JUST KEEP BREATHING… “Oh, for goodness’ sake… Where on earth did you find her? She must weigh fifteen stone! I just don’t get you, Oleg. She’s a right lump, not to put too fine a point on it. What do you even see in her? Mum, can you please talk some sense into him?” – Lena protested relentlessly. “Oh, let it be, Lena, calm down. It’s your brother’s choice. Oleg’s the one who has to live with her, so let him figure things out with his fiancée,” replied Mrs. Anna, glancing at her son. “Feel better? Right then. I’m marrying Tanya. In fact, she’s having our baby this autumn. End of discussion, ladies,” Oleg declared and left the room. …Oleg had been married once before, to a real beauty, with whom he had a daughter. He loved his wife deeply, but apparently didn’t fit in with her family. His mother-in-law did everything she could to destroy the relationship, and Oleg eventually had to leave. He spiralled—drinking heavily, getting into fights, jumping from woman to woman… …That’s when Tanya appeared, quite unexpectedly. They met through friends, and Tanya immediately noticed Oleg—handsome, tall, charming, with a sparkling sense of humour. No one could make Tanya laugh as quickly as Oleg. Tanya taught algebra at the local secondary school and still lived at home with her parents. She was twenty-four the year she met Oleg. It happens sometimes: You see someone and fall in love for life. For no particular reason, you just know they are your soulmate, as if you’ve known them forever. Life without them seems impossible. That’s what happened to Tanya. Oleg, that night, barely noticed the unfamiliar girl. For one, he was terribly drunk. For another, Tanya wasn’t remotely his type. And besides, Oleg had sworn off marriage for good. “I’m done—never again!” he told his friends. But among their group was Emma—the very picture of charm. Oleg struck up a lively conversation with her and managed to slip away from prying eyes to the kitchen. Later, the pair disappeared together into the night. …With Emma, it was a whirlwind. Oleg loved everything about her. She was the sort of girl men turned their heads to watch, sighing as she passed. Oleg introduced Emma to his sister, Lena. “She’s stunning, but she’s not the settling-down type,” Lena remarked. “I know,” Oleg replied. Emma eventually left Oleg for someone else. He wasn’t heartbroken; he knew she was never really meant for him. He let her go, with no regrets. …Tanya’s chance had come at last. Oleg was free, so she made her move. She invited him out—he hesitated, but agreed. Tanya brought Oleg home, introduced him to her parents, who immediately took a shine to him. And so it began. Oleg was showered with care and attention twenty-four seven. Tanya fluttered around him like a butterfly. She fulfilled Oleg’s every whim, instantly. After six months, Oleg decided it was time to tell his mother and sister about his fiancée Tanya. “Do you really love her, Oleg?” his mother asked. “No. I loved once—mum, you know that. But it hurt too much. It’s enough for me that Tanya loves me with all her heart,” Oleg replied, thoughtful. “It’ll be hard, son—living under the same roof with a woman you don’t love. Will you ever get used to it?” Anna dabbed away her tears. “We’ll see,” Oleg said evasively. …The wedding came and went, celebrated at Tanya’s family home. “Live well, love each other, and if you ever argue, make up straightaway!” Tanya’s mother wished them. …But their arguments persisted and never really resolved. Oleg began drinking again, eventually returning to his parents’ home. Anna just shook her head in silence. Tanya rushed after him the same day. “Oleg, what are you playing at? Come home. I’ll never let you go.” He came back. …Their son was born. The days were full, a whirlwind of family life. Oleg grew more and more attached to this warm household. Tanya’s parents loved him as a son. He always got the choicest bit at table. When he came home from work, everyone tiptoed around so he could rest. They spoiled him with gifts… Oleg never said a bad word about Tanya’s parents, always showed them respect. He took on all the housework, only ever called his wife “Tanyushka.” He adored his son. …Twenty-five years of marriage passed in a flash… Tanya’s parents grew old and often fell ill, spending endless days at the doctor’s. “Oleg, love, maybe you should have a check-up yourself for once?” Tanya suggested. “If you say so, Tanyushka,” he replied. …But there was always one odd job or another—fixing the fence, repairing the house, tending the garden. He was always in a hurry… …Then the ambulance arrived. “There’s nothing we can do—sudden death.” The ground dropped away. Tanya collapsed. The paramedics revived her. “How can it be? Oleg only just had a full check-up—they said he was perfectly healthy! And now this—he’s gone, just like that? I don’t believe it!” Tanya cried out. The elderly parents sat aside, bewildered. “We’re the old ones—we were supposed to go first! Why such unfairness?” Tanya’s mother sobbed. “Oleg! You are my life! Just keep breathing…!” Tanya threw herself onto her husband’s still body. …The funeral was held. …Two months later, Tanya’s father died. Shortly before his death, he murmured, “Oleg, take me with you…” A month after that, Tanya’s mother passed away. …Half a year later, Tanya sold the house. She couldn’t bear to stay. She bought a little flat, helped her son settle and start a family. …Widowed for seven years, she confessed to Oleg’s sister: “Lena, you couldn’t find a husband like Oleg anywhere… Losing him was pure hell. I couldn’t protect him…” She told her son, “Promise me, bury me next to your father.” How sharp and bitter it is without the one you love… And time doesn’t heal, Lena, believe me…

JUST KEEP BREATHING

Oh, Lord Where did you even find her? She must weigh sixteen stone! I just dont get you, Oliver. Shes a proper lump! What do you even see in her? Mum, say something to him, will you? Emily huffed and puffed her complaints, her nose wrinkled up.

Enough, Emily, calm down. Its your brothers choice. He will be the one living with her, so let him figure it out, Anne gave Oliver a questioning look.

