З життя
Тому що він — добрий
Викторія поставила важкі валізи на підлогу в коридорі.
— Ура! Мамочка приїхала! — радісно закричали дівчатка, вибігаючи назустріч із дитячої.
Віка всміхнулася. Нарешті вона вдома! Позаду чотири місяці підвищення кваліфікації, обшарпаний гуртожиток, іспити…
Вона обійняла і розцілувала своїх донечок. Ну як же без подарунків?!
— Іринко, це для тебе! — мама простягнула старшій доньці гарний пухнастий светр. Вигукнувши від радості, Іринка побігла в дитячу. Але не добігла — повернулася, обійняла маму:
— Дякую, матусю! Я давно про такий мріяла! — і знову зникла в дитячій.
— Катруся, а це — для тебе! — і мама витягла з валізи щось біло-синє, м’яке, дивне.
Бабуся Оксана підняла брови: що це за дивна річ опинилася в худеньких руках молодшої внучки? Іграшка, чи що?
На Катю дивився кролик з розкосими очима. Голова його була тверда, з пап’є-маше, а животик і лапки — м’які, набиті тирсою. Кролик був білий, з короткою штучною шубкою, вдягнений у синю сорочку-косоворотку.
Все б нічого. Але…
Більш потворної іграшки уявити було важко. Розкосі очі кролика — різного розміру, ще й розміщені на різних рівнях. Горбоноса мордочка нахилялася вбік, а на тонких губах застигла крива посмішка. Він наче вибачався за своє потворство…
— Ого! — вигукнула вдягнена в новинку Іра. — Мамо, це що за почвара?!
— Доню… — зітхнула бабуся Оксана. — А що, у всьому Києві нічого страшнішого не знайшлося, що ти привезла саме цю?! Нею тільки ворони відлякувати на полі!
При цих словах бабусі маленька Катя здригнулася, міцно обійняла кролика і побігла в дитячу.
— Знаєш, матусю, мені зрозуміле твоє обурення. Але… — сказала Віка. — Центральний дитячий світ у Києві дуже великий, іграшок багато, полиці завалені… А він сидів чомусь самотньо на самому низу… Мені стало його дуже шкода. І, здається, кролик зрадів, коли я взяла його в руки… Не знаю чому, але мені здалося, що він сказав: “Дякую!”
Бабуся недовірливо похитала головою і махнула рукою… Її доросла донька, лікар вищої категорії, не встигла наігратись: повоєнне дитинство не балувало дітвору іграшками…
Потворний кролик, вироблений на іграшковій фабриці далеко за кордоном, став улюбленцем Каті. Він був названий серйозним ім’ям — Прохір. Дві букви «р», які Катерина вимовляла з гарним грасуванням, додавали комічності його вигляду.
Вдень Проша терпляче чекав дівчинку зі школи, вночі вислуховував казки та історії з життя Катюшиних подруг. Засинала дитина, міцно притискаючи кролячу мордочку до щоки…
Роки швидко летіли.
Від частих прань біла шубка кролика стала жовтуватою — що поробиш, тирсова начинка пофарбувала штучне хутро, а синя сорочка-косоворотка, збліднувши, стала блідно-блакитною. Прошка набув просто жахливого вигляду, але від цього став ще більш улюбленим Катею — вона старанно його берегла.
Каті було сімнадцять, коли у її старшої сестри народився син, Сашко. Як тільки малюк почав усвідомлювати себе у світі, куди він прийшов, потворний кролик став його кумиром. Засинаючи у своєму ліжечку, Сашко нашіптував кроликові ласкаві слова, а Прохір усміхався хлопчику, як колись його тітці.
