Tatiana set the heavy bags on the floor in the hallway. Her back ached after a long day at work. The girl took off her shoes and massaged her sore feet. The sound of footsteps from the bedroom made her lift her head.
— Tanya, why isn’t dinner ready yet? — Nikolai’s displeased voice cut through the silence of the apartment.
Her husband appeared in the bedroom doorway. His face showed clear irritation. Kolya was in home slippers and a wrinkled t-shirt.
Tatiana slowly scanned the apartment. The kitchen was empty. The table was not cleared. Bags of groceries were at her feet. Then she shifted her gaze to her husband.
— You see that I just got home from work, — she said calmly.
— So what? — Nikolai crossed his arms over his chest. — Other wives manage to work and keep the house in order.
— Kolya, I’ve only just stepped through the door…
— You should come home earlier! — Her husband interrupted. — Dinner should be ready by the time I get home! That’s normal for a family!
Tatiana silently picked up the bags. Kolya continued to stand in the doorway. His gaze drilled into the back of his wife.
— I work just as you do, — Tatiana quietly said, walking past her husband. — I get just as tired.
— So what? — Nikolai threw up his hands. — A man should rest at home! And a woman — she takes care of the family!
— A woman is a person too, — Tatiana placed the bags on the kitchen table.
Nikolai snorted and went back into the bedroom. Tatiana was left alone in the kitchen. She stood motionless for a few minutes.
Then she slowly began to unpack the groceries. Bread. Milk. Vegetables for salad. Meat for frying. Each movement was a struggle.
Tatiana changed into her home clothes. Tied on an apron. Turned on the stove. She began preparing dinner in complete silence.
She chopped vegetables. Marinated the meat. Set the potatoes to boil. Everything was done mechanically. Her thoughts tangled in her mind.
An hour later, the cooked dishes appeared on the table. Tatiana set the table. Arranged the plates. Put out the utensils.
— Kolya, dinner is ready, — she called to her husband.
Nikolai came out of the bedroom. He sat down at the table without a word. He began to eat. Tatiana sat opposite him. The silence pressed down on them both.
— It’s good, — Kolya mumbled, not lifting his eyes from his plate.
Tatiana nodded. She barely touched her food. Her appetite had completely vanished.
— Aren’t you going to eat? — her husband asked.
— I don’t really feel like it, — Tatiana replied.
Nikolai shrugged. He continued eating. The sound of the fork scraping the plate was deafening.
After dinner, Tatiana cleared the table. Washed the dishes. Kolya turned on the television in the living room. The girl joined him.
They sat together on the couch. But there was an invisible wall between them. Nikolai flipped through the channels. Tatiana stared at one spot.
— Good night, — she said, standing up from the couch.
— Good night, — her husband replied without taking his eyes off the screen.
Tatiana went to bed earlier than usual. Nikolai came later. He lay down on his side of the bed. He didn’t try to embrace his wife.
In the morning, Tatiana woke up to the sound of the alarm clock. Kolya was already sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked guilty.
— Tanya, — he started softly. — I’m sorry for yesterday.
Tatiana turned toward him. His face showed remorse. Kolya looked at his wife with pleading eyes.
— There was a complete mess at work, — Nikolai continued. — The boss yelled at me all day. The project fell apart because of a stupid mistake.
— I understand, — Tatiana nodded.
— I just took it out on you, — Kolya reached his hand out to his wife. — You weren’t at fault. I’m sorry, darling.
Tatiana silently nodded. She allowed him to take her hand. But inside, something had changed forever.
— I understand that you’re tired, — Nikolai said. — I won’t cause scenes like that again. I promise.
— Okay, — the wife replied quietly.
Kolya leaned in and kissed Tatiana on the cheek. Then he got up and went to take a shower.
Her husband’s apology sounded sincere. He truly regretted his actions. But a residue remained. An unpleasant aftertaste.
Tatiana got up and walked to the mirror. Her reflection looked tired. There was something new in her eyes. Caution.
Yesterday’s words from Kolya kept spinning in her mind. “You should come home earlier.” “A woman should take care.” “A man should rest at home.”
When did it start? When did her husband decide that he could dictate the rules? Tatiana couldn’t find an answer.
She got ready for work, lost in thought. Thoughts about her marriage wouldn’t leave her mind. Something had broken the night before. Something important.
At work, a major project was closing. Reports were overwhelming her. Papers were piled high on the desk. Tatiana stayed late every day.
She didn’t have time to cook at home. On weekends, she made soups and stews for the whole week. She froze cutlets. Bought semi-finished products for stock.
On Friday, Tatiana came home completely exhausted. Nikolai was sitting in the living room in front of the television. The wife silently went to the bathroom.
She washed her face with cool water. Changed into home clothes. Went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. Empty shelves stared back at her.
