“Have you ever once in your life taken responsibility for your own debts?” Galina shouted, slamming her palm on the table so hard that the cup jumped and tea spilled across the tablecloth.
The air in the kitchen felt thick and sticky. Irina Petrovna froze beside the refrigerator, as if she had been caught doing something shameful. Vladimir Nikolaevich nervously tugged at the edge of his newspaper. And Nina, yes, that same Nina, sat at the table with one leg crossed over the other, lazily stirring her spoon in her cup.
“Oh, here we go,” Nina drawled with a crooked smile. “Galya, you’re like a wound-up machine. Anyone would think those people are after your money personally.”
“Almost personally,” Galina replied dryly. “Because your brother seems to think I’m the one who should be paying for your foolishness.”
“Don’t start,” Oleg muttered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “We already talked about this.”
“No, Oleg,” Galina said, turning slowly toward her husband. “We did not talk about it. You simply informed me that my money had already been mentally handed over to your sister.”
Nina gave a small snort.
‘
“Come on, let’s not be dramatic. Two hundred thousand isn’t the end of the world. People have ten-million-ruble mortgages.”
“People also have brains,” Galina said quietly.
Irina Petrovna immediately bristled.
“Galya, why would you say that? Nina just made a mistake.”
“She didn’t make a mistake,” Galina said, looking directly at her mother-in-law. “She fell into a pit and is trying to drag everyone else down with her.”
Vladimir Nikolaevich coughed awkwardly.
“Let’s not insult anyone…”
“That’s not an insult. That’s accounting,” Galina said coldly. “Let’s do the math.”
She bent one finger.
“Apartment rent — thirty thousand.”
Another.
“The car Nina wrecked — one hundred fifty thousand.”
Another.
“Makeup courses — forty thousand.”
Another.
“The microloan for renovations — twenty-five.”
Then she lifted her eyes.
“And now this flower boutique — two hundred.”
Nina clapped slowly, mockingly.
“Bravo. Galya’s giving a financial report on my life.”
“Well, someone has to,” Galina said.
Oleg pushed back his chair sharply and stood.
“That’s enough! This is not the time to dig up old things.”
“This is exactly the time,” Galina replied. “Because once again, you all came here for money.”
Irina Petrovna threw up her hands.
“We did not come for money! We came for help!”
“Help is when someone is in trouble,” Galina answered. “Nina has a chronic habit of living off other people.”
Nina set down her cup.
“Listen, Galya, let’s be honest. You’re just stingy.”
“Of course I care about money,” Galina said calmly. “I earned it.”
“So what, we’re not family?”
“No,” Galina replied. “You’re a support group for Nina.”
Silence dropped over the room like a wet blanket.
Oleg looked at his wife as if she had just said something obscene.
“Galya… you’re crossing a line.”
“No, Oleg. I’ve just stopped pretending everything is fine.”
Just a couple of hours earlier, Galina had been sitting alone in the kitchen.
She had been going through bills, writing numbers in a notebook. An old habit — always count everything.
In this apartment, there was no other way.
Two rooms. Cramped. A kitchen where even three people bumped elbows. And there were four of them. Sometimes five, when Nina decided to “drop by for a minute.”
Four years ago, Oleg had said:
“Six months, tops.”
Back then, Galina believed him.
Love makes fools of people.
Then came the “temporary difficulties,” the “bad timing,” the “the market isn’t right yet.”
And then there was Nina.
Nina always appeared the same way.
With a tragic face and the same line:
“Olezhek, I need help…”
And Oleg helped.
At first, Galina tried to talk.
Gently.
“Maybe Nina should deal with this herself?”
But Oleg always looked at her as though she had suggested throwing someone into a river.
“She’s my sister.”
And that was the end of the conversation.
That was when Galina started saving in silence.
Bonuses. Side jobs. Transfers to a separate savings account.
She even came up with a private joke for herself.
“The escape fund.”
In five years, she had managed to save seven hundred eighty thousand.
A little more, and she would be able to take out a mortgage.
She pictured the apartment she wanted.
Small. A window facing the courtyard. A place where no one would monitor how many spoonfuls of sugar she put in her tea.
And where Nina would not be sitting in the kitchen like she was now.
As though it were her territory.
“I honestly don’t understand why everyone is making this so dramatic,” Nina said, picking at the chipped polish on her cup. “Business is a risk.”
“You opened a boutique with no money and no plan,” Galina said. “That isn’t a risk. That’s a circus.”
“Well, it didn’t work out.”
