Happiness in an Old Communal Flat
While waiting for her husband to come home from work, Sofia sat at the kitchen table sipping thymeflavored tea, taking her time with each sip. The click of a key in the lock made her rise and pause in the doorway as Igor entered, looking serious and silent.
Hey, she said first, youre late again; Ive been waiting for you for ages
Hey, Igor replied. You didnt have to waitIm not hungry, and Im only here briefly. Ill pack a few things and leave. He walked straight to the closet, opened it, and began shoving random items into a suitcase.
Sofia stared, baffled, as he tossed his belongings in.
Igor, whats going on? she asked.
Im leaving you, he said flatly, without meeting her eyes.
Where to?
To another woman
Oh, I guess a younger one, even though Im still only fortythats not old, Sofia retorted with a hint of sarcasm, finally grasping the situation. I wont cry; he wont see my tears, she told herself, then aloud, How long have you been with her?
Almost a year, Igor said calmly. Seeing her surprise, he added, If you didnt notice, I must have been very good at hiding it.
Youre really going? Sofia blurted.
Sonia, do you even understand? Listen: Im leaving you for her because were expecting a child. We couldnt have one together, so Katya will give me a son. You have a month to move out of my flat. Where you go is your problem. Well live with Katya and the baby while she stays in a rented place.
Igor left. The walls of the apartment seemed to close in on Sofia, and an oppressive silence settled. She turned on the TV just to hear some sound. After twelve years with Igor, it took her about a week to fully absorb the loss, but she managed.
She had inherited a countryside house from parents who died early, but the thought of living alone in a remote village at thirtyfive didnt appeal to her.
I cant stay thereno city, no comforts, no job. Ill sell the house and use the money to rent a room in a communal flat or a dormitory. The rest will unfold on its own.
She sold the house as soon as she arrived back in the village. Her neighbor, Varvara, was waiting for her.
Sweetie, we were about to go into town looking for you, Varvara said.
Whats happening? Sofia asked.
My relatives from the North want to buy your house. They need a place to rebuild, and theyd like to be close to usmy sister and her husband.
Thank God, Varvara, thats why I came. Let them have it; well just agree on a price. Heres my phone number
Within ten days the money was in her handsthough modest, enough from the halfruined property. She bought a tiny dormstyle room with a shared kitchen; two other rooms were occupied by other tenants, and she considered this her communal flat.
The other residents seemed quiet and respectable. Sofia hardly interacted with them, spending most of her days at work, where a romance with a coworker named Timur blossomed. Everything appeared to be going well, at least from her perspective.
A few days before International Womens Day, Timur told her, I need to think about a lot of things. Im not sure about my feelings. Lets take a break.
Fine, take a break or just disappear into the forest, she snapped.
That night, angry and thirtysix, she decided to eat away her stress. Opening the fridge, she found a small slice of ham missing, which shocked her.
Who took my ham? she shouted.
It was me, Sofia. I threw it away two days agoit went green and smelled bad. I didnt want you to risk your health, said her neighbor, Vira Ivanivna, calmly.
You have no right to decide what I eat, Sofia raged.
Her anger spilled over onto Vira. She had just split from her husband, lost stable housing, and now a colleague wanted a pauseher hope for happiness was crumbling, and now a neighbor stole her food.
Vira Ivanivna, dont be upset, intervened Ivan Illich, a sixtyyearold, silverhaired gentleman who lived in another room. He was always seated in an old armchair with a newspaper or book. Viras face fell.
Sofia is angry right now. Shes lashing out because someone else has upset her. Dont take it personally, Ivan advised without looking up.
What do you know? Sofia snapped back. No one ever asked you.
Believe me, I know a bit.
If youre so wise, why do you live in this shabby communal flat? Sofia pressed, unstoppable.
Realizing she had overreacted, Sofia decided to apologize. She approached Vira in the kitchen.
I’m sorry, Vira Ivanivna. I dont know what came over meso much has happened. Ivan Illich is right.
Vira smiled, embraced Sofia, and said, It happens, dear. Come sit, lets have tea with cake and sweets. You should also apologize to Ivan Illich; hes been treated unfairly. He was a professor, taught at the university, lived in a spacious central apartment, loved his job. Then his wife fell ill with a brain tumor; doctors said it was too late. He got treatment in Israel, borrowed a lot of money, and after a costly operation his wife lived a little longer but eventually passed. He quit his job, cared for her, sold his flat after she died, paid off debts, and ended up here.
Sofia almost wept at the story.
Thank you for sharing, she whispered. Tomorrow Ill apologize properly.
The next day, after work, she timidly knocked on Ivan Illichs door, holding a small gift.
Good evening, Ivan Illich, she said, extending the present. Please accept it and forgive me, for Gods sake. I was undeservedly harsh yesterday; you were right.
He listened without interruption. When she finished, he replied, What a pleasant surprise. Ill accept the gift and your apology if youll join me in celebratingtoday is my birthday.
Congratulations! The gift is perfect, Sofia replied, delighted. Id love to help.
Together with Vira, they set the table. While arranging dishes, Sofia opened up about her past: as a naïve university student she had married a man, become pregnant, he took her to the hospital and paid everything, then they split. She later couldnt have children, perhaps why her exhusband left.
Just as the table was ready, a knock sounded. At the door stood a tall, smiling fortyyearold man.
Hello, Im Roman, Viras son, he introduced himself. Nice to meet you.
Sofia welcomed him in.
The dinner conversation was lively; they toasted Ivan, wished him health, and laughed heartily. Roman, formerly a geologist now a longhaul truck driver, entertained them with countless stories. Sofia, who had known none of these people yesterday, now felt as if they were family.
After a few hours, Ivan and Vira retired to their rooms. Roman then said,
Lets take a walk. Tell me about yourself. Im not a regular here, this is my first time seeing you. I have an apartment in the city, travel a lot, and my mother refuses to move. Shes a bit infatuated with Ivan, and I think he feels the same, he joked. Ive been away from home for agesmarried when I was a geologist, and while I was absent someone else took my place.
Winter had just settled over the city, snow falling in thick flakes, the world silent and windless. Sofia and Roman chatted for hours, feeling warm despite the cold.
Three days later Roman announced he was heading out on a long route.
Will you wait for me? Sofia asked.
For a week, he replied. Ill be back.
She promised to wait. Their relationship deepened, blossoming into a strong love. They married, and a year later their son, little Arsen, was born. Whenever Roman was away on long trips, Sofia and Arsen returned temporarily to the communal flat.
Days passed quickly, and Vira and Ivan continued to care for the grandchild, proving themselves the best nannies Arsen could ever have.
