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His Mother Told Him to ‘Get Rid of Her’—A Year Later, He Regretted It

He left me in a crumbling village house, following his mother’s quiet suggestion to “start a new life” without the burden of a sick wife. Months passed in silence—until a young paramedic began visiting, tending to me without expectation. Against all odds, I stood again, stepped outside, felt the air on my face. A year later, his car pulled up the dusty road. I sat on the porch, tea in hand, cheeks warm with life. His eyes widened, voice trembling. “Are you… alive?” I looked straight at him and said…

When Valentina married Artyom at twenty-two, she thought she’d found her forever. He was quiet, steady — maybe too steady — but she believed in their love. His mother, however, made no secret of her disapproval. Her eyes said it before her lips ever did: You’re not good enough for my son.

Valya bent herself into every shape to fit their life — cooking, cleaning, making herself small. But Artyom had been raised in a home where his mother’s word was final. Even when Valya’s health began to falter, he dismissed it as fatigue. The diagnosis came without warning, and the doctors’ grim looks told her everything. That night, she cried silently into her pillow.

Then came the suggestion — whispered by her mother-in-law into Artyom’s ear:
“You’re young. Why chain yourself to someone who’s just a burden? Take her to Aunt Dunya’s in the village. It’s quiet there. No one will ask questions. You can start over.”

He didn’t argue.