When I caught my husband cheating on me, he put my things outside the door, not remembering that the door was mine.
Kira left the office at four o’clock in the afternoon. The meeting had been canceled at the last minute—the director had fallen ill and had been rescheduled for next week. Such unexpected events were usually irritating, but today Kira was delighted. She had time to stop at the store, buy groceries, and cook a proper dinner. For the past few weeks, they’d been eating in a hurry—either Kira had overdue food, or her husband Denis had been held up in the warehouse. Home-cooked meals had become a rarity.
She stopped at a nearby supermarket. She picked up some chicken, some vegetables for a salad, and some sour cream. Denis loved baked chicken with potatoes. A simple dish, but her husband always ate it with gusto. Kira imagined how surprised he’d be to see the table set. Maybe they’d sit down together and have a normal conversation, without feeling rushed or tired.
The bags were heavy. Kira carried them from the bus stop to the house, stopping to rest. The autumn wind ruffled her hair, leaves rustled underfoot. It was already getting dark, even though it was only a little after five.
She went up to the fourth floor. The elevator wasn’t working again. She stopped at the door and adjusted her bags. And then she noticed. On the landing, right next to the door, stood a pair of women’s shoes. Black, high-heeled, patent leather. Clearly not cheap.
Kira froze. She looked at the shoes, then at her apartment door. Her heart began to beat faster. Maybe it was her neighbor? But why would a neighbor leave shoes at someone else’s door? Maybe she forgot? But who forgets shoes on the landing?
She took out her keys. Her hands trembled slightly, but Kira tried not to show her nervousness. She inserted the key into the lock and turned it. The door swung open silently.
The hallway was quiet. Only muffled voices came from somewhere in the depths of the apartment. From the bedroom. Kira put the bags down on the floor. She took off her shoes. She walked down the hallway slowly, trying not to make a sound.
The bedroom door was slightly open. The voices became clearer. The man’s voice was Denis’s. The woman’s was unfamiliar, but something about it seemed familiar. Kira moved closer and peered through the crack.
What she saw took her breath away.
Denis was sitting on the edge of the bed. Next to her husband was a woman in a light robe that definitely didn’t belong to Kira. Blonde hair, bright makeup. A familiar face. Kira had seen this woman before. At Denis’s office party. They said she was a colleague from the next department.
The woman laughed, placing her hand on Denis’s shoulder. Her husband was also smiling, looking at her guest with an expression Kira hadn’t seen on his face in a long time.
Kira pushed the door. It swung open, slamming against the wall. Denis jumped out of bed, and the woman screamed, clutching her robe.
For a moment, the three stood silent. Kira looked at her husband, her husband looked at Kira. The woman looked from one to the other.
“Kira…” Denis began.
Kira was silent. Everything inside her was numb. It was as if she were watching a movie where someone else was playing the lead role. This couldn’t be happening to her. It couldn’t.
“Kira, it’s not what you think,” Denis took a step forward.
“Really?” Kira’s voice sounded calmer than she expected. “What do I think?”
Her husband was confused. He opened his mouth, then closed it. The woman quickly stood up and grabbed her dress from the chair.
“I… I’ll go,” she muttered, not looking at Kira.
“Stay,” Kira said curtly.
The woman froze. Denis ran his hand through his hair.
“Kira, listen. We just… talked. Nothing happened.” “Nothing happened,” Kira repeated. “On our bed. In our apartment.”
“Okay!” Denis’s voice grew louder. “Okay! You wanted to hear the truth? Yes, I’m dating Alena. Yes, we’re together. Are you happy with that answer?”
Kira looked at her husband. Denis stood tense, ready to defend himself. Alena clutched her dress to her chest, pale.
“Why?” Kira asked quietly.
“Why?” Denis chuckled. “Because you’re always busy! Because you only come home to sleep! Because you don’t care about me!”
“I work, Denis. We both work.”
“You work! Always work! And when was the last time we had a normal conversation? When you asked how I was doing?”
Kira clenched her fists.
“I just came to cook you dinner. I bought groceries. I wanted to make you happy.”
“Once a month!” Denis shouted. “You remember once a month that you have a husband!”
“And you remember every day that you have a wife?” Kira stepped forward. “Or do you forget when you bring your mistress here?”
Denis turned pale, then flushed.
“Don’t call Alena that!”
“What should I call her? Coworker? Friend?”
“You’re making a scene! More scenes! I’m tired of it!” her husband waved his hands. “I’m tired of living under suspicion! I’m tired of making excuses!”
“You’re not making excuses, Denis. You’re blaming.”
“Because it’s your fault! You drove me to this! If you were a normal wife, I wouldn’t be looking for someone else!”
Kira looked at her husband for a long moment. Then she turned her gaze to Alena. The woman stood there with her head bowed.
“I see,” Kira said.
She turned and walked out of the bedroom. She went into the living room and picked up her bag from the table. She took her documents out of the dresser drawer—her passport, marriage certificate, and apartment papers. She put everything in the bag.
Denis followed her out, pulling on a T-shirt.