Chapter 70 Job
Sarah
If such terrible weather had caught me halfway to Sveta's house, disaster could have struck: hypothermia, a cold, death from hunger and cold.
"Good night!" Aunt Sveta turned off the light.
"How can I ever thank you for everything?" She only smiled softly. Looking at that smile, you can immediately tell that its owner has a very kind heart.
"Just live here and keep me company. I've always dreamed of a daughter! It's a shame God never gave me one. Or maybe... maybe He heard my prayers and sent me you."
"Thank you." And I would very much like you to be my mother in every sense of the word!
"Rest and take care of your treasure. I would very much like to be not only a mother, but also a grandmother," she seemed to hint, closing the door behind her.
I wrapped myself in a warm blanket, scented with wildflowers, placed my hand on my stomach, gently stroked it, and silently whispered:
Forgive me, baby, forgive me... For my bad thoughts. I love you very much and will never give you up! You are only mine. My most intimate and priceless secret. We will cope, we will endure everything! We will become a strong and loving family.
Time passes, and my difficult life gradually begins to improve. My emotional state eases a little, but still, at night I occasionally sob into my pillow, remembering that dark-eyed scoundrel.
I don't want to remember, I don't want to remember... But the stupid dreams involving him torment my head, filling it with sharp shards of pain.
Aunt Sveta is right! I shouldn't take the baby's life; the child is innocent. I'll try to cope and carry out my plans. I'll be very careful.
It's a good thing I got rid of the phone and the SIM card! Back when I was hiding in the bushes at Shawn's house, I buried it in the ground, disconnecting and throwing away the SIM card.
I felt sorry for the smartphone... a gift from Shawn! But I shouldn't have warm feelings for it anymore.
She assured me that no one would likely look for me in Otradnoye. The authorities hadn't cared about the place for a long time and seemed to have written it off completely. And yet, these places had once flourished like never before, especially in agriculture.
But after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Otradnoye began to rapidly decay and wither. People abandoned their homes and moved to the city. This wonderful source of abundance soon became a paradise for hermits.
Most of the village died out, but some remained. The outskirts were bustling with life, and people were busy! So I gradually adapted. I got used to the new environment and didn't sit idle. Aunt Sveta showed me around and told me everything.
She showed me the local hospital and introduced me to that same Evgenia who examined me and registered me for pregnancy without even realizing it. A wonderful woman and a good specialist! I liked her instantly and felt a liking for her.
After examining me and taking some tests, Evgenia confirmed the pregnancy. It was very early, three or four weeks. At that moment, lying on the couch, I burst into tears. From happiness, I guess! From joy that I'd made the right decision. Keep the baby and fight for our future together.
I'd always dreamed of becoming a mother, but alas, not under these circumstances. I wanted to marry the man I loved, give birth to his son, and find true happiness as a woman. But, as always, I ran into a ton of problems.
I felt fine; thank God, the pregnancy was going well, and despite all the stress, I didn't risk miscarriage. After a few days of proper rest, I began leading an active lifestyle, thus thanking Aunt Sveta for her care.
For now, it was hard for me to recover from recent events, as I felt like I was being watched. At any moment, the door of the rickety house could fly off its hinges, and Shawn's hyenas could burst in.
More than anything, I was afraid that Shawn would find me and carry out all his threats. Starting with the most terrifying promise, to hand me over to his boys for their amusement.
Days passed, then weeks. All around was silence, a peaceful atmosphere. Like the calm before the storm. But I didn't risk leaving Sveta's yard. Only a month later did I find work outside, when I simply couldn't sit idle anymore.
When I calmed down and became more confident that there was no danger nearby. And when the morning sickness began to subside.
I wasn't shy about taking on any kind of work, but Aunt Sveta would sometimes scold me not to push myself too hard. Of course, I didn't lift heavy things, but I helped out with everything, just to keep myself busy. After all, I wasn't used to feeling like a parasite.
It turns out Sveta had many friends in the village. She introduced me to kind people and introduced me to the daughter of her late sister, Lyudmila.
The locals welcomed me with enthusiasm and were very polite. Sveta's friend, Varvara, even offered me a job as a cashier at the local village store.
It's just what I need. Working in the village isn't easy, mostly requiring a fair amount of work. Since I need to take care of myself, being a salesperson is perfect for that.
I worked from morning until night in the store, and in the late afternoon, I helped Aunt Sveta with small things. We got along wonderfully and became a wonderful family. Zhulka especially liked me. And then I had an unexpected meeting with Irina!
I lived with Aunt Sveta for almost four months. Phew! It was an incredible experience! Irina only came to visit three times during that period. In her car with her husband and eight-month-old son.
She was very surprised and delighted when she saw me. Aunt Sveta surprised her. Upon seeing me, my friend burst into tears and threw herself into my arms when I opened the gate for her.
"Wow! Sarah, is that you?"
"Ira-a-a!" Oh, come on! It's you! I can't believe my eyes!
And I really wouldn't have believed it, because Irina changed beyond recognition after her son was born.
"Yes. Irina, it's me! I never thought we'd see each other again."