Are you done? Right. Im marrying Hannah. And, for the record, were having a baby in the autumn. Thats final, ladies, the discussion is over, Oliver declared, striding out of the sitting room.

Oliver had been married before. She was a stunner, his first wife. Theyd had a daughter together, from that first marriage. Oliverd been madly in love. But clearly he never fit in with her family. His mother-in-law pulled every string, made sure the marriage broke. Oliver had to leave.

Afterward, he threw himself into all sorts of nonsense. Went on benders, got into scraps, swapped girlfriends by the week.

And then, quite out of the blue, Hannah appeared. They met through mutual friends. Hannah noticed Oliver straight off: handsome, tall, could talk for England. And his humourno one could make her laugh like he could.

Hannah was an algebra teacher at the local secondary. Lived at home with her parents still. She was twenty-four when fate brought Oliver her way.

Sometimes you just see someone and the feeling lasts a lifetime. You dont know why, you just do. You love them for who they are, and it’s as if youve known them for a thousand years. Theyre your soulmate; you cant picture life without them. Thats how it was for Hannah.

Oliver, for his part, barely noticed Hannah that night.

To begin with, he was absolutely sozzled. Secondly, she just wasnt his type at all. Thirdly, Oliver had sworn off married life for good. Im done with all of it! You wont catch me getting married again, hed told his mates.

But that night, Emma was there. Full of charm. Oliver got chatting with her, things clicked, and he whisked her away from prying eyes. Off to the kitchen, and before long, the two of them slipped out into the night, hand in hand.

Emma was electric. Everything about her suited Oliver. She was the kind of girl who turned heads on the High Street; men all but sighed as she passed.

Oliver introduced Emma to his sister, Emily.

Shes gorgeous, but shes not the settling down type, Emily concluded.

I know, Oliver answered.

In the end, Emma left Oliver for someone else.

He wasnt heartbrokenhe knew she was never really right for him. He let her go without regrets.

Thats when Hannah saw her chanceOliver was free. Time to act. She invited him out. He wasnt convinced at first, but eventually agreed.

Hannah brought Oliver home to meet her parents. They thought the world of him.

And things took their own course

Oliver was looked after, doted on, felt like a king in that household. Hannah fluttered around, seeing to his every need before he could ask.

Six months in, Oliver decided it was time to tell his mum and sister about his plans with Hannah.

Do you love her, Ollie? his mum asked gently.

No. There was a time I loved someone But you know that, Mum. That hurt. Now, its enough for me to know that Hannah loves me completely, Oliver paused, lost in thought.

Itll be hard, son, living under one roof with a woman you dont love. Will you ever get used to it? Anne wiped a tear, her voice trembling.

Well see, he replied, remaining ambiguous.

The wedding was held at Hannahs family home, full of the usual English toasts and chatter.

Live well, love each other, and if you argue, make up at once! Hannahs mum advised with a squeeze of her daughters hand.

They did argue, but made up less often. Oliver started drinking again, eventually moving back to his parents house.

Anne shook her head, but said nothing.

Hannah, desperate, rushed over that very day:

What are you playing at, Oliver? Come home! Im not losing you.

So he went back.

A baby boy arrived not long after.

Chaos, but the best kind. Life went on, days rolled into years. Oliver found himself growing more and more attached to his new family. His father-in-law and mother-in-law cherished him like a son.

The best bit of roast always set aside for Ollie. When he got home from work, everyone tiptoed around so he could rest. They spoiled him, new clothes for every season.

Oliver never once hurt Hannah’s parents, always treated them with respect.

He took on all the household chores, called Hannah my Han with real affectionalways.

He doted on his son.

Twenty-five years together, gone in a flash.

Hannahs parents grew old, frail. Spent more time in the doctor’s surgery than out.

Ollie, perhaps its about time you see the GP yourself, just for a check-up? Hannah suggested.

If you say so, love, Oliver replied.

But there was always something that needed doing: the garden fence, the leaking roof, tidying herb bedshe was always in a hurry.

Then the ambulance came.

Nothing can be done, Im afraid. It was sudden

Hannahs world fell away, and she collapsed on the spot.

The paramedics managed to revive her.

How is this possible? Ollie just saw every doctor in the countythey all said he was healthy! And now thisjust slipped away I dont believe it! Hannahs voice broke as she shouted.

Her elderly parents sat huddled together, bewildered.

It should have been us, at our age. Not him! sobbed Hannahs mum.

Ollie! You were my life! Just breathe, love, just breathe Hannah flung herself upon her husbands still chest.

He was buried.

Two months later, Hannahs father passed away.

On his deathbed, he kept repeating, Ollie, take me with you!

A month later, Hannahs mother followed.

Within six months, Hannah sold their family home. She couldnt bear to live in it anymore. Bought herself a flat. Married her son off.

Seven years into widowhood, Hannah confessed to Olivers sister,

Emily, youd be hard pressed to find a husband like Ollie Losing him was hellI just couldnt save him

She told her son, I want to be buried next to your father. Promise me.

The ache never faded, the bitterness never dulled.

And time, dearest Emily, does not heal. Believe meBut in quiet momentssitting by the window as dusk filled her tiny flatHannah would close her eyes, just for a heartbeat, and feel Olivers hand warm in hers. She would remember his laughter ricocheting off the kitchen tiles, the dependable tread of his boots in the hall, the way he always made certain her teacup was never empty.

Sometimes, she caught their son watching her with the same, gentle concern his father had, and in those glances she found comfort. Life went on. The world rarely paused, but she carried Oliver within her, stitched stitch by stubborn stitch into the fabric of her days.

On the morning of her own last breath, with sunlight spilling gold across her bedspread, Hannah whispered, Im coming home, Ollie.

And at last, her chest rose and fell one final timesteadily, easily, as if the world had forgiven her grief. As if, for just a moment, she was simply breathing.