“Because people buy flowers where they’re cheaper.”
“But I had style.”
“You had debt.”
Oleg slammed his palm against the table.
“That’s it! Enough!”
He turned to Galina.
“Galya, just tell us plainly. Will you help or not?”
“No.”
Irina Petrovna leapt to her feet.
“What do you mean, no?!”
“It’s very simple.”
“But you have the money!”
“I do.”
“Then why?!”
Galina looked at her mother-in-law steadily.
“Because that money is for my life.”
“And what about Nina?!”
“Nina can earn for her own life.”
Nina laughed.
“You talk as if I’m some kind of criminal.”
“Not yet,” Galina said. “But if this debt ends up in court, it’ll be entertaining.”
Vladimir Nikolaevich let out a heavy sigh.
“Galya, don’t be so harsh…”
“I’m not harsh,” she said. “I’m just tired.”
Then she turned to her husband.
“Oleg, do you want to help your sister?”
“Yes.”
“Wonderful. Then help her.”
“But I don’t have that kind of money!”
“Then borrow it.”
“That takes time!”
“At least it would be honest.”
Nina snorted.
“Oh sure. Let brother take out a loan while you just stand there watching.”
Galina looked at her.
“Nina, do you know what’s most interesting?”
“What?”
“You don’t even ask.”
“Why should I?” Nina shrugged. “We’re family.”
Galina gave a quiet laugh.
It came out dry, almost bitter.
“Exactly.”
She picked up her handbag.
“I’m leaving.”
Oleg stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly that.”
“Where are you going?!”
“As far away from this family business as possible.”
Irina Petrovna flung up her hands again.
“Galya, don’t put on a performance!”
“This is not a performance.”
“Then what is it?”
Galina looked at all of them.
“It’s the end of my patience.”
She opened the door.
And at that exact moment, the doorbell rang.
Loud. Insistent.
Vladimir Nikolaevich peered through the peephole and turned pale.
“Oleg…” he whispered.
“What?”
“There are… some men out there.”
“What men?”
“They’re here about Nina’s debt.”
And at that same second, fists started pounding on the door.
“Open up! We need to talk!” a rough male voice shouted from outside, then pounded again so hard that the old front door rattled in its frame.
Vladimir Nikolaevich stepped back from the peephole and looked around helplessly.
“Oleg… there are two of them…” he murmured, nervously adjusting his glasses.
“Two who?” Oleg asked sharply, stepping into the hallway.
“The kind you don’t want to meet,” his father said quietly. “They’re here because of Nina.”
The kitchen fell instantly silent. Even the kettle stopped hissing.
Nina, who had been arguing and sneering only five minutes earlier, suddenly went pale.
“I… I never gave them this address…” she whispered, staring at the table.
“So they just teleported here, then?” Galina said dryly, leaning one shoulder against the wall and watching everything closely.
“Galya, this is not the time!” Oleg snapped.
“This is exactly the time,” she said calmly. “People like that don’t usually show up for tea.”
The pounding on the door grew harder.
“How long are we supposed to wait?!” the same voice barked. “Open up!”
Irina Petrovna wrung her hands.
“Dear God, Olezhek… what do we do?”
“Open it,” Oleg said shortly, and turned the lock.
The door swung open.
Two men stood on the landing.
The first was tall, with cold eyes and a close-cropped haircut. The second was heavier, around forty, with a heavy, unreadable stare.
Both looked like men who were used to speaking briefly and without unnecessary politeness.
“Good evening,” the taller one said calmly, surveying the apartment. “Is Nina Vladimirovna here?”
From the kitchen, Nina drew in a shaky breath.
Oleg blocked the doorway.
“And who are you?”
“We’re here on a financial matter,” the man replied, and without waiting for permission, stepped inside.
“Excuse me!” Vladimir Nikolaevich protested, stretching out his arm. “You can’t just walk in here!”
“We won’t be long,” the second man said indifferently, gently nudging him aside with his shoulder. “We’ll talk and leave.”
They walked into the kitchen.
Nina sprang to her feet.
“I’ll pay everything back!” she said quickly, nervously pushing back her hair. “Things are just complicated right now…”
“They’re always complicated for you,” the taller man observed calmly, sitting down on a stool.
He pulled out his phone and opened some sort of spreadsheet.
“Nina Vladimirovna, as of today, your debt totals two hundred thirty-eight thousand rubles,” he said evenly.
Irina Petrovna gasped.
“How is it two hundred thirty-eight?!” she cried, grabbing the edge of the table. “You said it was two hundred!”