З великою неохотою Сашко одного разу передав кролика своєму маленькому згорьованому двоюрідному брату Костику. Сльози образи стали сльозами радості, коли Костик пішов додому, притискаючи Прохіра обома руками до грудей. Кролик знайшов нового юного співрозмовника…
Ніхто не здивувався, коли Костик рішуче простягнув іграшку плачучій чужій дівчинці у дворі, встигнувши щось прошепотіти Прохіру на вушко. Дівчинка здивовано подивилася на Костика, але кролика взяла…
Це б і була казка кінець — кролик Проша покинув сім’ю, перейшовши в турботливі руки нової господині. Але…
Важко сказати, скільки минуло років після благородного жесту Костика. Нещодавно зовсім старенька Вікторія гостювала у подруги юності, Ліди, такої ж сивої бабусі, як вона сама. Похилі пані жваво розмовляли, згадуючи молодість, і Вікторія раптом згадала історію з потворним кроликом.
— Це не про цього звірятка ти мені зараз кажеш? — запитала Ліда, витягуючи звідкись з-за спини щось безформне, блідо-блакитне…
— Проша! — ахнула Вікторія.
— Ну, не знаю, Проша він чи Феофан, але викинути намагаюся вже котрий рік цю паскудь! Правнучка Кіра не дає… Подарували їй, бачиш, у дворі, коли вона впала й забила коліно…
Вікторія взяла іграшку в руки… Замислилась… Згадала давній літній день, худенькі руки Каті, яка притискала потворного кролика до грудей… І усміхнулася….
You Don’t Deserve It — “After my divorce, I thought I’d never trust anyone again,” Andrew admitted, fidgeting with his empty espresso cup. His voice cracked and wavered so convincingly that Kate found herself leaning closer. “You know, when someone betrays you, you lose a part of yourself. She left me with wounds I thought would never heal… I honestly didn’t think I’d survive.” Andrew’s stories poured out for a long time: about his wife who never appreciated him, the pain that wouldn’t let go, the fear of starting over. Each word settled in Kate’s heart like a warm little stone. She imagined herself as the woman who could restore his faith in love—how they’d heal his scars together, how he’d realize true happiness was possible with her by his side. He first mentioned Max on their second date, casually dropped in between dessert and coffee… — “I have a son, by the way. He’s seven. Lives with his mum, but stays with me every weekend. The court said so.” — “That’s wonderful!” Kate beamed. “Children are a blessing.” She started daydreaming: Saturday morning breakfasts for three, trips to the park, TV evenings together. The boy needed a woman’s care, a mother’s warmth. She could become a second mum—not a replacement, but someone close, someone family… — “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Andrew watched her with a crooked smile she mistook for wariness at the time. “A lot of women run when they hear about a kid.” — “I’m not most women,” she said proudly. Her first weekend with Max was a celebration. Kate made blueberry pancakes—his absolute favourite, as Andrew had tipped her off. Patiently, she helped him through his maths homework. She washed his dinosaur T-shirt, pressed his school uniform, made sure he was in bed by nine sharp. — “You should have a rest,” she told Andrew after he’d sprawled out on the sofa with the remote. “I’ve got this covered.” Andrew nodded—or so it seemed then, gratefully. But now she realized it was the nod of a man taking his due. Time marched on. Kate worked as a logistics manager, out by eight, home after seven. Decent salary by London standards—enough for two. But there were three. — “Hold-up on site again,” Andrew would say as if announcing a hurricane, “Client’s pulled out. But there’s a big contract coming, I promise.” The “big contract” hovered on the horizon for a year and a half, sometimes getting closer, mostly never arriving. But the bills always came—rent, utilities, internet, groceries, child support for Marina, new trainers for Max, school contributions. Kate paid all of them, quietly. She skimped on lunches, brought in tupperware pasta, walked home in the rain to save on cabs. She hadn’t had a manicure in a year—did her own nails and tried not to remember the luxury of professional treatments. Three years, and Andrew had given her flowers exactly three times. Kate remembered each bouquet—cheap roses from the convenience kiosk near their tube stop, droopy and with snapped-off thorns. Probably on special offer… The first was an apology after Andrew called her hysterical in front of Max. The second came after an argument about a