— A wife is my battle comrade. We’ve been through so much… And the little mouse—she’s my tender girl. Maybe I should have met her exactly now. Not to grow up side by side like I did with Nadia, but to shelter her with my care…
This was a voice recording my sister-in-law played for me. My husband, Victor— that very “battle comrade” we thought we’d be together with forever—was the one speaking.
— For whom, then? — I managed to squeeze out when the recording ended.
— His new partner from work.
— Swine! — my Victor’s sister raged.
— Little mouse, just imagine! I knew. I understood who it was. A little blonde, looking at the world with innocent eyes. My husband’s tender girl… The one I need to run from, like from fire. Because from our marriage, nothing is to be expected but tears…