We have nothing to ask of you
We want nothing from you
Son, think carefully before its too late! That boy doesnt resemble you at all! Your Alice must have had that child with her ex and now wants you to raise him! I know it!
Mother, enough! Damien is my son Why do you keep looking for trouble? Fine, Im going home.
MarieCatherine raised her son alone. She and Alexandre enjoyed an excellent relationship: he never disrespected her, never argued, and always succeeded at school. As an adult he became an engineer, just as his mother had hoped. It was time for her to look after his love life. She arranged a fiancée for hima charming young woman named Louise, the daughter of her friend Antonine.
Under his mothers urging, Alexandre and Louise began seeing each other, but the romance never truly blossomed. After a few difficult months they broke up. Then Alexandre met Hélène. Their connection was instant; he recognized in her a spirit much like his own. They married three months later, much to MarieCatherines dismay. Six months after the wedding Hélène became pregnant, and they welcomed a boy they named Damien. Everything could have been perfect if not for a motherinlaw who despised her daughterinlaw. At every meeting she jabbed at her son, even though four years had passed since the marriage:
Look at what shes done to you! You always seem neglected
Mother, Im not neglected! My shirt just got a little wrinkled in the wash
Sit down, have something to eat! Your wife surely didnt cook, and youll stay hungry.
Mother, Ill eat at home. Hélène cooks well.
I know her! Supermarket steaks or, worse, frozen ravioli. Meanwhile Louise took pastry classes. Brilliant, isnt she
Alexandre tried his best to deflect his mothers attacks. He ignored her gossip and never passed her complaints on to his wife, whose grievances were unfounded anyway. Yet MarieCatherine kept up her cold war against her daughterinlaw. One day her tactics finally paid off
Good morning, my son Why does your Hélène never visit me? You always come alone!
Mother, how could she come if youre constantly criticizing her?
Id criticize if I had reason, believe me! While youre here sipping tea, shes probably spending time with her ex. I know who she saw before you. That worthless Christophe! And the little one looks just like him. She had him first, and now youre feeding him.
That evening Alexandre exploded in a fierce argument with his mother. He was fed up with the constant criticism and rumors, and went home in a foul mood.
Dad, dad, hi! little Damien ran to him.
Hey, son. What happened today? What did you do?
Mom and I went to the park. Mr. Christophe was there. He bought me a chocolate and some juice!
The thought that his mother might be right crossed Alexandres mind. Later that night he asked his wife:
Why did you meet your ex?
Alex, it was a chance encounter. We were walking and he passed by. We chatted a bit, then he walked us home.
But why would he escort my wife and son? Could Damien even be my son, not yours?
Alex, why are you saying that? Are you serious?
That night the couple fought bitterly for the first time since their wedding. From then on, arguments became frequent. Eventually Hélène had enough; she gathered her belongings, took their boy, and moved back to her parents house 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 support. MarieCatherine rejoiced, launching a widereaching campaign to rekindle a relationship between her son and the famed Louise, whom she considered the perfect daughterinlaw.
She succeeded, and Alexandre married Louise. But their new life was turbulent from the start. Louise constantly berated Alexandre, demanding an extravagant lifestyle.
Look at Irènes husbandhe already bought her a second fur coat! The Surkovs got a brandnew luxury car! And Im stuck in this old winter coat, driving a cheap car! Are you even a man?
Thus fifteen long years passed. Alexandre juggled two construction sites while Louise lounged at seaside resorts, taking no limits. She didnt want children, saying she first wanted to live for herself, then maybe later. Seeing this, MarieCatherine tried to tighten her rules, but Louise quickly put her in her place.
One day Alexandre received a call from the hospital: his mother, MarieCatherine, had suffered a stroke and was rushed in. She was gravely ill and would need home care after leaving the hospital. Louise immediately declared:
Im certainly not spending days and nights at that old womans bedside. We should place her in a care facility.
Louise, maybe I should quit working
Have you lost your mind? How would we survive? 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 distraught he forgot to tell his wife he was returning. Opening the door with his keys, he was shocked to find his partner in the arms of the neighbor Alexandre didnt argue. He simply collected his things and moved into his mothers apartment.
After MarieCatherines funeral, Alexandre isolated himself in her house, stewing over his mothers wise advice. Why had he ever listened? A wasted life, alone, childless, friendless Not even a careverything he owned went to Louise. While ruminating, he remembered Hélène and Damien. He never knew whether Damien was his son or his expartners. 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 building without trouble, rang the familiar doorbell, but no one opened. They must be at work, he thought, deciding to wait outside. After twenty minutes he turned and was stunned a young man approachedhis own face, but two decades younger.
Damien Damien my son
You? What are you doing here? Damien asked coldly.
My son, I owe you an apology Such a striking resemblance Wheres your mother?
Mom isnt here anymore. 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, slamming the door in his face.
Son! Son, open up! How can this be, my son? I am your father! Your father!!!
Christophe stood before the closed door, crying, tears wetting his cheeks. 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.
