З життя
Він вигнав нас з дітьми, але доля відкрила мені новий шлях
Він вигнав нас із дітьми на вулицю — але доля подарувала мені нове життя”
“Поміняв дружину з дітьми на коханку і тепер жадаєш, щоб ми жили без дому?” — ці слова Віри ще довго відлунювали в свідомості Олексія, коли він згадував її історію. Того вечора на вечірці він ледве дихав і вийшов на свіжий морозний вітер. Там, біля кафе, до нього підбіг замурзаний хлопчина у подертих штанях. Один з друзів Олексія жестом показав йому йти геть — “йди, попрошайко!” — але Олексій раптом завагався. Щось у цьому хлопчику, в його великих очах, зворушило його до глибини душі.
— Їж, Максиме, я ще куплю, якщо що,— сказав Олексій, запрошуючи хлопчика за стіл у кафе. Хлопчик з’їв половину і попросив залишок забрати з собою. — Розкажи, що у вас сталося? — запитав тихо Олексій, дивлячись на худорляві руки, що дрижали від холоду. — Мені дев’ять, у мене є мама й сестричка Оленка. Вона хвора, мама всі гроші на ліки витрачає, на їжу майже нема,— відповів Максим, втупившись у підлогу. Олексій підвівся: — Підемо, я винагороджу тебе за відвертість.
Шлях до старого гуртожитку пролягав через район, про який містом ходили чутки з острахом. Двері відчинила втомлена, але гарна жінка. — Він щось накоїв? Вибачте… — почала вона, але Олексій перебив: — Ні, я тут, щоб допомогти. Віра провела його у тісну кімнатеньку. На ліжечку лежала маленька дівчинка, кашляла і плакала про воду. Їй було не більше чотирьох. Олексій сів, слухаючи, як життя зламало цю жінку, і відчув, як серце наповнює гнів.
— Ми з чоловіком зі школи були разом, — розповіла Віра, стримуючи сльози. — Народився Максим, він сказав: “Не турбуйся, я все забезпечу”. Я слухалася, виховували дітей, а потім з’явилась інша. Він вигнав нас із хати, кричав: “Йдіть геть!” Я благала — хоча б заради дітей подумай, але дарма. Влаштувалася двірником, дали цю кімнату. Грошей вистачало на їжу, а коли Оленка захворіла, все пішло на ліки. Максим став просити у людей. — Вона кинула погляд на продукти, що приніс Олексій: — Я поверну все до останньої копійки! — Не потрібно,— відмахнувся він.
Наступного дня Олексій прийшов з лікарем. Оленка видужала. Він приходив ще не раз, приносив смаколики, грався з малюками. Згодом зрозумів: закохався. Але правда відкрилася пізніше. Якось увечері Віра зізналася: — Знаєш, Олексіє, той чоловік, що нас вигнав… Він працює разом з тобою. Це твій конкурент, Сергій. — Олексій завмер. Сергій? Той самий, що хвалився новою автівкою й молодою подружкою на тому ж корпоративі?
Щось у ньому перевернулося. Олексій, успішний, шанований, боявся Сергія у бізнесі, а той викинув свою родину на вулицю, як сміття. Але замість злості з’явилася ясність. Він подивився на Віру, на Максима й Оленку, і зробив вибір. Пропозицію. Вона сказала “так” зі сльозами радості. Тепер вони разом — справжня родина. Діти кличуть його татом, а він їх любить, як рідних.
Сьогодні вони живуть у просторому домі, де сміх Оленки і жарти Максима зігрівають вечори. Олексій більше не той хлопець з корпоративів — він чоловік і батько. А Сергій? Лишився зі своєю автівкою та порожнім життям. Доля зіграла свою гру: один вигнав, інший підняв. І коли Віра обіймає Олексія, вона шепоче: “Дякую, що знайшов нас”. Чи був це випадок? Чи всесвіт знав, що робить? Подумай про це сам.
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