“Interest,” the man replied shortly.
“That’s robbery!” Vladimir Nikolaevich burst out.
“That’s a contract,” the other man answered calmly.
Oleg stood with both hands braced on the table.
His face was slowly darkening.
“How much time?” he asked.
“Until tomorrow,” the man replied.
“Until tomorrow?!” Nina cried. “Are you out of your minds?!”
“We’re not,” the man said coldly. “But our patience is running out.”
Galina gave a quiet, humorless smile.
“What a surprise,” she remarked, folding her arms.
Oleg shot her a quick glance.
“Galya, please…”
“I’m quiet,” she said calmly.
Nina suddenly rushed toward her brother.
“Olezhek, tell them! Tell them we’ll pay everything!”
“Who is we?” Galina asked softly.
Nina turned to her.
“Well, family, obviously!”
“Family is not an ATM,” Galina said.
The taller man looked at her with interest and gave the faintest smile.
“Smart thought,” he said.
Nina whirled on him.
“I’ll pay it back! In a month!”
“You’ve already said that,” he replied calmly.
Then he stood.
“Tomorrow the money comes in, and the matter is closed. No money, and it moves forward officially. Through court.”
“Go to court!” Oleg suddenly said sharply.
Everyone fell silent.
Even Nina.
“Olezhek…” she whispered.
Oleg looked at his sister for a long moment.
“You’re a grown woman,” he said tiredly. “Start living like one.”
Nina went pale.
“You’d abandon me?”
“I’m done solving your problems,” he said quietly.
Irina Petrovna threw up her hands again.
“Oleg! She’s your sister!”
“Mom, enough!” he snapped.
The men exchanged glances.
“All right,” the taller one said. “We heard you. Tomorrow we expect an answer.”
He headed for the door.
At the threshold, he stopped and turned around.
“One more thing,” he added calmly. “If this goes to court, they’ll check every debt. Sometimes a lot more interesting things come to light.”
Nina turned away abruptly.
The door closed.
A heavy silence settled over the kitchen.
Irina Petrovna was crying softly.
Vladimir Nikolaevich paced from corner to corner.
Oleg stared at his sister.
“How many more debts are there?” he asked hoarsely.
Nina said nothing.
“Nina,” he repeated.
“A few…”
“How many?”
She pressed her lips together.
“A credit card…”
“How much altogether?” he asked, more sharply now.
Nina covered her face with her hands.
“Around four hundred thousand…”
Irina Petrovna let out a low moan.
“Lord…”
Oleg turned sharply toward the window.
“So this is what it’s come to,” he said, his voice rough.
Galina said nothing.
She looked at Nina calmly, almost coldly.
Suddenly Nina lifted her head.
Her eyes were full of anger now.
“Why is everyone staring at me like that?!” she shouted.
“Because these are your debts,” Galina answered calmly.
Nina gave a crooked smile.
“You should keep quiet altogether.”
“Why exactly?” Galina asked softly.
“Because you act like some saint,” Nina spat.
Oleg turned around.
“Nina, enough.”
But Nina was already on a roll.
“No, let her hear it!” she flared, jumping up from the table. “She lectures everyone here about money!”
Galina looked at her steadily.
“At least I’m not living off other people.”
“But you hide money,” Nina sneered.
Oleg frowned.
“What money?”
Nina turned to her brother.
A nasty, almost triumphant smile appeared on her lips.
“Olezhek… didn’t she tell you?”
Galina felt something cold settle inside her.
“Nina, don’t,” she said quietly.
But Nina had no intention of stopping.
“Your wife doesn’t have seven hundred eighty thousand,” she said slowly. “She has more.”
Oleg turned to Galina.
“What does she mean?” he asked quietly.
Galina remained silent.
Nina leaned forward and said in almost a whisper:
“I happened to see her banking app,” she said slowly, leaning back in her chair and narrowing her eyes. “And there wasn’t seven hundred thousand in there. It was over a million.”
The kitchen went silent.
Even Irina Petrovna stopped crying.
Oleg slowly turned toward Galina.
“Galya… is that true?” he asked, his voice dull, gripping the edge of the table with his fingers.
Galina stood against the wall, looking at Nina calmly. Too calmly.
“Nina likes to exaggerate,” she said evenly.
“So it’s a lie?” Oleg asked tensely.
“No.”
Irina Petrovna straightened abruptly.
“What do you mean, no?!”
“Because the amount really is higher,” Galina replied calmly.
Nina smirked victoriously.
“See? I told you!”
