Antonina, a retired paramedic, sat peacefully in her worn-out chair, gently petting her cat, Vasily, who was curled up in her lap while she watched a film.
The warmth and calm of the evening were suddenly shattered by frantic knocking—first on the window, then on the gate. Her dog Toshka barked hoarsely before falling silent again.
Despite the thick snow, Antonina hurried to the gate and was stunned by the sight before her. A young woman stood outside, trembling in the bitter cold, barefoot, clad only in a thin nightgown and a knitted shawl. She was clearly pregnant, with a visibly large belly, and barely able to remain upright as she clung to the fence.
“Please don’t turn me away,” the girl pleaded through chattering teeth. “They want to take my baby.”
Without hesitation, Antonina threw her old sheepskin coat over the girl’s shoulders and brought her inside.
Her medical instincts took over—she warmed some water, gently bathed the girl’s frozen feet, rubbed them with alcohol to stimulate circulation, wrapped her in warm blankets, and gave her hot tea sweetened with raspberry jam. The girl murmured a soft “Thank you” before falling into a deep, exhausted sleep.
The next morning, as Antonina flipped steaming pancakes in the kitchen, she observed her guest carefully.
With a kind but firm voice, she said, “Alright, runaway—go wash up and eat. The baby must be hungry. After breakfast, you’ll tell me everything.”
Once fed and rested, the girl, whose name was Nastya, began her story. She explained that she was an orphan, raised in an orphanage after her grandmother, who had cared for her until age five, passed away. Following high school, Nastya was given a state apartment and enrolled in teacher’s college.
It was at a student disco that she met Sasha, a wealthy man ten years older than her, with a luxurious home in the next village and a powerful father. Though he was popular with the ladies, he chose Nastya, showering her with attention and affection. She quickly fell for him, and they began living together.
But everything changed when she became pregnant. Sasha became cruel—verbally abusive, often drunk, and ultimately violent. Two weeks earlier, he had brought another woman home and flaunted their affair in front of Nastya. When she tried to leave, he physically assaulted her and locked her in a room, threatening to take her child once it was born.
“He said I wouldn’t see my son again,”
She whispered through tears. “He kept me like a prisoner. The maid finally took pity on me last night and left the door unlocked. That’s how I escaped and found you…”
Antonina comforted her, reassuring her that she wasn’t alone. “My son, Grigory, is the local police officer. He’ll be off duty soon—tell him everything.”
Grigory, returning home that day, was still bitter from his recent divorce. His wife had left him, tired of his demanding job and modest income, choosing instead to run off with a rich man. Now living back at his childhood home, Grisha had grown cynical about love.
He walked into the house, calling out for his mother, and was greeted by the delicious smell of breakfast—and a stranger in the kitchen. Recognizing Nastya from the town’s search notices, he immediately listened to her story. Outraged by what she had endured, he vowed to help her.
Grisha soon discovered that Sasha’s father, Alexander Malyavin, was a prominent businessman suspected of shady dealings. Though the authorities had long tried to pin criminal charges on him, they lacked solid evidence.
Determined, Grisha spent the next month collecting incriminating documents. When he had had enough, he boldly walked into Malyavin’s office, ignoring the secretary’s protests, and confronted the man directly.
He laid out the situation with Sasha, concluding with a warning.
“If your son doesn’t back off and leave Nastya alone, I’ll release this evidence. You won’t like the consequences.”
With the threat made clear, Grisha rushed home to share the good news.
“You’re free now, Nastya,” he said warmly. “Tomorrow, you can go back to your apartment. Don’t worry—everything’s taken care of.”
Overwhelmed, Nastya dropped the pie she was holding and flung herself into his arms, crying with relief.
In time, life settled into a new rhythm. Nastya gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Syoma, and moved back to her apartment. A new chapter had begun—safe, free, and filled with hope.