— What are you looking for? — Kolya appeared in the doorway. — There’s nothing in there. You didn’t cook anything.
— There are dumplings in the freezer, — Tatiana closed the fridge. — There are frozen cutlets too.
— And I have to heat them up myself? — her husband crossed his arms over his chest.
Tatiana turned to him. The exhaustion weighed heavily on her shoulders. Her head ached from the busy day.
— You could have ordered delivery, — she said quietly. — Or cooked something yourself.
— I work hard all day, so dinner should be ready when I step through the door! — Nikolai exploded.
— And what do you think I’m doing? — Tatiana turned sharply to face him. — Getting a manicure at the office?
— Well, you work, you work, — Kolya dismissed her. — But the home — that’s your responsibility!
Inside Tatiana, something snapped. The accumulated exhaustion and resentment burst out.
— My responsibility? — her voice trembled with indignation. — And what’s yours?
— I earn the money! — Nikolai yelled. — I provide for the family!
— We earn equally! — Tatiana stepped closer to him. — I work just as many hours as you do!
Kolya snorted contemptuously. His face twisted with irritation. Tatiana saw a stranger in front of her.
— A woman should be able to balance things, — he said coldly. — Normal wives manage to work and run the house.
— Normal husbands help their wives! — Tatiana shouted. — When was the last time you washed the dishes?
— Why should I wash the dishes? — Nikolai was surprised. — I have a wife!
Her husband’s words were harsh. Tatiana took a step back. Could he really think this way?
— Do you think of me as a servant? — she asked quietly.
— I think of you as my wife, — Kolya shrugged. — Who has her duties!
— And what are your duties? — Tatiana clenched her fists. — Besides work?
— Nothing more! — Nikolai threw his hands up. — A man only needs to earn money!
Tatiana silently walked into the bedroom. She pulled a sports bag out of the closet. She began packing her things.
— Where are you going? — Kolya appeared in the doorway.
— I’m leaving to where no one will demand from me what they’re not willing to do themselves, — Tatiana replied without looking back.
— What is this, a kindergarten? — her husband was outraged. — You’re making a drama over one dinner!
Tatiana spun around sharply. There was fire in her eyes.
— One dinner? — she asked again. — Kolya, do you even understand what you’re saying?
— I’m saying you’re hysterical! — Nikolai shot back. — A normal woman doesn’t run away from her home!
— A normal woman doesn’t live with a man who thinks of her as his slave!
Tatiana continued packing her things. Her hands trembled from the overwhelming emotions. Each movement was a struggle. Inside, everything burned with resentment and disappointment. Kolya stood in the doorway, staring at his wife. His face showed complete confusion.
— You’re not serious, are you? — he asked uncertainly. — Where will you go?
— To a friend’s place for now, — Tatiana zipped up her bag. — And then I’ll find a rental apartment.
— You’re going to destroy the family over cooking? — Kolya tried to block her way. — You’re insane!
Her husband’s words hurt deeply. Tatiana couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Did he really think she was insane?
— You destroyed the family! — Tatiana walked around him. — When you turned me into a housekeeper!
— I didn’t do anything! — Nikolai shouted after her. — These are normal family relations!
His voice was confident. Nikolai truly believed he was right. That scared Tatiana the most.
Tatiana stopped at the door. She turned to her husband one last time. Her heart was pounding from the overwhelming emotions. Bitter disappointment filled her chest.
— Healthy relationships are built on equality, — she said quietly. — Not on one partner exploiting the other.
— Exploiting? — Nikolai flushed. — I provide for you!
— I earn more, — Tatiana corrected him. — But you burdened me with both the house and yourself.
Her words were hard to say. Inside, everything shook with tension and pain. Tatiana saw a stranger in front of her.
— Leave! — her husband screamed. — Let’s see how you live without me!
Nikolai’s shout sounded like the final nail in the coffin of their marriage. Tatiana straightened her shoulders and grabbed her bag.
Tatiana silently left the apartment. The door slammed behind her with a final click. The sound echoed in the empty hallway.
Six months later, she walked through the summer park. In her hands was the divorce paper. The sun played in the tree leaves. Birds sang in the branches.
Tatiana rented a small studio in the city center. The fridge was always full of food. If anything ran out, she ordered delivery. There was enough money for everything. Cleaning took half an hour. Cooking — one hour at most. There was much more time left.
In the evenings, she read books. Went to the theater with friends. She signed up for foreign language courses. Life was full of meaning. Nikolai called in the first few months. He asked her to come back. Promised to change. But Tatiana knew — people don’t change overnight.
She was happy. Truly happy for the first time in many years. No one demanded the impossible from her. No one considered her their property.
Tatiana smiled as she looked at the blue sky. Freedom was beautiful. And she would never let anyone limit her again.