly. “You have two rooms. Surely you can’t turn me away?” She tossed her bags in the corner and stretched.
Anna sighed. Arguing with Galya was pointless—she always did things her way, without asking anyone else’s opinion.
“Alright, get undressed. Will you have dinner? There’s some borscht left.”
“Borscht?” Galina perked up. “Well, of course, I will. I’ve been surviving on cookies during the trip.”
They went to the kitchen. While Anna reheated the borscht, Galina settled at the table, looking around with interest.
“You’ve settled in well here,” she finally said. “But it feels… empty. No soul, Anya.”
Her sister always spoke her mind, never considering how it might sound.
“Where did you go after the fire?” Anna asked cautiously, sitting down opposite her.
Galina pushed her plate away and sighed heavily.
“First to Tanya’s. But she has three of her own; I was just in the way. Then to Lenka’s in the district center. But it was even worse there. So I thought: why didn’t I come to my sister’s right away? Silly me, I hesitated.”
“And for how long will you stay?” Anna’s voice shook.
Galina frowned as if offended by the question.
“Well, as long as I need to. Why?”
Anna adjusted the napkin on the table to hide her tension.
“It’s just that Igor and I… have our own things. Lots of work. I can barely keep up as it is.”
“Anya, I didn’t come here to cause trouble,” Galina responded with a note of irritation. “I’ll help out however I can. You know I’m not one to sit around doing nothing.”
Anna nodded, but felt no relief.
“Alright. We’ll sort out your things tomorrow. Go to sleep now, you’ll find the linens in the closet.”
“Thanks, Anya. You’re still family after all,” Galina stood up and headed to the room.
When the door closed behind her, Anna sat at the table, covering her face with her hands. Her quiet, measured life had cracked, and she knew it wouldn’t end easily.
Anya, is that Igor at work?” Galina, dressed in an old bathrobe, peeked out from the bedroom as Anna was preparing breakfast.
“Yes, he took a shift, as usual,” Anna, busy with the eggs, didn’t even turn around. “Why are you up so early? It’s only six.”
“What am I supposed to do, lie in bed?” Galina approached the table and poured herself some tea. “And I’ll help you with something. You look like a squirrel in a wheel. Does your Igor help at all?”
Anna paused for a moment but then calmly placed the spatula on the stove.
“Gal, we’re adults. Everyone’s busy with their own things.”
“Ah, so you handle the house and work, and he just works, right?” Galina took a cup, looking intently at her sister. “Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Your eyes look like you haven’t slept for a month.”
“Thanks for the compliment,” Anna smiled, without raising her head. “Everything’s fine with us. Better tell me, what do you plan to do?”
Galina snorted.
“Don’t be mad, Anya. I’m just speaking as family. What to do? I’ll find some work somewhere. Either here or in the next district. You know me: I have hands and feet; I’m not used to sitting idle.”
“You’ll get yourself together? Tanya told me that while you lived with her, it only ended in scandals.”
“That’s Tanya’s place! She started giving me sideways looks from day one. She always thought I was just sitting around living off her dime,” Galina lifted her cup to her lips. “Thank God, you’re normal. And I’m only here temporarily.”
“Temporarily, yes,” Anna repeated quietly. She knew arguing was pointless. “Alright. We’ll see.”
Suddenly, there was the sound of the door opening. Igor stood in the doorway. He looked tired after the night shift, but his face also darkened further at the sight of Galina, comfortably settled at the table.
“Hello,” he said curtly, taking off his jacket.
“Hi, Igorek,” Galina replied with a smile, as if there was no awkward silence between them. “Want some tea?”
“No, thanks,” he replied and turned to Anna: “Do we have new neighbors?”
Anna sighed heavily. Galina quickly intervened:
“Igorek, I’m only here for a short while. You understand, my house burned down, where else could I go?”
“Anya, really,” Igor looked at his wife. “We didn’t agree on this.”
“Igor, let’s not do this,” Anna replied tiredly. “Galy will help me. We’ll figure it out.”
“Figure it out?” he snorted and headed to the bathroom, not saying another word.
Galina chuckled and took a big sip of tea.
“Well, your husband sure has a temper. But no worries, I’ll survive.”
Anna rubbed her temples. The internal discomfort was growing, like a lump. Her life was turning into a balancing act between Igor’s demands and Galina’s uninvited care. And she knew: this was only the beginning.
Anya, have you thrown out yesterday’s meat yet?” Galina’s voice came from the kitchen.
Anna rubbed her eyes and left the bedroom. Yesterday had been tough: a rush at work, tension at home. Igor had been silent all evening, while Galina, as if to spite, wouldn’t stop talking.
“Yes, I threw it out. Is something wrong?” Anna asked, peering into the kitchen.
“It’s just a pity. In the village, we’d make soup out of it, but here it goes straight to the trash.” Galina stood by the sink with a puffed look, holding a pot. “So, the mistress.”
“Gal, sorry, but we have slightly different rules here,” Anna replied, struggling to keep her calm. “If you don’t like something, say it straight.”
