«He married you out of pity,» said the sister before walking out of the kitchen.
«Kates teacher rang from school again,» Marina said, slamming her cup down so hard the tea spilled. «She says the girls stopped trying altogetherjust sits there like a ghost in class.»
Lena flinched, setting aside the knife shed been using to peel potatoes. Her sister stood in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing that familiar expressionthe one she always had right before saying something cruel.
«Maybe shes just tired?» Lena replied softly, picking the knife back up. «The curriculums tough these days.»
«Tired?» Marina scoffed. «Whats she got to be tired about? Michael dotes on her, you tiptoe around her like shes ill. And whats the result? Bad marks and notes in her planner.»
Lena stayed silent. Kate *had* changed since she married Michaelwithdrawn, quiet. Before, her daughter had been so lively, so chatty. Teachers praised her, classmates adored her. Now…
«You know what I think?» Marina stepped closer, sitting opposite her. «Kate *knows*. Kids sense things better than adults.»
«Knows what?» Lena lifted her eyes.
«That this marriage of yours is one big lie.» Marinas voice was calm, but sharp. «You think she doesnt see how you and Michael act? Like two strangers sharing a house.»
Lena felt her chest tighten. The potato slipped from her fingers into the bowl.
«We get on fine.»
«Oh, come off it! Im not blind. You dont even argue properlyjust exist side by side. Michael comes home, eats, watches telly. You cook, clean, tidy up. Like flatmates.»
«Not every couple needs to row,» Lena said evenly. «Maybe were just quiet people.»
Marina shook her head.
«Lena, stop lying to yourself. Youve seen the way Michael looks at you. Or rather, *doesnt* look. When you walk in, he doesnt even glance up from his paper.»
It was true. Lena had noticed long ago but pushed the thought away. Michael barely seemed to register hera nod in the morning, a question about dinner at night. Conversations were purely practical. No warmth, no smiles.
«Remember how he used to look at Olivia?» Marina pressed. «When she was still alive?»
Lena stiffened. Her sister rarely brought up Michaels first wife.
«Dont, Marina.»
«I *have* to. You remember them together. How he cared for her when she was illcouldnt take his eyes off her. Hands shaking when the doctor spoke. Now? You could be feverish, and he wouldnt fetch you aspirin.»
Lena stood, walking to the window. Rain pattered against the glass. She remembered the day Michael proposedsix months after Olivias funeral. Theyd been sitting at the kitchen table, tea growing cold. Kate asleep upstairs. After a long silence, hed said:
*»Lena will you marry me? Kate needs a mother. And I I cant do this alone.»*
No talk of love. No declarations. Just a practical solution.
«He married you out of pity,» Marina said, then left.
The words echoed in Lenas head. *Out of pity.* Maybe it was true. Michael had pitied hera lonely woman past thirty, no husband, no children. And shed pitied hima widower with a little girl. Now they had a family without love, without warmth. And Kate was suffering most.
Lena returned to the potatoes, hands trembling. She thought of the night shed said yes, believing love might come later. That being needed was enough.
Two years had passed. Nothing changed. Michael remained polite, gratefulcold. Sometimes she caught him staring at Olivias photo in the lounge. His face alive with a tenderness shed never seen directed at her.
The front door clicked. Kate was home. The girl went straight to her roomno hello, no chatter about her day.
Lena followed. Kate sat at her desk, hunched over a textbook but staring blankly.
«Sweetheart, how was school?»
«Fine,» Kate muttered, not looking up.
«Need help with homework?»
«No. Ill manage.»
Lena sat on the beds edge. Still, Kate wouldnt meet her eyes.
«Darling, whats wrong? You never talk to me anymore.»
Finally, Kate looked up. Her eyes held a sadness too old for her age.
«Whats the point?» she whispered. «Youll leave soon anyway.»
«Why would I leave?»
«Because Dad doesnt love you.» The words were simple, matter-of-fact. «He only loved Mum. He just puts up with you.»
Lenas throat tightened. So the child *did* understand. And bore it silently, afraid of losing someone else.
«Kate, I wont leave. I promised.»
«But youre unhappy. Ive seen you crying at night.»
Lena had no answer. She *had* cried often latelynot from anger, but hopelessness. The crushing weight of living someone elses life.
That evening, after Michael returned from work, Lena hesitated before speaking. They ate in silence. Kate finished quickly and vanished. Michael turned on the telly, settled into his armchair.
«Michael, we need to talk.»
He muted the TV, frowning. «Whats wrong?»
«School called today. Kates falling behind.»
«Right. What do you suggest?»
Lena clasped her hands. «Dont you think its not about school? That she senses somethings not right here?»
«Dont follow.»
«Were not a family. Were just sharing a house.»
Michaels frown deepened. «Lena, whats this about? Were fine. Kates fed, clothed, cared for»
«But she doesnt have happy parents,» Lena said softly. «Children feel that.»
Michael turned to the window. «What do you want me to say?»
«The truth. Why did you marry me?»
A long pause. The clock ticked. The fridge hummed.
«Kate needed a mother,» he finally said. «I needed someone to run the house. You cook well. Keep things tidy. Kate likes you.»
«And love?»
He met her eyessomething like regret in his. «Lena, I never promised love. I said why I needed a wife.»
True. He hadnt. Shed mistaken his practicality for shyness.
«What if Olivia had lived?»
His face softenedwarmth creeping in.
«But she didnt.»
«Answer me.»
«If Olivia had lived, Id never have remarried.»
There it was. The truth shed feared. Shed always be seconda stand-in.
«Michael, what if I left?»
He blinked. «Why? This works.»
«For *you*. Not me. Not Kate.»
«Kates fine. Its just adolescence.»
«No. Shes clevershe knows whats happening. And its hurting her.»
Michael stood, pacing. «Lena, what do you want? For me to *force* love? It doesnt work like that.»
«I dont want forced love. I want freedomto find someone wholl love me properly.»
He stopped. «And Kate?»
«She stays with you. But she needs a father who lives in the present.»
Silence. Then Michael sat back down.
«Where will you go?»
«To Marinas, until I find work and a flat.»
«I wont file for divorce.»
«I will.»
Another pause.
«What do I tell Kate?»
«The truth. That adults make mistakes. That well always be friends, just not together.»
Michael nodded. «Alright. Maybe youre right.»
Lena didnt sleep that night. Starting over terrified herbut less than a lifetime as a placeholder.
Next morning, she went to Kates room.
«Sweetheart, I need to tell you something.»
Kate eyed her warily.
«Im moving out. Not because I dont love you. But sometimes grown-ups realise theyve made a mistake.»
Kate said nothing.
«Youll live with Dad. Ill be nearby. You can always call or visit.»
«And Dad?»
«Hell be okay. He needs time too.»
Suddenly, Kate hugged her.
«Lena, will you find a nice man? One who loves you properly?»
«I dont know, darling. But Ill try to be happy.»
«Good. I hated when you cried.»
Lena packed lightly. Michael saw her to the door.
«Lena,» he said quietly. «Thank you. Youre a good woman. Youll find better.»
«And youll learn to live in the present, not the past,» she replied.
Marina hugged her without questions. «Better late than never.»
That evening, Kate called.
«Lena, guess what? Dad took Mums photo down today. Said it was time. And he booked me a therapistsaid I should talk about everything.»
«Thats good, sweetheart.»
«He also said youre brave. That hes proud to have known you.»
Lena smiledproperly, for the first time in years.
Maybe Marina was right. Michael *had* married her out of pity. But Lena didnt need pity anymore. She needed love. And now, she had a chance to find it.
