“Where are you? The guests are already at the table!” Lidia’s husband, Igor, didn’t realize he would be the one serving the visitors that evening.
Lidia stood by the kitchen window, watching the golden maple leaves glow in the October sun. She felt like those leaves—beautiful but fragile, ready to fall with the slightest breeze.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Igor: “Mom and Dad will come by seven. Prepare something.”
Once again, no prior notice, no discussion—just a fact to accept and manage.
Lidia glanced at the clock: 5:30 pm. Just an hour and a half to clean, cook, and get ready after a long workday as the marketing department head—earning more than Igor.
She called him.
“Igor, we agreed you’d warn me ahead of time.”
“What’s the big deal? They’re my parents, not strangers. Besides, you’re home anyway,” he replied, irritation clear.
That phrase stung. “I’m home because I have things to do—laundry, cooking, cleaning. You don’t help.”
“I earn the money. My job is to provide for the family,” he snapped.
The same argument repeated for years, despite Lidia’s success.
“I can’t tonight. I have a meeting with my classmates,” she said.
Silence. Then frustration: “What meeting? It’s your duty to host guests on a Friday!”
“Who decides what my duties are? I work hard, I manage the home, and you expect me to instantly become the perfect hostess?” Lidia said firmly.
“We’re a family,” Igor started.
“We should respect each other,” she cut in. “You don’t respect me. Let whoever invited the guests serve them tonight—that means you.”
She hung up, feeling a mixture of fear and relief.
That night, she met her friends at a café. “You’re glowing,” said Katya. “What happened?”
“For the first time in years, I stood up for myself,” Lidia smiled. “I told my husband and his parents I wouldn’t be their hostess tonight.”
“That’s amazing!” Marina said. “You’ve changed—you’re alive again.”
Lidia realized she’d been apologizing for simply existing. That night marked a turning point.
Returning home late, she faced anger from Igor and his parents. Criticism came fast—about her home, her role, even painful remarks about children they couldn’t have yet.
But Lidia stood firm.
“I’m filing for divorce,” she said calmly. “I’m tired of being blamed and silenced.”
The months that followed were hard, but Lidia created a new life—decorating her own apartment, focusing on work, joining a gym, and adopting a dog.
She met Denis, a psychologist who accepted her fully. Together, they built a relationship based on respect and understanding.
When they decided to have a child, it happened naturally. The birth of their son Maxim brought joy Lidia had never known.
One day in the park, Igor approached her. He had changed—older, more thoughtful.
“This is your son?” he asked quietly.
“Yes,” she said.
Igor shared news of his own new marriage and struggles.
Lidia felt compassion. “Apparently, it wasn’t me,” she said softly.
He nodded, understanding more than words.
“Take care of yourself,” Lidia said, pushing Maxim’s stroller away.
As she walked, she reflected on life’s twists. Sometimes, you must leave one world behind to create a better one.
Lidia smiled and texted Denis: “Heading home. I miss you.”
His reply was quick: “We miss you too. Dinner’s almost ready.”
She got up from the bench, knowing she was finally where she belonged—in a home filled with love and respect.
**Lidia’s story reminds us how important it is to set boundaries and honor our own worth. When we stand up for ourselves, we open the door to healthier relationships and true happiness.**
