З життя
Вдова
Марія зав’язала яскраву хустку, яку їй колись подарував Іван, і пішла до церкви.
Марія була простою дівчиною, яка жила у маленькому селі, таких якого багато в Україні. Їй виповнилося вже 27 років, і за мірками села цей вік вважався достатньо поважним для незаміжньої жінки. У ті часи дівчина повинна була вийти заміж до певного віку, інакше її репутація псувалася, і її починали називати старою дівою.
Зовні Марія була звичайною, не гіршою за інших, але доля не подарувала їй ані батька, ані матері. Жила вона у хаті своєї тітки, яка завжди була незадоволеною. Саме через відсутність посагу жоден парубок не хотів взяти її за дружину.
Так би Марія і прожила все життя самотньою, якби в сусідньому селі не знайшовся чоловік, який до неї засватався.
Іван був чоловіком середніх років. Після служби в армії він не повернувся до рідного села, а вирішив залишитися на понадстрокову службу. Проте одного дня з ним стався нещасний випадок — він пошкодив око і був змушений піти у відставку. Повернувшись додому, Іван дізнався, що його батьки вже давно покійні.
Добрі люди порадили йому засвататися до Марії.
Сусіди не вважали Івана гарним женихом. У нього не було нічого, окрім старенької хати. Ні худоби, ні коня, а через поранення на службі його обличчя пересік шрам від чола до вуха.
Але Марія з радістю прийняла його пропозицію. Їй набридло життя в домі тітки, з якою вона постійно сварилася, а стосунки з двоюрідною сестрою були геть поганими.
Щасливе життя
Марія та Іван зажили щасливо. Іван був працьовитим чоловіком, а Марія — чудовою господинею. Вони завели кіз і дві корови, а з молока почали робити сир та сметану, які Іван возив продавати на ярмарок у місто.
Іван балував дружину подарунками: привозив шматки тканини на нове вбрання, яскраві хустки або солодощі. Марія не могла натішитися своїм чоловіком. Вона розквітла, гарнішала з кожним днем. Сусідки заздрили їй і говорили:
— Як же тобі пощастило, Марійко! Ми були сліпі, не розгледіли, який чудовий Іван!
Марії було приємно чути ці слова, адже вона по-справжньому любила свого чоловіка.
Але їхнє життя затьмарювала одна прикрість — у них не було дітей.
Гроза
Одного дня Іван повертався додому з міста під час сильної грози. Інші чоловіки, з якими він їздив, залишилися ночувати на постоялому дворі, але Іван дуже поспішав до своєї дружини.
Дорога пролягала через ліс. Гроза не вщухала: кінь фуркав, блискавки раз за разом розрізали темряву. Одна з блискавок влучила у високу сосну, яка розкололася і впала на підводу, придавивши Івана насмерть.
Марія залишилася сама. Вона тужила за Іваном, проливаючи сльози вдень і вночі. Тепер вона ходила на вулицю лише в чорній хустці. Близьких подруг у неї не було, бо, поки жив Іван, вона не потребувала нікого, крім нього.
Сусідки почали запрошувати Марію на вечірні посиденьки. Жінки, завершивши хатні справи, виходили надвір, аби погомоніти. Марія неохоче приєднувалася, але згодом ці розмови трохи відволікали її від смутку. Проте, повернувшись у порожню хату, вона знову поринала у свої сумні думки.
Нічний гість
Одного разу вночі Марія прокинулася від стуку у двері. Відчинивши, вона побачила на порозі Івана. Від радості вона кинулася йому на шию, не розуміючи, чи це сон, чи реальність. Іван мовчки зайшов у хату, сів за стіл і почав їсти, а потім ліг у подружнє ліжко.
На ранок, прокинувшись, Марія побачила, що знову одна. Вона вирішила, що їй просто наснився цей незвичайний візит. Але наступної ночі все повторилося.
Після третьої ночі Марія звернулася до мудрої бабусі, яка жила в селі. Та сказала:
— Це не твій Іван, а нечиста сила в його подобі. Потрібно це зупинити.
Старенька порадила звернутися до ведунки, яка мешкала у лісі неподалік Зміїного озера.
Порада відунки
Відунка уважно вислухала Марію і сказала:
— Це твоя туга прив’язала душу чоловіка. Але насправді це не він, а створіння, що скористалося твоїм горем.
Вона навчила Марію, як розпізнати і вигнати нечисть.
Наступної ночі, коли Іван знову з’явився, Марія діяла так, як радила відунка. Під час вечері вона випадково впустила ложку. Нахилившись, побачила, що замість людських ніг у “чоловіка” копита. Вона швидко осінила себе хрестом, і тоді створіння заревіло, збільшилося в розмірах і зникло.
Відпустила
Після цієї ночі Марія зрозуміла, що її горе тримало душу Івана на землі. Вона одягла яскраву хустку, пішла до церкви і поставила свічку за упокій його душі. Вона усвідомила, що життя продовжується. Любов до Івана залишиться в її серці назавжди, але тепер вона була готова рухатися далі.
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