— Are you absolutely sure you couldn’t be mistaken? — Oksana gripped the phone tightly, trying to keep her voice calm.
— Oksana Nikolaevna, the results are positive. Congratulations, you are pregnant, approximately six weeks along.
She thanked the doctor and ended the call. The world around her froze. Six weeks. Exactly the amount of time that had passed since that evening when she came home early and saw a stranger’s purse in the hallway. A purse she had given Kira for her birthday.
Oksana slowly sank into the chair by the window. Snow was falling outside, covering the city with a white blanket, erasing all traces. How she wished she could erase that evening from her memory just as easily.
The phone rang again. Yuri. For the third time in the past hour.
— Oksana, where are you? We agreed to meet after work.
— Sorry, I got held up, — she tried to sound normal. — Don’t wait for me, I still have a lot to do.
— Are you okay? You sound strange.
— I’m fine, just tired.
After hanging up, Oksana looked at the suitcase she had packed that very morning. Five years of marriage. Five years that were ending right now. And a new life that was beginning under her heart.
Five years later
— Mom, look how beautiful! — four-year-old Sofia pressed her nose to the toy store window, admiring a doll in a fluffy dress.
— Very beautiful, — Oksana smiled, adjusting her daughter’s hat. — But we have to go, we’re late.
— Where are we going? — the girl reluctantly tore her gaze away and placed her hand in her mother’s.
— To mom’s aunt Galina’s. She’s waiting for us.
Kaliningrad greeted them with a frosty January morning. Oksana hadn’t been back to her hometown for five years, spending that time building a new life away from the past. And now she had to return — her aunt, the only family member who had supported her back then, had been hospitalized.
— Sonya, be careful, don’t run, — Oksana held her daughter’s hand tighter as they entered the spacious lobby of the newly opened business center. They needed to cross the building to reach the bus stop on the other side.
The marble floor gleamed, reflecting the light of the chandeliers. Festive music played, and many people had gathered — apparently for the opening ceremony.
— Oksana?
She froze, hearing a familiar voice behind her. A voice she hadn’t heard in five years but would recognize out of a thousand. She slowly turned.
— Yuri.
He had barely changed. The same attentive gray eyes, the same slight graying at the temples. Only the wrinkles around his eyes had deepened.
— Didn’t expect to see you here, — he looked at her as if she were a ghost. — You… came back?
— Just passing through, — Oksana felt Sofia press against her leg. — Not for long.
Yuri glanced at the girl, and Oksana saw his expression change. His pupils dilated. Sofia was his exact copy — the same gray eyes, the same shape of lips, even the dimple on her cheek when she smiled — just like him.
— And this is…
— My daughter, — Oksana replied quickly. — Sofia.
A heavy, ringing silence hung between them.
— So here you are! — a tall, slender woman with chestnut hair approached them. — Everyone’s been looking for you. Oh, hello, — she looked at Oksana with interest.
— Vera, this is Oksana… an old acquaintance of mine, — Yuri spoke slowly, not taking his eyes off Sofia. — Oksana, this is Vera, my wife.
— Nice to meet you, — Oksana forced a smile. — We have to go, sorry.
— Wait, — Yuri stepped forward. — How can I contact you?
— You can’t, — she turned and quickly walked to the exit, leading Sofia by the hand.
In the taxi, the girl pressed against her:
— Mom, who was that man?
— Just someone I know, sweetheart. Haven’t seen him for a long time.
Aunt Galina’s apartment was just as cozy as five years ago, when Oksana flew here from Moscow with a small suitcase and a broken heart.
— You haven’t changed at all, — the aunt smiled, stroking Sofia’s head. — And this little lady grew up before my eyes, only through photos. How are you, Oksanochka?
— Everything is fine, — she helped her aunt sit in the armchair. — Don’t worry, the doctor said it’s nothing serious, just need to follow the regimen and take medication.
— I’m not talking about that, — the aunt looked at her carefully. — How are you really? Is your heart okay?
Oksana looked away.
— Aunt Galya, that’s all in the past.
— Did you see him?
— Already did. At the new business center. Can you imagine, the chance of meeting someone in a city of almost half a million, and I ran into him on the very first day.
— Fate, — her aunt shook her head. — He was looking for you, you know.
— What? — Oksana turned sharply.
— He came a month after you left. Then a few more times. I said I didn’t know where you were.
— Thank you, — Oksana squeezed her aunt’s hand. — That was the right thing.
— His mother even called last year. Irina Sergeevna always loved you.
Oksana sighed. Her mother-in-law really treated her like a daughter. She wondered if she knew what had happened between Yuri and Kira?
— Sonya looks so much like him, — her aunt continued, looking at the girl playing in the corner. — Did he guess?
— I think so. But it doesn’t change anything.
Morning greeted Oksana with a phone call. The number was unfamiliar.
— Oksana? This is Irina Sergeevna.
The voice of her former mother-in-law made her heart ache.
— Hello, — she stepped out onto the balcony so as not to wake Sofia.
— Yura said he saw you yesterday. May I come? I need to talk to you.
