Daria was sitting on the sofa in their small one-room apartment, lost in a book, when Igor returned from work. He looked tense, distant, weighed down by something unsaid. Hanging his jacket, he poured himself a glass of water and stood by the window for a long moment, staring out at the evening city, the lights blurred by exhaustion\u2014or worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDar, we need to talk,\u201d he said finally, taking a seat beside her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout what?\u201d she asked, setting the book down and turning toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAbout my mother. She\u2019s getting worse. The doctors say she needs constant care\u2026 someone has to be there. She lives alone in her three-bedroom apartment, and it\u2019s getting harder for her to manage herself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria frowned. Valentina Petrovna had indeed complained about her health lately, but she had always managed on her own\u2014until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd what do you propose?\u201d Daria asked cautiously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s move in with her,\u201d Igor said, taking her hand. \u201cThink about it\u2014she has space, a three-bedroom apartment. It\u2019ll be more comfortable for us. And we can rent out our place\u2014you\u2019d have steady income every month. Thirty thousand, maybe more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo live with my mother-in-law?\u201d Daria recoiled slightly. \u201cIgor\u2026 do you even realize how bad of an idea this is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy? Mom\u2019s fine. She\u2019s not difficult. She just needs support. That\u2019s it. A little supervision. Nothing more. And we get better conditions and some extra money too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria fell silent, considering the proposal. From a financial perspective, it made sense. Their tiny apartment felt cramped, especially when guests visited, and Valentina Petrovna\u2019s place was spacious and in a nice neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure she even wants this?\u201d Daria asked carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course! She asked for it herself. Let\u2019s just try. If it doesn\u2019t work out, we can always go back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After long discussions and repeated promises that the \u201csupervision would be minimal,\u201d Daria gave in. Igor\u2019s words painted such a convincing picture that refusing felt almost foolish. A week later, they packed and moved into Valentina Petrovna\u2019s apartment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, the mother-in-law greeted them warmly, fussing around, showing them where their things would go, which room was theirs. It seemed harmless. Daria even relaxed, thinking she had worried for nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But reality hit hard on the third day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaryushka, honey, help me to the bathroom,\u201d Valentina Petrovna called one morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria set down her coffee and helped her mother-in-law. Then came the next request: \u201cHelp me bathe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria froze. She had not expected to bathe an adult. Saying no was impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then the nightmare began. Valentina Petrovna was not just \u201cin need of light supervision\u201d\u2014she demanded constant care. Daria was cooking three meals a day for three people, feeding her mother-in-law, helping her dress, changing bedding, bathing her every evening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor acted as if nothing unusual was happening. He came home, ate, sat in front of the TV, and relaxed. When Daria asked for help, he shrugged. \u201cI\u2019m tired,\u201d he said. \u201cTomorrow\u2019s a busy day.\u201d Or, \u201cMom needs female care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIgor, at least help change her underwear!\u201d Daria pleaded one night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDar, that\u2019s a woman\u2019s job,\u201d he shrugged. \u201cYou\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria worked from nine to six as a manager in a construction company. Exhausted, she returned home each evening not for rest, but to a second shift\u2014cooking, cleaning, washing, attending to Valentina Petrovna. By ten o\u2019clock, she collapsed in exhaustion, yet could never rest fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaryushka!\u201d came a voice from the mother-in-law\u2019s room. \u201cBring me some water!\u201d
\u201cDaryushka, I\u2019m too hot! Open the window!\u201d
\u201cDaryushka, it\u2019s cold! Close the window!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every evening became an endless sprint from room to room. Daria felt her strength drain, her nerves fraying. She tried speaking to Igor, explaining she couldn\u2019t keep up, that she needed help. He waved her off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re exaggerating. Mom\u2019s not that demanding. It just seems like a lot of work to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeems like it?!\u201d Daria wanted to cry from exhaustion. \u201cIgor, I just spent an hour bathing your mother, cooking, cleaning, running back to her again! I haven\u2019t even had a moment to sit down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, then manage your time better,\u201d he shrugged, returning to his football game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She barely recognized the man she had married three years ago. The attentive, caring Igor was gone. This man was cold, indifferent, using her as a free servant and caregiver for his mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One night, as Daria drifted toward sleep, a loud, sharp voice pierced the apartment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria! Daria, come here immediately!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She bolted upright. Heart pounding. Something serious had happened, surely? Her mother-in-law?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She ran to Valentina Petrovna\u2019s room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it? Are you okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChange my sheets,\u201d her mother-in-law said impatiently. \u201cI spilled tea. Can\u2019t sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria froze. One-thirty in the morning. She had slept barely an hour after washing dishes and folding laundry. And now she was being woken for spilled tea?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe we can do it in the morning,\u201d Daria said, trying to reason. \u201cI can put a towel down\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat towel? Do you want me to lie on it all night? Quickly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her fists clenched so tightly her nails cut into her palms. Silently, methodically, she fetched clean sheets and remade the bed, her rage burning inside. Valentina Petrovna hovered, nitpicking every detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria said nothing. Words would have unleashed a storm she\u2019d regret. She finished, left the room, and went to the bedroom. Igor was sprawled across the bed, unmoving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook his shoulder lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIgor. Wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d He opened one eye lazily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you think I\u2019ll wash your mother\u2019s sheets and stay quiet?