Oleg stared at his wife as if he were seeing her for the first time.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked quietly.
Galina gave a short, bitter laugh.
“And why would I?”
“What do you mean, why?!” Oleg burst out, jerking his head up. “We’re husband and wife!”
“Really?” Galina asked softly.
She walked slowly to the table.
“That’s interesting. When Nina needs money, suddenly we’re family. But when I’m saving, that’s somehow my personal business.”
Oleg slammed his palm on the table.
“Don’t twist this! We’re talking about something else!”
“No, Oleg,” Galina said calmly. “This is exactly what we’re talking about.”
Nina let out an irritated huff.
“Oh, enough with the philosophy already!” she snapped, drumming her nails against the table. “The money exists, so help.”
Galina looked at her with mild surprise.
“Are you serious right now?”
“And what?” Nina shot back, throwing out her hands. “You’ve got over a million sitting there while we’re all losing our minds over two hundred thousand!”
“You don’t owe two hundred,” Galina said calmly. “You owe nearly four hundred.”
Nina rolled her eyes dramatically.
“So what?!”
“So,” Galina replied, “they are your debts.”
Irina Petrovna flung up her hands again.
“Galya, why do you have to be so harsh…”
“And how exactly should I be?” Galina asked calmly. “Applaud?”
Vladimir Nikolaevich sighed heavily.
“Maybe we should all calm down a little…”
But Nina was already boiling over.
She leapt to her feet.
“Who do you think you are?!” she shouted, leaning toward Galina. “You’re just greedy!”
“Maybe,” Galina answered calmly.
“You’re trying to destroy this family!”
“Nina,” Galina said quietly, “this family is being destroyed not by my caution. It’s being destroyed by your irresponsibility.”
“Oh, is that so?!”
Nina kicked the stool with her foot.
It crashed to the floor.
Irina Petrovna cried out.
“Nina, stop!”
But Nina was beyond stopping now.
“You all act so righteous!” she screamed, waving her arms. “But the second money is involved, suddenly everyone is selfish!”
Oleg stood up sharply.
“Enough!” he said, clenching his fists.
Nina spun toward him.
“So now you’re against me too?”
“I’m against what this has turned into,” he said tiredly.
“So you’re against me!”
“Nina…”
“You always saved me!” she screamed. “And now what, you’ll just throw me away?!”
Oleg let out a heavy breath.
“I can’t do this anymore.”
Nina froze for a second.
“What?”
“I’m not paying your debts anymore,” he said quietly.
Irina Petrovna gasped.
“Oleg!”
“Mom, enough,” he said wearily, rubbing his face. “This has been going on for years.”
Nina stared at him, mouth open.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Even if she has money?!” She jabbed a finger at Galina.
Oleg looked at his wife.
Then back at his sister.
“Even then.”
Nina suddenly laughed. The sound was sharp, almost hysterical.
“You two are unbelievable,” she said, wiping at her eyes. “Do you really think she’ll stay with you after this?”
Oleg frowned.
“What are you talking about?”
Nina looked at Galina and smirked.
“Tell him.”
“What?” Oleg asked quietly.
Galina picked up her bag.
“I already did.”
“What?”
“I said I was leaving.”
The silence turned dead and hollow.
“You’re serious?” Oleg asked, staring at her.
“Yes.”
“Because of money?”
“No.”
She looked at him calmly.
“Because I have always come third in your life.”
Irina Petrovna started crying again.
“Galya, please don’t…”
Galina gently shook her head.
“I have to.”
She turned to Oleg.
“Do you remember promising we’d move out in six months?”
Oleg lowered his eyes.
“I remember.”
“It’s been four years.”
Nina gave a mocking laugh.
“Oh, here we go again…”
And at that moment, Galina turned sharply toward her.
“Be quiet,” she said calmly, but with such cold force that Nina actually fell silent.
Galina looked back at her husband.
“I’m tired of living inside other people’s problems.”
“We could have fixed this…” Oleg said quietly.
“No.”
She opened the door.
“That should have happened much earlier.”
She stepped into the hallway.
Irina Petrovna hurried after her.
“Galya… maybe we can talk…”
“We’ve been talking for four years,” Galina said calmly.
And she left.
The door closed behind her.
Seven months passed.
Galina stood by the window of her own small apartment.
Thirty square meters.
A large window.
Silence.
Her phone vibrated.
A message from her former neighbor.
“Did you hear? Nina’s in debt again. And Oleg is living with his parents now.”
Galina smiled to herself.
She did not reply.