“And what am I doing? I’m speaking directly! You’ve driven yourself to exhaustion. And your little Igor, I bet, is only good at drinking tea?”
Anna bristled, but before she could respond, Igor entered the kitchen. He stopped at the threshold, looking at Galina with an expression that boded nothing good.
“What’s this about now?” he asked sharply.
“What do you think?” Galina retorted. “I see how Anyuta manages both at home and at work, and you seem not to notice.”
“Enough,” Anna said firmly, though her voice sounded weaker than she wanted. “I’ll handle it myself.”
“Will you?” Igor turned to her. “You’ve already sorted it out by letting this… wonder into the house.”
“Wonder?!” Galina slammed her hand on the table. “Who are you to tell me anything? I am her real sister! And if it weren’t for me, who would help her around the house when you two can’t even speak a kind word to each other?”
“Helped?” Igor sneered. “You think your meddling is helping? You just clung on!”
“Enough!” Anna shouted, standing up abruptly. “Both of you be quiet!”
Galina and Igor froze, looking at her. She could feel the blood pounding in her temples.
“Galina,” she began, barely holding back tears, “I can’t take it anymore. You came here, I sheltered you, but you act as if I owe you something. And you,” she turned to Igor, “could at least support me once, instead of just complaining.”
“Anya, well, what are you…” Galina began, but Anna cut her off.
“No, Galina, enough. You’re an adult woman, and if you want to stay here, behave like a guest, not the mistress. Igor, and you… if you don’t like something, say it directly, and don’t lash out at everyone. I’m tired of both of you!”
Silence hung in the room. Galina lowered her eyes, Igor sighed heavily and left the kitchen.
“I’m sorry,” Galina finally said quietly. “I probably went too far. You’ve always been patient…”
Anna silently nodded. She knew the conversation wasn’t over. There was much left unsaid, but for now, she just wanted everyone to leave her alone for a minute. The kitchen, with a faint smell of sour schi, was unusually quiet. Anna sat by the window, holding a cup with a now cooled drink.
Snowflakes twirled outside, and a tense calm reigned in the house after yesterday’s scandal.
Galina left the room, cautiously closing the door behind her. She looked less confident than usual: shoulders drooped, gaze averted. She sat down at the table opposite her sister.
“Anya, I’ve been thinking… Maybe I should try going to Vitka? He’s alone in the village, maybe he’ll take me in,” she began quietly.
Anna raised her eyes. Her look was tired, but there was no anger in it.
“Do you really want that? Or did you just decide I can’t handle it?” she asked calmly.
“What I want…,” Galina nervously twirled a spoon in her hands. “I just feel like I’ve intruded. You told the truth yesterday: I’m pressuring you. And you’re already not living an easy life…”
Anna nodded, but said nothing. The silence was broken by the sound of the front door. Igor had returned, quietly took off his shoes, and walked into the kitchen. He carried bags of groceries.
“Bought what you asked for,” he said briefly, placing the bags on the table. “Hello, Galina.”
“Hi,” she mumbled, looking at the floor.
Anna stood up, began to unpack the groceries. Galina rose to help, but Anna gestured for her to sit.
“Sit,” she said firmly.
Igor sat on a chair, watching his wife. Galina awkwardly shifted from foot to foot until she decided to speak.
“Listen, Igor… Well, don’t be mad. I thought I was doing what’s best… And it turned out like this. I won’t stay long, honestly.” Her voice trembled, which was very rare for her.
Igor snorted, but responded in a calm tone:
“Gal, I don’t mind you staying. Just don’t tell me how to live with Anka. We have enough problems as it is.”
Galina nodded, avoiding his gaze.
“You’re right, I shouldn’t have. I arrived, immediately with my own rules… And you’ve got everything settled here, and I’m like a meteorite. Sorry, Anya. Sorry, Igor.”
Anna silently placed a kettle and three cups on the table. She knew Galina was used to solving things abruptly, but the apologies were hard for her. This was something new.
“Alright, Gal. You’re my sister. I’ll always help, but understand: we live here our own way. It’s not easy for us either. And you… always did everything as you were used to, without looking back.”
“I know,” nodded Galina. “I’ll try to ask Vitka. Even though he’s a tough person, he’s still family.”
Anna exhaled. For the first time in the last few days, she felt light. Igor sipped tea, looked at his wife:
“Well, since the kettle’s hot, let’s just sit. No quarrels.”
Galina smiled, looking into her cup.
“Let’s sit. Like a normal family.”
Two weeks later, Galina left. Anna watched the familiar figure from the window for a long time. Igor was silent, but his hand rested on her shoulder. That gesture said more than words.
Anna understood that this unexpected visit was a reminder: sometimes it’s important to pause and think about how to make life a little simpler and calmer. Galina had shown her that it’s necessary to talk about what’s really important, instead of remaining silent and accumulating fatigue. Anna knew that nothing had radically changed, but now she saw familiar things a little differently.
The snow outside stopped, and the frosty day sparkled with sunny reflections. Anna smiled: ahead were not perfect, but cozy days in their own way.