The stranger paused for a moment, then, with a slight smirk, replied.
— So, you decided to drag a homeless guy home just to spite your mom? Well, it’s not the best idea, to be honest. But thanks for the kind offer. You know what, I guess I’ll take you up on it. I’m freezing out here in this subway underpass. At least I’ll warm up a bit now.
Sonya felt a lightness in her heart. She had always been an emotional person, guided by her feelings. Dreams of an advantageous marriage or a rich fiancé held no sway over her. For her, love and mutual understanding were paramount. Resolutely, she took the bewildered young man by the arm, and Sonya confidently strode home.
Under the astonished gaze of passersby. As expected, her mother didn’t exactly greet them with open arms. She had long suffered from high blood pressure, had a heart attack, and was now disabled. Doctors strongly recommended heart valve replacement surgery. But where to find such a large sum of money for treatment? Life had long ceased to bring Lyudmila Ivanovna joy. Her dearest wish was to see her daughter successful and happy.
All her life, she had scraped by on odd jobs, trying to earn enough for food and bills. In her old age, her health had finally deteriorated, and one illness after another made itself known. Of course, the woman didn’t want her daughter to repeat her fate. In her youth, she herself had experienced the bitter pain of a first and pure love, ending up alone with a broken heart and a child in her arms. Her ideal of happiness was extremely simple: Sonya living in luxury, married to a successful businessman, and then her mother could peacefully pass away.
But she was utterly shocked when she saw a disheveled stranger beside Sonya. He looked unkempt, in dirty clothes, with messy hair. A whole palette of emotions instantly registered on her face, from astonishment to outright indignation.
However, her daughter seemed not to notice at all.
— Mom, meet Paul. He’s my fiancé. Now we’re going to live here together; he has nowhere else. You don’t mind, do you? Sonya said cheerfully, turning to the young man. — Well, what are you standing there for like a deer in headlights? Come in, make yourself at home, she added with a smile.
Her mother, grumbling under her breath, responded angrily.
— Darling, when are you going to stop dragging all these vagrants home? This is our apartment, by the way, not a homeless shelter.
Slumped and sighing heavily, Lyudmila Ivanovna retreated to her room.
Sonya, meanwhile, fried up some potatoes with mushrooms, and she and Paul had a hearty dinner. Afterward, she took him to the bathroom, started washing his clothes, and showed him where he would sleep.
— Here, on the cot, is where you’ll sleep. I’ll get everything ready for you now.
Paul, lost in thought, savored the hot water and the cozy, clean bed. «Wow! I never thought I’d start appreciating such simple, yet important things,» he mused, settling in for the night. He cast a grateful glance at Sonya and quietly said,
— Thank you so much, my kind fairy! Good night!
Paul quickly settled into his new home, and Sonya’s kindness played a significant role. Plus, she was very pretty with a charming smile that immediately made him feel at ease. The young people got along great, talking for hours about life.
Paul tried to be helpful, fixing the old dryer on the balcony, tightening the wobbly kitchen cabinet doors, and even repairing the shaky chairs. Now, Sonya literally flew home every evening, knowing Paul was waiting for her. Their feelings ignited unexpectedly.
One evening, as they were watching a series and chatting as usual, Sonya suddenly winced in pain.
— What happened, honey? Paul asked anxiously, immediately rushing to her side.
— My leg. A cramp! she groaned, clutching her ankle. She must have overdone it at work. Oh, it hurts so much!
Paul carefully removed her slipper and began to massage her foot, then the other, before moving to her thighs. His touches were gentle and caring. The pain quickly receded, and Sonya sighed with relief.
But Paul continued, slowly moving higher. And then, he leaned in close and kissed her passionately.
— Paul, what are you doing? Sonya tried to protest, but her voice was weak. — We’re just pretending to be engaged, aren’t we? Stop it!
— I thought it was just pretend too, he replied softly, gently stroking her, — but I’ve truly fallen in love. Sonya, I desperately want you. You’re the best person I’ve ever met! Paul whispered, his voice trembling. — If you’re against it, just say the word, and I’ll leave immediately.
Sonya completely surrendered to her feelings, and forgetting everything else, they merged in tender embraces. The young couple was absolutely happy, savoring every moment together. Even her mother’s constant nagging no longer bothered them.
Paul was so consumed by his love that he couldn’t imagine his life without her. And Sonya was utterly ecstatic, believing she had finally found her true love. «This is it, real love,» she thought. «It feels so incredible with him!» She tried to explain this to her mother, but she remained unyielding.
— Daughter, what are you doing? What kind of future do you see with him? He’s just a drifter, no ID, no roof over his head. What are you thinking? I want him gone from here in a week, understood?
Catching his breath, Paul resumed another chore around the apartment. He diligently and conscientiously performed every task that had long been neglected in the house, hoping to earn at least a little respect from Lyudmila Ivanovna. However, she couldn’t, and didn’t even want to, hide her deep disdain. And whenever an opportunity arose, she would sting him with harsh words, trying to wound Paul more deeply each time.
A week passed, but Paul was in no hurry to leave. This patience, perhaps, finally infuriated Lyudmila Ivanovna, and she decided on extreme measures. Waiting for the moment Sonya left for work, the woman approached him. The cold glint in her eyes betrayed her resolve. Standing directly in front of him, she left no room for ambiguity.
— Listen to me carefully, «fiancé»! Her voice was quiet but menacing. — You have nothing to gain with her. For Sonya, you’re just a toy, nothing more. She’s one of those girls who constantly needs the thrill of novelty. So, she found herself another amusement. But know this, she has a real fiancé, someone truly important to her. He’s currently abroad, but he’ll be back soon, and then he’ll just wipe you off the face of the earth. She pressed her lips together, pausing briefly before finishing. — So get out of here while you’re still in one piece. Otherwise, I’ll call him today. And then you can deal with him yourself.
Her mother was well aware that she was acting dishonestly, slandering her daughter so cruelly. But the desire to marry her off to a rich man won out. Her malicious words struck Paul like a knife to the heart. He looked at the woman with pain and despair in his eyes.