An hour later, they sat in the kitchen. Sofia was still asleep.
— Is she really Yura’s? — Irina Sergeevna asked right away.
Oksana nodded.
— Why didn’t you say anything? — there was no accusation in her voice, only pain. — You deprived him of his daughter, and us of a granddaughter.
— He deprived himself, — Oksana answered quietly. — When he brought my friend into our home.
Irina Sergeevna lowered her eyes.
— I know. He told me everything when you disappeared. He wasn’t himself. But, Oksana… it was only one mistake.
— One that changed everything.
— He only married two years ago. He kept looking for you, hoping you’d come back. Then he met Vera. She’s a good woman, but… they can’t have children.
A lump rose in Oksana’s throat.
— I’m sorry, but that’s not my problem.
— And what about Sofia? Doesn’t she need a father?
At that moment, a sleepy girl appeared at the kitchen door.
— Mom, I’m awake.
Irina Sergeevna froze, looking at her granddaughter with wide eyes.
— How long do you plan to stay in town? — Pavel asked, helping Oksana with the catalog printouts.
She met him at the publishing house where she worked in Kaliningrad. When it turned out he also had business in her hometown, they agreed to fly on the same flight.
— A week, at most two, — she replied, sorting through papers. — As soon as my aunt feels better, we’ll return immediately.
— Too bad, — he smiled. — I thought you liked it here.
— It was good. But that’s in the past.
The phone rang again. Another unknown number.
— Oksana, it’s Yuri. Please don’t hang up.
She froze, closing her eyes.
— How did you get my number?
— Your aunt gave it to me. Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk. It’s important.
— We have nothing to talk about.
— Sofia is my daughter?
Oksana gripped the phone so tightly her knuckles went white.
— I need to know the truth, — he continued, not waiting for a reply. — I have a right to know.
— And I had a right to fidelity. To trust. To respect, — her voice trembled. — But no one cared, right?
There was silence on the other end.
— I was wrong, — he finally said. — And I’d give anything to change the past. But I can’t. But I can try to fix the future. Our daughter needs a father.
— We were fine without you for five years.
— Please. One meeting. Just you and me. Let’s talk like adults.
The café was quiet and nearly empty. Oksana chose a table in the far corner and nervously twisted a cup of cooled tea in her hands.
— Thank you for coming, — Yuri sat opposite.
— I don’t have much time, — she glanced at the clock. — Sofia is with my aunt, but I need to leave soon.
— I won’t beat around the bush, — he put his hands on the table. — I want you to allow me to see our daughter.
— Why? You have a wife, your own life.
— Vera can’t have children, — he looked her straight in the eyes. — But it’s not about that. Sofia is my daughter. I have the right to be part of her life.
— And I had the right to know what was happening in my home when I wasn’t there, — Oksana took a deep breath, trying to calm down. — How long has it been since you saw Kira?
— Five years. Since that very day.
— Really? I thought things were serious between you.
Yuri shook his head.
— It was a mistake. The only and worst one in my life. Corporate party, too much champagne… I’m not making excuses, but there were no feelings, no continuation. Kira called the next day, said you saw everything and disappeared.
— And you rushed to comfort her?
— No. I told her I’d never forgive her for ruining my family, and we never spoke again.
Oksana smiled skeptically.
— Funny how things have changed. Now you talk about responsibility and family.
— I never stopped loving you, — he said quietly. — And I looked for you all these years.
— But in the end married another.
— After three years of searching, I decided you didn’t want to be found. That you started a new life… with someone else.
There was bitter truth in his words. She really didn’t want to be found.
— I don’t understand why you didn’t just say no to him, — Pavel nervously paced the room.
— It’s not that simple, — Oksana sighed. — He’s right, Sofia has the right to know her father.
— He betrayed you! With your best friend!
— I know. But that doesn’t cancel out the fact that he’s the father of my child.
Pavel stopped in front of her:
— Do you still love him?
— No, — she shook her head. — But I can’t make decisions based only on my hurt feelings. Sofia is starting to ask questions about her father. What will I tell her in five years? Ten years?
The phone interrupted their conversation. Vera, Yuri’s wife, was calling. Oksana answered, confused.
— Hello, Oksana. Sorry to bother you. We need to meet, it’s important.
— Thank you for agreeing, — Vera looked excited but determined. — I understand how strange this situation is.
They met in a small park, sitting on a bench away from passersby.
— What did you want to discuss? — Oksana was cautious.
— Yuri told me everything, — Vera began. — About your past, what happened, about Sofia. I… I can’t have children. A congenital condition.
Oksana awkwardly nodded, unsure what to say.
— When we started dating, Yuri was honest with me. Told me how he lost you, how he searched, how he couldn’t forgive himself for his mistake. I knew what I was getting into marrying him. Knew I’d never have all of his heart.
— What are you getting at? — Oksana asked tensely.
— I love Yuri, — Vera answered simply. — And I see how much he suffers. He’s a good man who made a terrible mistake. But he deserves a chance to be a father to his daughter.
— I have to make decisions based on what’s best for my child, not on Yuri’s or your wishes.
