We have nothing to ask of you.
We want nothing from you.
Son, think carefully before its too late! That boy isnt you at all! Your Alice must have had that child with her ex and now wants you to raise him! I know it!
Mom, enough! Damien is my son Why do you always stir up trouble? Fine, Im going home.
MarieCatherine raised her son alone. Between her and Alexandre, the relationship had always been smooth: he never disrespected her, never contradicted her, and always excelled at school. As he grew, he became an engineer, just as his mother had hoped. It was now time for her to manage her sons romantic life. She found him a fiancée, a pleasant young woman named Louise, the daughter of her friend Antonine.
At his mothers urging, Alexandre started seeing Louise, but their romance never truly blossomed. After a few difficult months they broke up. Later Alexandre met Hélène. Their connection was instant; he immediately saw in her a mind similar to his own. They married after three months, much to MarieCatherines dismay. Six months later Hélène became pregnant. A boy was born, and they named him Damien. Everything could have been perfect if it werent for the motherinlaw who despised her daughterinlaw. At every gathering she criticized her son, even though four years had passed since the wedding:
Look at what shes done to you! You always seem neglected
Mom, Im not neglected! The shirt just got a little wrinkled in the wash
Sit down, have something to eat! Your wife surely didnt cook, and youll starve.
Mom, Ill eat at home. Hélène cooks well.
I know her! Supermarket steaks or, worse, ravioli. Meanwhile Louise took pastry classes. Genius, that one
Alexandre tried to deflect his mothers attacks as best he could. He ignored her stories and never passed on her complaints to his wife, since they were baseless. Yet MarieCatherine continued her cold war against her daughterinlaw. One day her tactics finally bore fruit
Good morning, son Why does your Hélène never visit me? You always come alone!
Mom, how could she come if youre constantly criticizing her?
Id criticize if I had a reason, trust me! While youre here sipping tea, shes probably spending time with her ex. I know who she saw before you. That goodfornothing Christophe! The boy looks like that man. She had him first and now youre feeding him.
That night Alexandre had a violent argument with his mother. He was fed up with the endless critiques and gossip and left the house in a sour mood.
Dad, dad, hi! little Damien ran to him.
Hello, son. What happened today? What did you do?
Mom and I went to the park. There was Mr. Christophe. He bought me a chocolate and some juice!
The notion that his mother might be right crossed Alexandres mind. Later that evening he asked his wife:
Why did you see your ex?
Alex, it was accidental. We were walking and he happened to be there. We chatted a bit, then he walked us home.
But why would he escort my wife and son? Maybe Damien isnt my son, but his!
Alex, why say that? Are you serious?
That night the couple fought fiercely for the first time since their wedding. From then on arguments became frequent. Eventually Hélène had enough; she gathered her things, took their boy, and moved back to her parents home in her hometown.
Divorce followed, and Alexandre was forced to pay alimony. He was convinced the child wasnt his, yet he never tried to prove it legally, simply paying the sum. MarieCatherine rejoiced and launched a broad campaign to revive the connection between her son and the famous Louise, whom she considered the perfect daughterinlaw.
Her plan succeeded, and Alexandre married Louise. But the new marriage quickly turned turbulent. Louise constantly berated Alexandre, demanding a luxurious lifestyle.
Look at Irènes husbandalready buying a second fur coat! The Surkovs got a new luxury car! And Im stuck in my old winter coat, driving a cheap car! Are you even a man?
Thus passed fifteen long years. Alexandre toiled on two construction sites while Louise lounged at seaside resorts, never denying herself anything. She didnt want children, saying she first needed to live for herself, then see what happened. MarieCatherine, seeing this, tried to enforce her rules even more, but Louise promptly put her in her place.
One day Alexandre received a call from the hospital: his mother, MarieCatherine, had suffered a stroke and was urgently transferred. She was gravely ill and would need home care after discharge. Louise immediately declared:
Im not going to spend my days and nights at that old womans bedside. We should place her in a care facility.
Louise, maybe I should stop working
Have you lost your mind? How will we live? I still have four years left on my car loan
In the end MarieCatherine was moved to a retirement home, Alexandre returned to work far away, and Louise stayed behind. A month later MarieCatherine died. Alexandre came back to say goodbye to his mother, but he was so upset he forgot to tell his wife he was returning. When he opened the door with his keys, he was met with his partner in the arms of the neighbor Alexandre made no scene. He simply collected his belongings and moved into his mothers apartment.
After MarieCatherines funeral, Alexandre kept to himself in her house, brooding over his mothers precious advice. Why had he ever listened? A wasted life, alone, childless, friendless Not even a careverything he acquired went to Louise While ruminating, he remembered Hélène and Damien. He never truly knew if Damien was his son or his expartners child. It no longer mattered.
Damien must be nineteen today an adult now How is he? Alexandre whispered into the void, receiving no answer.
The next morning he bought a train ticket to Hélènes hometown. He found the house and the building without trouble. He rang the familiar door, but no one answered. They must be at work, he thought, and waited outside. After twenty minutes he turned and was stunned A young man approachedhis own likeness, but twenty years younger.
Damien Damien my son
You? What are you doing here? Damien asked coldly.
My son, I owe you an apology The resemblance is striking Where is your mother?
Mom isnt here any more. She died in a car accident ten years ago
And you? Who do you live with? Maybe I can help. I have moneyjust ask!
I live with my grandmother. We want nothing from you.
But son I wanted
Alexandre couldnt finish. Damien went back inside and slammed the door in his face.
Son! Son, open up! How can this be, my son? I am your father! Your father!!!
Christophe stood long before the closed door, crying, his tears wetting his face. Or was it just rain? After that, he returned many times, trying to reach his son. Alexandre prayed, pleaded, tried to explain, but Damien flatly refused any contact.