\u201d Daria said softly, but every word cut like steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor frowned and tried to close his eyes again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDar, why bring this up in the middle of the night? We\u2019ll talk in the morning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. Now. Your mother just woke me at one-thirty to change her sheets. She spilled tea. Your mother, Igor. Not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He finally sat up, rubbing his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd what do you want from me? Mom is a woman, you\u2019re a woman\u2014it\u2019s women\u2019s work. I don\u2019t interfere. You\u2019ll manage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something inside Daria snapped. She looked at him, incredulous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot convenient for you?\u201d she repeated. \u201cAnd for me, it is? I didn\u2019t sign up to be a caregiver for your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria, don\u2019t start. She needs help\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen help her yourself!\u201d she shouted. \u201cShe\u2019s your mother, Igor! Not mine! I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is women\u2019s work, I said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Daria interrupted. \u201cThis is your responsibility. You lied about \u2018light supervision,\u2019 and turned me into free help!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re exaggerating!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. I\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She turned, grabbed her suitcase, and began packing methodically. Igor stared, speechless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silently, she continued\u2014shirts, jeans, dresses\u2014everything into the bag. He leapt up:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria, are you insane? At night? Where will you go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo my parents,\u201d she said, clipped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop! Let\u2019s talk calmly!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing to discuss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He tried grabbing a sweater from her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop! You\u2019re my wife! We should stick together! Mom is sick, you can\u2019t abandon us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria looked him in the eye:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour mother needs help? Great. You help her. Bathe her, feed her, change her sheets. I\u2019m done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m a man! It\u2019s awkward!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019m supposed to be fine?\u201d she shot back, smirking. \u201cI have self-respect, Igor. I won\u2019t spend my life serving you and your mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria, think about what you\u2019re doing! You\u2019re destroying our family!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she said, zipping her suitcase. \u201cYou destroyed it. When you lied about moving in. When you dumped all the work onto me. When you assumed I\u2019d quietly serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He grabbed her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria, don\u2019t do this! I was wrong! I\u2019ll help! Just don\u2019t go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She freed herself, picked up the suitcase, and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you know what\u2019s the worst part?\u201d she said as she crossed the hallway. \u201cYou still don\u2019t understand your mistake. You don\u2019t regret using me\u2014you regret that now you have to take care of your mother yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She left, locked the door behind her, and called a taxi. Twenty minutes later, she stood on her parents\u2019 doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria? What happened?\u201d her father asked, worried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCan I stay here for a while?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, come in, darling,\u201d he said, taking her suitcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her mother appeared from the bedroom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSweetheart, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNothing. I just\u2026 need to be here for a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They didn\u2019t ask questions. They laid out a blanket and pillow on the sofa. Daria collapsed onto it, feeling the tension of weeks finally drain away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next morning, Igor called repeatedly. Daria ignored him. Messages followed\u2014pleading, apologizing, promising to make it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDaria, I was wrong. Please come back. I\u2019ll care for Mom myself. You won\u2019t have to do anything. Just return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She didn\u2019t believe a word. She knew Igor too well\u2014if she went back, it would repeat. Promises would remain empty. She would again be a servant in his house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Within a week, she retrieved her one-room apartment from tenants who understood and vacated early. Standing in her own home, Daria felt an overwhelming relief. Her space. Her rules. No more midnight demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two weeks later, she filed for divorce. A month later, she signed the papers. Igor did not attempt reconciliation. There were no shared possessions, no children, nothing to divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Outside the registry office, Daria breathed deeply. She was free\u2014free from manipulation, from endless obligations, from being used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor stood silently, scowling, then left without a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daria returned home, made tea, and sat by the window. Her life was hers again. No one would wake her at night. No one would demand care. She belonged to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A month later, a friend told her that Igor had hired a professional caregiver for his mother, paying her a fair wage. Daria smiled. He had learned, finally, that caring for a sick adult is hard work\u2014work that deserves respect, or payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Daria? She returned to her life\u2014work, friends, hobbies, freedom. No guilt. No compromises. No exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n