**Diary Entry**
Ill never forget the day Nina had to decide the fate of another womans child. It was a Wednesday, and Victor came home from work earlier than usual, his face darker than a storm cloud. Without a word, he handed her an envelope.
Whats happened? she asked.
Veras gone. Without my consent, they cant send Dima to an orphanage.
Nina had known about Victors son long before they married. A common enough storyVictor fell for a girl while serving in the army, brought her back, rented a flat. But she soon packed her things and returned home, only to send a telegram months later: *Congratulations, you have a son.* What went wrong between them, Victor never said, and Nina never pressed. No point dwelling on the past.
When Nina was four months pregnant, the ex turned up unexpectedly with little Dima in tow. She caused a scene, demanding Victor take her back. He refused, choosing his wife instead. Nina couldnt blame himwhat claim did she have over what happened before they met? Vera filed for child support, Victor paid dutifully, and that was that. Years later, they learned shed married twice and, after the second divorce, took her own life.
By then, Nina and Victor had two children of their ownJohn, just a bit younger than Dima, and little Emily, barely a year old. Theyd waited to have a second child until they bought their own house. A modest placefour rooms, a garden, a shedbut after years in cramped rentals, it felt like heaven. John spent the first week running wild through every room.
Raising another womans child? That, Nina never expected. Shed seen the boy once, seven years ago, and knew nothing about him. What was he like? What had he been through? It terrified her. John was already a handfulhow would two boys so close in age get on? Victor worked long hours; the children were her responsibility. These thoughts flashed through her mind in seconds. Victor sat frozen in the hallway, his face drained of colour.
Her heart clenched as she imagined herself in his place. What if it were John facing a life in care? The answer came instantly.
Victor, of course well take him. Hes your sonour childrens brother. If we turn him away, how could we live with ourselves? Where theres room for two, theres room for three. Well manage.
A month later, Dima arrivedquiet, shy, nothing like boisterous John. Perhaps that difference saved them. The sudden older brother didnt try to dominate; he followed, and the boys got on. Little Emily helped too, her sunny charm melting any tension.
Dima started school that autumn, excelling from the start. Money was tight, but Victor worked harder, and Nina later took a job too. The children grew, helping around the house. They never spoke of mine and yours.
When Dima went to university, Nina fell seriously ill. Hospitalised, facing surgery, she refused to despairher children still needed her. She wanted to see them grown, happy, to hold her grandchildren one day. But the ordeal broke Victor. He drank heavily.
At eighteen, Dima became the familys rock. He switched to part-time studies, found work, and visited Nina nearly every dayreading to her, learning her recipes, bringing her samples. He shielded her from the worst, like when John got mixed up with a bad crowd and faced charges. Thankfully, it was only probation.
Nina recovered. Her marriage didnt. She couldnt forgive Victors weakness when she needed him most. They live like strangers under the same roof now. He tries to quit drinking, but the battle isnt won.
Last year, Dima brought home his bridea girl hed loved since nursery school. Training to be a psychologist, shes now helping Victor fight his demons. Life moves on. Soon, the house will echo with grandchildrens laughterthe newlyweds are expecting twins.
Every day, Nina thanks God for her eldest son. Shes certain shes alive only because she once made room in her heart for a child not her own.
**Lesson:** Kindness reshapes fate in ways we never foresee.
