Olesea stepped down from the bus with heavy steps. She had arrived in Andrei’s hometown.

Throughout the journey, she quietly wiped away her tears. Her life seemed to have ended with Andrei’s passing, yet in two months, her daughter was due to arrive.

Her daughter with Andrei. The thought of their child was the only thing preventing her from taking that final, unthinkable step.

Their meeting had been fateful, occurring two years after Olesea left the orphanage.

She was studying at a technical college while working night shifts at a factory. Such an arrangement was usually not allowed, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

Andrei arrived at the factory to install new equipment. Olesea knew the factory had been purchased by a wealthy man and was undergoing modernization.

The employees were mostly pleased with the changes, relieved to abandon the old, hazardous machinery. However, there was an underlying worry, as they say, a new broom sweeps clean, and jobs were at risk.

Olesea shared these concerns.

One night, Andrei stayed at the factory, overseeing the equipment setup. The local mechanics were struggling, and he was essentially providing training.

The focus of his attention was Olesea’s machine. After everything was adjusted, Andrei stopped by her station several more times, making her feel quite self-conscious, until he vanished by the end of the shift.

She was relieved when he left, but the young man’s presence stirred an unusual reaction within her. After work, she dashed home, eager for a good rest since she had no classes that day.

— Miss! Miss! Olesea!

She stopped. A car was slowly trailing her.

— Are you talking to me?

Inside the car was Andrei.

— Of course, it’s you I mean. Get in, I’ll drive you.

Olesea frowned.

— Perhaps we’re headed in different directions?

He laughed.

— I assure you, that’s not possible.

She could not explain why she chose to get into the car of a man she hardly knew. They spent the day driving around the city.

Despite her exhaustion, Olesea found herself wide awake. By evening, glancing out of her window, she immediately recognized the parked car below.

Andrei was asleep inside, with a large bouquet of flowers on his lap. From that day on, they were inseparable.

Three months in, Olesea became pregnant.

Andrei proposed to her.

— Once I finish my tasks here, we’ll visit my hometown. I’ll introduce you to my family.

— No, you should tell them about us first. Imagine showing up unannounced and saying, “Here’s my fiancée, who is also pregnant…”

Nonsense. — she protested, her lips pouting, always winning Andrei over.

She was too aware of the prejudice faced by children from orphanages within wealthy families. Her wish was for this first impression to pass without impacting her.

He left three months ago. Her anticipation was fervent, as if she couldn’t breathe without him.

But Andrei vanished. He didn’t call, he never returned. Everyone said he had just left her.

But Olesea didn’t believe it.

Two months later, drained of tears while handling paperwork, she overheard someone at accounting mention that the worker—who came to install the new equipment—had died.

Everything went dark for Olesea.

When she regained consciousness, she was in the chief accountant’s office. The older woman regarded her with sympathy.

— Were you the girl he was seeing? — Yes, — Olesea replied, taking a seat. — Please, listen to me…

She broke down sobbing.

The woman explained it was a tragic accident, occurring after Andrei had already returned home. He was attacked by some ruffians; three of them. Police caught all of them but it changed nothing. The person was gone.

Olesea bowed her head, her mind blank aside from a terrible ache in her chest. Finally, she looked up.

— Do you know where he is buried? — Yes. I attended the funeral representing the factory. I will share the details with you.

She walked slowly among the graves, rain beginning to fall.

Exhausted beyond belief, she trudged on, determined to reach the place where Andrei awaited. She knew he was waiting. They needed to say goodbye, to find forgiveness.

Rain intensified as she trembled, the thought of illness far from her mind.

Eventually, she found what she sought. As the accountant described, it was unmistakable.

The grave was relatively fresh, almost hidden under a sea of flowers.

Nearby stood an old mausoleum, presumably housing Andrei’s ancestors long ago, though no one tended to such graves anymore.

A wooden cross bore Andrei’s picture…

— Hello, my love. We’ve met again.

Kneeling before the grave, Olesea sobbed fiercely.

How long she cried, she didn’t know. Weary, she shivered in the cold.

Hunger gnawed at her, yet she did not care.

— I need to leave and find a hotel, — she said to herself.

Desperately searching her pockets, she came up empty-handed.

Resigning to her fatigue, she closed her eyes.

Above her, a loud crack of thunder tore through the sky, intensifying the downpour into a deluge.

She dashed to the mausoleum, its creaking door giving way.

— I’m so sorry, I just need a short rest.

Seated on the cold stone floor, she left the door ajar for light, as the place was eerily dark.

Something near her started to buzz and murmur.

Alarmed, she instinctively grabbed for it—an elegant phone.

