З життя
Батько пішов з сім’ї до іншої жінки, коли доньці було лише чотири роки.
Віталій пішов до іншої жінки, коли Оксані було чотири роки. Пішов одразу після Нового року, сказав дочці «пробач» і зачинив за собою вхідні двері. Мама сприйняла це цілком спокійно, навіть як неминучість. У її родині жодна жінка не мала тривалих шлюбів. Але через кілька тижнів вона випила вночі всі таблетки димедролу з анальгіном, які були в домі, і тихо заснула назавжди.
Вранці Оксана довго і голосно будила маму. Потім якось поснідала тим, що знайшла в холодильнику, і знову повернулася будити її. Втомившись, заснула, притулившись до мами.
Січневий день минає швидко, вже починало сутеніти, коли дівчинка відкрила очі. Вона прокинулася від холоду, натягнула на себе ковдру і щільніше притиснулася до мами, але їй стало ще холодніше. От тоді Оксана зрозуміла, що це від матері йде такий лютий холод. Гарячі сльози обпекли її обличчя.
У передпокої відчинилися двері. Оксана кинулася туди вихором — це прийшла Ганна, молодша сестра мами.
— Оксанко, ти вдома. А мама де? Дзвоню їй цілий день, чому не бере слухавку? Я ж хвилююся!
Оксана вхопила тітку за поділ шуби і різко потягнула за собою. Вона дивилася на Ганну великими заплаканими очима, тикала пальцем у бік спальні, щось несамовито кричала, але звуків не було: широко відкривався рот, лице жахливо кривилося, сльози і соплі текли потоком, але звуків не було.
Власних дітей Ганна так і не мала, тому чоловік покинув її після п’яти років шлюбу. Вона щиро любила свою племінницю і стала їй як друга мама. Коли трапилася трагедія, Ганна оформила всі документи опіки, і Оксана залишилася з нею. Тітка оточила дівчинку безмежною турботою, але жодне лікування й реабілітація впродовж трьох років не повернули голос племінниці.
Цієї зими сильні морози настали під час Хрещення, із справжнім скрипучим снігом. Оксана з подругами цілий день каталася на санках у парку Шевченка, зліпила цілу родину сніговиків, борсалася в заметах і робила «ангелів».
— Все, час додому. На тобі вся одіж вже стала колом від снігу, а рукавички перетворилися на кригу. Поїхали. Ще в «Сільпо» заїдемо по молоко і макарони, — збиралася Ганна.
Люди заходили і виходили, двері відчинялися і зачинялися, а рудий кіт спокійно сидів праворуч біля входу в магазин. Сидів з розумним виглядом, примруживши очі, ніби йому нічого не потрібно, просто повітрям дихає, лише передніми лапами рухав від холоду. Оксана підійшла до нього впритул і присіла на корточки. Показала Ганні, щоб сама йшла в магазин.
— Ладно, я швиденько все куплю, а ти звідси ні на крок!
Дівчинка повільно погладила кота, той підвівся, вигнув спину від задоволення і замуркотів. Оксана обхопила рудого за шию і притиснула його голову до своєї щоки. І раптом гарячі сльози потекли по щоках, а кіт став їх злизувати, чхав і злизував.
— Фу, що ти таке робиш. Він же вуличний, брудний.
Ганна схопила Оксану за руку і потягла до машини. Дівчинка пручалася і намагалася вирватися, але Ганна силоміць запхала її на заднє сидіння і сіла за кермо.
Кіт теж підійшов до машини, дивився на Оксану і нявчав.
— Так не можна, він уже мій, а я його залишаю, — шепотіла Оксана, розмазуючи сльози по склу.
— Це ти говориш? Повтори, повтори ще раз, — просила Ганна з тремтінням у голосі.
— Ми не можемо його залишити. Він помре без мене! — закричала племінниця прямо їй у обличчя.
Жінка вискочила з машини, схопила кота на руки і сіла з Оксаною на заднє сидіння. Рудий від страху впився кігтями в її шубу. Побачивши дівчинку, він перескочив до неї на коліна, приліг і завмер.
— Хочеш цього кота, будь ласка. Так би одразу й сказала, я б давно його тобі знайшла, — щасливо усміхалася Ганна.
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