friend who visited unannounced. The third, when he missed her birthday because he lingered with mates—simply forgot. — “Andrew, I don’t want expensive gifts,” she tried to keep her voice gentle. “Just… sometimes I’d like to know you’re thinking of me. Even a card…” His face contorted instantly. — “So it’s all about money for you, is it? Presents? Don’t you care about love? Or what I’ve been through?” — “That’s not what—” — “You don’t deserve it.” Andrew spat the words at her like dirt. “After all I do for you, you still complain.” She fell silent. She always did—it made things easier. Easier to live, to breathe, to pretend everything was fine. Yet, for mates’ nights, Andrew always found cash. Pubs, football at the local, café Thursdays. He’d come home tipsy, reeking of sweat and cigarettes, flop onto the bed without noticing Kate was still awake. She convinced herself this was how love worked. Love meant sacrifice. Love meant patience. He would change, surely. She just had to be even more attentive, love even harder—after all, look at what he’d suffered… Talk of marriage became a minefield. — “We’re happy as we are, why do we need a piece of paper?” Andrew waved the question away like a pesky fly. “After what happened with Marina, I need time.” — “It’s been three years, Andrew. That’s a long time.” — “Now you’re pressuring me—always pressuring!” He stormed off, ending the conversation. Kate longed for children of her own. She was twenty-eight, the ticking biological clock growing louder each month. But Andrew wasn’t interested in a second round of fatherhood—he had a son, and that was enough for him. Then came that Saturday—she asked for just one day. One day. — “The girls are inviting me over. We haven’t seen each other in ages. I’ll be back by evening.” Andrew looked at her as though she’d announced she was emigrating. — “And Max?” — “He’s your son, Andrew. Spend the day with him.” — “So you’re abandoning us? On a Saturday? When I’m expecting to relax?” She blinked. In three years she’d never left them alone. Never asked for a day to herself. She cooked, cleaned, tutored homework, washed, ironed—while holding a full-time job. — “I just want to see my friends. It’s only a few hours… And he’s your son. Can’t you spend a day with him on your own?” — “You’re supposed to love my child as much as me!” Andrew suddenly roared. “You live in my flat, eat my food, and now you’ve got the nerve to make demands?!” His flat. His food. Kate paid the rent. Kate bought the food. Three years supporting a man who yelled at her for wanting to spend a day with her friends. She looked at Andrew—twisted face, throbbing temples, fists clenched—and saw him for the first time. Not as a wounded soul, not a helpless victim in need of rescue, but an adult who had learned to expertly exploit kindness. Kate, to him, was not a beloved partner, not a future wife. She was a walking wallet and a live-in maid. That was all. When Andrew left to drop Max back to Marina, Kate took out her suitcase. Her hands moved calmly, no shakes, no doubts. Passport. Mobile. Charger. A couple of shirts and jeans. The rest could be bought later. The rest didn’t matter. She left no note. What could she explain to a man who never valued her? The door closed behind her quietly, no fuss, no drama. The calls started within an hour—one, then another, then a barrage—a shrill, endless trill that made her phone quiver. — “Kate, where are you?! What’s going on?! You’ve gone, there’s no dinner! Am I supposed to go hungry now? What the hell?!” She listened—his voice angry, demanding, full of righteous indignation—and marvelled. Even now, as she’d left, Andrew thought only of himself. How inconvenient this was. Who would make his tea? No “sorry”. No “what happened”. Just “how dare you”. Kate blocked his number. Blocked him on Messenger. On every social platform—brick by brick, she built herself a wall. Three years. Three years with someone who never loved her. Who used her empathy as a disposable resource. Who convinced her that self-sacrifice was love. But that’s not love. Love doesn’t humiliate. Love doesn’t reduce someone to a servant. Kate walked through the twilight streets of London and for the first time in ages, she could breathe. She vowed she’d never again confuse love with self-neglect. Never again give herself away to those who prey on pity. And always, always choose herself. Just herself.
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