The thought of TV shows where the dead phoned from beyond flitted through her mind.

— Hello, — she said, her voice hoarse.

An eerie silence followed.

— Hello?

— Hello, is this my phone? I lost it yesterday.

— Yes, I just found it.

— Where are you? May I have it back? I’ll pay, it’s important.

— I’m… in a cemetery.

— A cemetery?! I was there yesterday for measurements and placed it down… Where exactly?

— I’m… in a mausoleum now, seeking warmth.

The other end was silent before incredulously asking,

— You’re inside a mausoleum?

— Yes, I feel very cold… I’m not well.

The phone slipped from her grasp as she closed her eyes.

Someone shook her gently.

— Miss, wake up!

Weakly, Olesea opened her eyes.

— Andrei? You’re alive? I knew it was a mistake…

The man, not Andrei, looked at her seriously.

— Are you Olesea?

She nodded, desperate.

— Andrei… was just here, Andrei…

He helped her stand, noticing her belly.

— Damn… she’s pregnant.

Weak from cold, Olesea started collapsing.

Dmitri feared for her, unprepared to meet the Olesea his late brother had described with such passion. It seemed too fantastical, yet here she was, a constant in Andrei’s life.

Gently lifting her, Dima carried Olesea to his car.

Once she was secured inside, he called home.

— Mom, I found Andrei’s girl at his grave. She’s pregnant with his child.

— Bring her to us; we need to sort this out.

— She’s cold and likely sick. I’ll take her to the clinic first.

Nina Nikolaevna, a woman forged in strength, stood ready to face this new life challenge.

Having suffered both personal and professional setbacks, she never let it show.

The loss of Andrei had been devastating, but Dima’s help allowed her to breathe again.

Though visibly aged and frailer, her resilience remained.

At the clinic, Olesea was rushed for examination while Dima awaited his mother.

Nina entered, trailed by medical staff. She commanded respect at every appearance.

— Where’s Sergei?

— Here, Ninușka, — the doctor approached warmly.

Sergei had been infatuated with Nina for years, and sometimes even Dima pitied him.

— It’s not severe hypothermia, just stress-related collapse. She should recover well.

Nina sought more clarity.

— She’s healthy, and not a drinker or smoker.

Looking from Dima to the doctor, she asked,

— May we see her?

— Yes, but briefly.

Anxious, Olesea greeted them.

— I’m Andrei’s mother.

Olesea managed a weak smile.

— You resemble him a lot. Don’t misunderstand, I didn’t come here expecting anything. I just wanted to say goodbye to Andrei one last time.

Nina sat, while Dima stood by.

— Share your story about you and my son.

Upon finishing, Nina paced the room.

— Why didn’t you come with him? That would have been natural.

— You see, I grew up in an orphanage. I’ve met too many people who view us as criminals or invalids. I feared your reaction. But deep down, I knew Andrei wouldn’t lie to me.

Nina nodded.

— Those are flawed views. You’ve encountered the wrong people.

— Rest, recuperate. I’ll be back with anything you need.

— No need; my belongings are at the station’s coatroom. Missing only my phone.

A search for her things ensued. Nina glanced at her son once more.

— Dima, perhaps we should look through her belongings for context.

He agreed.

Nina inspected the folder of documents.

— She responsibly maintains her pregnancy records. This is promising. But what’s this?

In a bag, photos showed Olesea and Andrei together.

Images Nina had never seen, of Andrei’s obvious joy in Olesea’s company.

She tearfully turned to Dima.

— We must ensure this young woman lacks for nothing and can raise their child well.

Dima smiled knowingly.

— Indeed, mother.

Fast forward two years.

— Karinușka, come to me quickly!

Nina stooped over, welcoming her grandchild’s enthusiastic embrace.

— My little princess!

Nearby, Olesea beamed. They lived close to downtown, had excellent childcare, while Olesea pursued legal studies.

— Olesea, I need a word with you.

The younger woman tensed.

Despite Nina never harshly addressing her, Olesea’s wariness lingered…

— Yes, Nina Nikolaevna, just one question. Why torment yourselves? Dima is worrying himself thin, sleepless and restless. You both seem drained.

— Does happiness evade us?

Olesea blushed deeply.

— Olea, are we teenagers? Let’s discuss this maturely.

— Tell me, don’t you love Dima?

— Of course, I do.

— And he loves you.

— But… — Olesea finally looked up. — I can’t ignore Andrei…

Nina interrupted tenderly.

— Andrei is gone, never to return. I owe you gratitude for his happiness, but the living must carry on.

— Think over what I’ve said.

Nina Nikolaevna left, while Olesea fiddled with her phone. Hesitating, she texted Dima:

“I agree.”

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