З життя
Он ушёл после двадцати лет брака… А потом вернулся. Но я уже изменилась
Он ушёл после двадцати лет брака… А потом вдруг захотел вернуться. Но я уже была другой.
Светлана сидела на кухне, сжимая в дрожащих пальцах чашку с остывшим чаем. Рядом за столом— её подруга Ирина. Слёзы подступали к горлу, а мысли путались, как нитки в клубке.
— Подожди… Он просто собрал вещи и ушёл? — растерянно переспросила Ирина.
— Да. После двадцати лет. Взял сумку, бросил: «Я полюбил другую» — и вышел, даже не оглянувшись.
— Может, это просто кризис? Вдруг он одумается?
— Ира, ты слышишь себя?! Какие могут быть оправдания? Он ушёл. Без разговоров, без объяснений. Как будто этих лет не было.
Светлана закрыла лицо ладонями. Глаза жгло, а внутри было пусто, словно выжженное поле.
— А дети в курсе? — осторожно спросила Ирина.
— Нет… Катя и Серёжа в лагере под Питером. Уехали три дня назад. Вернутся только через две недели… Как я им скажу?!
— Может, и хорошо, что их нет. У тебя будет время собраться с мыслями.
— Собраться? — Светлана засмеялась горько. — Он был смыслом моей жизни! Как я могла не заметить, что он отдаляется?
Тишину разорвало неожиданное предложение:
— Давай устроим ему матч-реванш. Покажем, что ты ещё в игре.
— Что?! — Светлана уставилась на подругу.
— Всё просто. Сегодня идём на свидание. Ты — умная, красивая, самостоятельная. Квартира в Москве, деньги в банке, дети — золото. Ты — мечта. Докажем ему, что ты не забытая жена, а желанная женщина.
— Я… я всё ещё люблю его…
— А он тебя, если ушёл к первой встречной?! — Ирина сжала её руку. — Пошли. Тебе нужно это, чтобы понять, что жизнь не закончилась.
Сомнения клубились внутри, но Светлана кивнула.
Вечером они сидели в уютном кафе в центре. Столик у окна. На нём — бокал вина и нервно сжатые пальцы.
— Извините за опоздание… Александр?
Голос сорвался, когда она увидела знакомое лицо.
— Света?! — Мужчина вскочил со стула. — Вот это встреча…
Оказалось, это её бывший коллега, с которым они когда-то делили офис. После его перевода в филиал связь оборвалась, но между ними всегда было что-то большее, чем просто дружба.
— Судьба, — прошептала Света, садясь напротив.
Они говорили о работе, смешных моментах, общих знакомых. Время будто свернулось назад, и она снова почувствовала себя живой.
— Слушай, а зачем ты вообще согласилась на это свидание? — вдруг спросил Александр.
Светлана замерла. Первый импульс — соврать. Но его взгляд вытянул честность.
— Муж ушёл. Вчера. К другой. Я не знаю, что делать дальше.
Александр задержал дыхание, потом тронул её руку:
— Ты не одна, Свет. И… я рад, что встретил именно тебя сегодня.
Ей вдруг стало тепло. Впервые за эти сутки.
Но он не дал волю эмоциям:
— Давай не будем торопить события. Я вызову такси. А в выходные сходим куда-нибудь. Как друзья.
Утро застало её дома. На диване спала Ирина.
— Ты что, тут ночевала? — Света прикрыла глаза от яркого света.
— Ага. Могла бы и спасибо сказать, — подруга зевнула. — Ну как, свидание удалось?
— Встретила Сашу.
— Того самого, который пять лет назад чуть не запутался в твоих глазах?!
Света кивнула. Но продолжать не пришлось — в дверь постучали. Ирина пошла открывать, а Светлана, почувствовав недоброе, вжалась в стену.
— Света! К тебе! — крикнула Ирина с издёвкой.
— Кто?..
В дверях стоял… её муж.
— Светка, прости… Я дурак, я ошибся…
— Ошибся? Когда ты с этой… засветился в Инстаграме? Или когда не ночевал дома?
— Я никого не любил! Только тебя! Ради детей…
— Не смей их трогать! — Светлана резко перебила. — А знаешь что? Вчера я была на свидании. С Сашей. И пусть мы просто говорили, но я поняла одно: ты мне больше не нужен.
Муж побледнел.
— Теперь ты с ним?!
— А ты с кем был, когда предавал меня? Теперь мы квиты.
Он вылетел из квартиры, хлопнув дверью. А она… впервые за долгое время вздохнула свободно.
Вечером она набрала Александра:
— Привет. Я свободна. Полностью. Ты ещё хочешь прогуляться по Москве-реке?
— Всегда, Свет. Я ждал этого звонка.
Они начали встречаться. Без спешки, но с теплом. А когда дети вернулись, Саша познакомился с ними как старый друг.
Не сразу, не без трудностей — но по-настоящему.
Иногда, чтобы что-то построить, нужно сначала разрушить старое. Светлана поняла это. И больше никогда не позволила бы себя предать.
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Needless to say, this is all my fault! my mates sister sobbed. I could never have imagined things would turn...
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