— Of course, — Vera nodded. — I just wanted you to know: if you allow Yuri to see Sofia, I will support that decision with all my heart. The girl will have not only a father but… well, someone like a second mom. If you allow it, of course.
Oksana looked at this woman with surprise. She expected accusations, jealousy, but not such openness.
— Why are you doing this?
— Because family is not just blood ties. It’s a choice we make every day. I chose Yuri with all his past. And now I just want there to be more love in our lives, not less.
The next days turned into a real whirlwind for Oksana. Yuri officially requested a paternity test — not because he doubted, but to legally secure his rights. Pavel insisted on a quick return to Kaliningrad and hinted at a serious relationship. Aunt Galina recovered and convinced her niece that Sofia needed a father and she needed forgiveness in her heart.
And then Kira appeared.
Oksana ran into her at the supermarket — the former friend had barely changed, only become more sharp and nervous.
— So it’s true you came back, — Kira looked at her challengingly. — And you brought Yuri’s child. You got lucky.
— I have nothing to say to you, — Oksana tried to avoid her.
— I’ll say it, — Kira grabbed her arm. — He was always in love with me, since university. Then you came along, so proper, so convenient. He married you because that’s what was expected, but he always loved me.
— Let go.
— You know why he didn’t stay with me after you left? Because I left him! He was so pathetic, always whining about you. I got tired of it.
Oksana freed her arm:
— And that’s why you came to tell me this now? Five years have passed, Kira. Five years! He’s married to another woman. You have your own life. I have mine. What do you want?
— I want you to know: he doesn’t love you. Never did. He only wants the child.
That night Oksana sat long by sleeping Sofia’s bed, looking at her serene face, so much like her father’s. Everything was tangled. She thought she could come, help her aunt, and leave, keeping her small world intact. But the past burst into the present, demanding decisions.
The phone quietly vibrated. Pavel. “I want you to know: whatever you decide, I will be there. I love you and Sofia. We’ll manage together.”
Those simple words suddenly cleared everything in her mind. The right decision is always the one that comes from the heart, not from resentment.
—I gathered you here because we are all connected by one story, — Oksana swept her gaze across Aunt Galina’s living room, where Yuri, Vera, Pavel, Irina Sergeevna, and, to everyone’s surprise, Kira — whom Oksana herself had invited — were assembled. — And our decisions will determine the future of a little girl who is innocent in all this.
— Where is Sofia? — Yuri asked.
— With the neighbor, — Oksana answered. — I decided we needed to discuss everything as adults first.
She turned to Kira:
— Let’s start with the fact that I know the truth. Yuri hasn’t been in love with you for years. You yourself tried to ruin our marriage because you were jealous. And yesterday you lied to me, hoping to spoil everything again.
Kira went pale:
— You can’t know that.
—I can, — Oksana took out her phone and played a recording of a conversation with Kira’s former colleague, who revealed how Kira had envied her friend’s happiness for years and planned to break up the family.
— I think it’s better if you leave, — Oksana said calmly. — We have nothing more to talk about.
When the door closed behind Kira, Oksana continued:
—I’ve thought a lot about what’s right for Sofia. And I’ve come to the conclusion that she has the right to know her father. Yuri, — she turned to her ex-husband, — I agree to joint custody. But on one condition: I will not return to this city for good.
— But how then…
— We can find a compromise. Summer holidays, holidays — Sofia will spend time with you. You can visit us in Kaliningrad whenever you want. We’ll draw up a detailed agreement.
Yuri slowly nodded:
— Thank you. That’s much more than I hoped for.
— Now about us, — she looked at Pavel. — I accept your proposal. But let’s not rush. Sofia will have enough changes in her life.
Pavel squeezed her hand:
—I’m in no hurry. We have a whole life ahead.
Irina Sergeevna wiped away tears:
—I’m so happy my granddaughter will now have a complete family. Even if it’s an unusual one.
Vera, sitting next to Yuri, quietly asked:
— When can we meet Sofia? Officially, I mean.
— Tomorrow, — Oksana smiled. — I’ll tell her her father really wants to meet her. And that now she will have a big and loving family.
A week later, Oksana and Sofia were returning to Kaliningrad. Yuri, Vera, Irina Sergeevna, and Pavel — who stayed longer in the city to be with them — saw them off on the platform.
— Bye, Daddy! — Sofia waved from the train window. — See you soon!
Yuri smiled, tears in his eyes. In four days of meeting his daughter, he fell in love with her with all his heart, and she surprisingly easily accepted him into her life.
— Oksana, — he approached the open window, — thank you.
— No need to thank me. I did what I should have done five years ago.
— You did what you thought was right. And I understand that.
The train started moving. Sofia kept waving, holding her new doll — a gift from her father.
Oksana leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. She didn’t know what awaited them ahead, but for the first time in a long while, she felt that everything was going as it should. Sometimes you have to go back to move forward. Sometimes forgiveness is a gift not so much to the one you forgive as to yourself.
And sometimes the truth, however bitter, is the only path to true happiness.