Alena had loved Mark since they were young. Together, they had weathered poverty, uncertainty, endless postponed dreams. But nothing had prepared them for the most difficult trial of all: Mark’s sudden illness.
It began innocently — fatigue, weakness, unexplainable aches — until it grew into a devastating diagnosis. Treatment would be long, expensive, and exhausting.
Alena did not hesitate for a second.
She took on extra jobs, gave up every comfort, sacrificed sleep and rest. Every penny she earned went directly to Mark’s mother, who had promised to care for her son, to buy his medicines, to follow the doctors’ strict instructions.
Alena worked. She believed. She hoped.
On the phone, Mark always sounded tired, distant. Alena convinced herself it was the illness speaking, not Mark. She accepted it, swallowed her unease, and kept going.
But deep down, something gnawed at her. A quiet voice, growing louder each day.
One evening, after an exhausting double shift, Alena made a decision.
She would visit, unannounced.
She bought fresh fruit — Mark’s favorite — and under the heavy rain, made her way to her mother-in-law’s house.
Before she even knocked, she heard laughter from inside.
Not the soft, frail laughter of a sick man.
It was loud, hearty, unrestrained laughter.
Confused and with her heart pounding, Alena knocked on the door.
Mark’s mother opened it, visibly irritated.
— What are you doing here? — she snapped.
Without answering, Alena stepped inside.
What she saw rooted her to the floor.
Mark sat at the dining table, surrounded by friends and family, laughing loudly, full of life. The table overflowed with food, bottles of wine gleamed under the lights, music played in the background.
There was no sign of sickness anywhere.
Alena’s body froze.
Mark saw her and immediately stiffened. His smile disappeared for a moment before he forced it back onto his face.
— Alena… you were supposed to be at work…
The bag of fruit slipped from her fingers and crashed onto the floor.
Apples rolled across the polished wood.
— What is happening here? — her voice was no more than a whisper.
Mark’s mother shrugged, completely unconcerned.
— He’s been fine for months. You should be happy — you wanted him healthy, didn’t you?
Alena stared at her, unable to comprehend.
— And the money? All the money I gave you?
Mark’s mother chuckled bitterly.
— Someone had to live off it. You kept giving it. No one forced you.
Mark said nothing. He didn’t even look at her.
At that moment, Alena understood.
The months she had spent sacrificing everything — her health, her happiness, her very soul — had been based on a lie.
Her love had been abused.
Her faith betrayed.
Her trust spat on.
Without a word, she turned and walked out into the storm.
The rain poured over her, soaking her completely, but she barely noticed.
Each drop seemed to wash away a little more of the life she was leaving behind.
She walked with no clear direction.
But one truth burned bright in her heart:
She would never walk back through that door.
And never again would she allow anyone to crush her spirit.
From that day forward, Alena would live for herself.
No longer for those who only knew how to take.