Then came the photo incident. They were sorting old pictures when Kostia stumbled across a wedding photo \u2014 Marina in a white dress, slender, smiling, bouquet in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014What a figure you had,\u201d he said admiringly. \u201cA true beauty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I had,\u201d Marina repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at her as if he was just realizing what that meant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Well\u2026 you\u2019re beautiful now too, it\u2019s just\u2026 different, you see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I see,\u201d she said, leaving the room so he wouldn\u2019t see her trembling lips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kostia probably thought he was joking lightly, without malice. He didn\u2019t see how she examined herself in the mirror every morning, hid her old jeans at the back of the closet, avoided being photographed with Varia to not see herself in the pictures. He didn\u2019t see because he didn\u2019t look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Saturday began with a cranky Varia \u2014 teething, no gel helping much. Marina spent half the day holding her, rocking her, comforting her. By noon, her back ached, and nothing was ready in the kitchen. She hurried to the stove, placed Varia in the high chair, and turned on a cartoon on the tablet \u2014 something child development specialists might not approve of, but otherwise she wouldn\u2019t have managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kostia emerged from the shower around three and looked around the kitchen in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014You haven\u2019t started cooking yet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina chopped vegetables so quickly she almost cut herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Varia has been crying all day. I just managed to calm her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014You should\u2019ve called me, I could\u2019ve taken care of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014You slept until two.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I was tired after the week,\u201d he said calmly, as if that explained everything. \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll help. What should I do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Set the table.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nodded and brought out the plates. Marina tended to the meat, stirred the sauce, monitored the potatoes, keeping one eye on Varia. The little one had calmed down watching the colorful images, but Marina knew it wouldn\u2019t last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andr\u00e9 and Lena arrived promptly at six, with a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates. Lena looked flawless \u2014 gray sheath dress, heels, perfect hair. Marina greeted them in oversized jeans and a loose sweater that hid her curves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Marina!\u201d Lena exclaimed, hugging her, leaving behind a scent of expensive perfume. \u201cIt\u2019s been so long! How\u2019s our mommy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I\u2019m fine,\u201d Marina replied with a forced smile, trying not to notice the contrast between them. \u201cCome in, come in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kostia greeted Andr\u00e9, clapped him on the shoulder. They moved to the living room, the usual routine beginning \u2014 serving wine, small talk. Varia sat on the rug, occasionally observing the guests with her big curious eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014How wonderful!\u201d Lena crouched near her. \u201cA real doll. Can I hold her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Of course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina watched Lena pick up Varia gently, and unexpectedly, the little one didn\u2019t protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Wow, she\u2019s heavy!\u201d Lena laughed. \u201cA little warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014She eats well, huh, Varia?\u201d Kostia added, winking. \u201cShe gets that from her mother.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A moment of silence fell. Andr\u00e9 coughed awkwardly. Lena looked at Kostia, then at Marina. Marina froze, fork in hand, unable to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I\u2019m joking, I\u2019m joking,\u201d Kostia quickly added, seeing the joke had landed badly. \u201cVaria is thriving \u2014 she\u2019s a healthy little girl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the words had been said. Marina put down her fork and stood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Excuse me, I need to feed Varia. It\u2019s time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took her daughter from Lena and left without looking back. In the bedroom, it was calm and dim, only the nightlight casting a soft glow. Marina sat in the chair, put Varia to her breast, and only then allowed herself to breathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tears streamed silently. She wiped them, but more kept coming. Varia nursed, sniffing, and Marina stroked her head, feeling something inside her break completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe gets that from her mother.\u201d Spoken in front of guests. In front of Lena, who already watched with barely disguised pity. He had said it casually, like a harmless joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina fed Varia, changed her, tucked her in. The little girl fell asleep almost immediately \u2014 it had been a hard day. Marina stood over the bed, watching her daughter\u2019s peaceful face, and suddenly realized a decision had been made. Perhaps it had been brewing for a long time, and tonight had been the final straw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pulled a large travel bag from the closet and began packing \u2014 her things, Varia\u2019s things. Calmly, methodically. Diapers, clothes, spare outfits, wipes. Her makeup bag, documents, phone charger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Voices and laughter came from the living room \u2014 Kostia had apparently succeeded in lightening the mood, and the evening continued as if nothing had happened. Marina heard the sounds like something distant, no longer hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the time she finished, it was half past nine. She stepped into the hallway just as Andr\u00e9 and Lena were leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Thank you for coming,\u201d Marina said with a tight smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lena hugged her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Sorry to leave so early, but we have an early morning tomorrow. It was lovely, really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door closed behind them. Kostia turned to Marina.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Look, I\u2019m sorry for the joke. I didn\u2019t think, it just slipped out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMh,\u201d Marina replied, passing him to grab the bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kostia frowned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014What are you doing? Where are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014To my mother\u2019s. With Varia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014What do you mean, to your mother\u2019s? Now? In the middle of the night?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Now,\u201d Marina said calmly, looking him in the eyes. \u201cAnd I\u2019m filing for divorce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he laughed \u2014 nervously, like someone hoping it was a joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Because of what I said? Marina, it\u2019s just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014Just what?\u201d she interrupted, stopping by the door. \u201cWhat did you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2014I wish I had that kind of willpower. A grandmother climbing stairs, and others take the elevator and complain about their weight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina stayed silent, but something pricked her heart. He knew she couldn\u2019t yet do strenuous exercise \u2014 the doctor had told her to wait, her body was still recovering from childbirth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marina woke at six in the morning to the sound of her daughter Varya\u2019s cries. Pale January light filtered through the curtains. Beside her, Kostya slept soundly, oblivious to the wailing. Marina looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw a body marked by eight months of motherhood, far from the figure she once had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She lifted Varya into her arms, feeling the world shrink to this small, warm, trusting life. Kostya arrived around eight, fresh and well-dressed, unaware of the invisible weight pressing on Marina. Days passed with his remarks about her body and appearance \u2014 \u201cjust a joke\u201d to him, but a quiet, daily pain for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One Saturday, after struggling to prepare a meal following a long day with Varya, Kostya made a comment in front of their friends: \u201cShe takes after her mother,\u201d implying their daughter was already round. Marina felt that it was the last straw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took Varya and her things and left the apartment, heading to her mother\u2019s house. Kostya tried to apologize, but Marina had made her decision: she could not stay with a man who saw only a body, and not the woman who had given life to his child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n