Emma knew everything. Of course she did; she wasnt twentysomething or even in her thirties any more.
She was tired of being alone, of shouldering that heavy load.
Lucy, why is it always me? Whats wrong with me? Am I a bore? Do I smell? Am I too clingy? Or perhaps I dont give enough love and tenderness.
What was wrong with her?
Everyone the tall, the short, the stout, the skinny, the drinkers, the handsome and the plain all seemed to have a love life. Everyoneexcept her.
What was wrong with her?
Why was she alone?
Listen, Emdont laugh, but my gran used to talk about something I cant quite namea veil of singleness.
Come off it, Emma waved her hand, are we living in the Middle Ages now?
Dont believe me? Lucy jumped from her chair. My thirdcousins aunt had that very veil lifted by my gran.
What gran? Emma asked, flatly, just to keep the conversation going.
In any case Ill ring Nora, my sister, the one who had the veil taken off, and Ill find out everything.
After ten minutes Lucy scribbled something on a napkin, licking the tip of her tongue.
Right, thanks, Nora. Hows it going? Getting married again? What about Greg? Ah, hes out. FineIll be there.
Lucy hung up, a moment of silence.
Whats happened?
Nothingwell, actually yes. I need another wedding present my sisters getting married again. Fifth time now. Looks like that veil is finally wearing thin. Heres the address. You coming?
Emma shrugged.
She did set off, but the old aunt, after twisting the map, sent her back emptyhanded.
You dont have any veil.
How could that be? I
What, youre picking the wrong men? The first one ran off with a child, promising the girl he was already married to. Did you not know? He was a scoundrel, left you in the bushes. Nothing to worry about now.
What?
You dont need to know, he wasnt yours.
The second one wasnt yours either? Emma smirked.
No, that one wasnt yours and the third wasnt either.
The third? I dont have anyone.
No, not yet.
And when will mine appear? Will I ever get him?
Hell show up when you stop waitinghell be yours, but not completely. A girl cant control everything, but trust him. Hes reliable, hell bring you a lifelong happiness. You might even have him entirely, just be patient, dont rush.
Now goand tell your friend she should see a doctor, give her these herbs, let her visit a womens GP. Tell her to stop fussing, say its the old aunts message.
That conversation had happened many years before.
Desperate to find her own happiness, Emma sought out the old aunt, a village healer.
Everything turned out exactly as the aunt had said.
She met the third man, but the aunts words slipped from her memory.
He was good, treated Emmas daughter kindly, but something always seemed to happen to them theyd become distant, vanish without explanation.
Then Emma met Yuri. At first she didnt realise he was the one.
The flat next door had been empty for years. When Emma moved in with her daughter, the neighbour, Aunt Kate, said the landlord was a nightshift man who came and went.
One day Emma, curious, peeked through the slightly ajar door and saw a man wallpapering. She slipped away, thinking the owner had returned.
He did return, again and again.
Their first clash was in the hallway a week later. The doors were built in such a way that opening one kept the other shut until the first was closed. Emma, hurrying to work, tried to open hers and it wouldnt budge. The neighbour apologized quickly, shut his flat, and Emma heard light, hurried footsteps.
Later she blocked the neighbours exit on purpose.
They finally met on the communal landing, where the neighbour let Emma go first.
One afternoon Yuri helped Kristina lift a bike; Emma baked pastries and gave them to him.
At the park Yuris son, about Kristinas age, joined them; the kids made fast friends, while Emma and Yuri chatted merrily.
Six months later he asked her out, introduced her to his family, and they began living together. Before moving in, Yuri told his story.
Emma, Im not a twentyyearold lad, nor a brute. Im a grown man with my own opinions and temperament. I promise if you live with me I wont cheat, Ill do the traditional work, help out, earn a living, I dont drink or smoke. No bad habits. Ill respect you, cherish you Im sorry, I cant love you the way Id like; Ive tried.
No, Im not a stone, I have feelings for you, just not the ones you expect. I cant give you what you need.
Do you think I should have spoken to her? Emma asked, voice strained.
Did you think I was just a tragic hero, suffering like a deer? Yuri replied, laying it out plainly. I once fell for a girl, felt warm next to her, but it never worked. She saw me as a friend, I tried for years to push her out of my heart, failed. I had other women, prettier, smarter, but none fit.
Emma pressed, Should I have talked to her?
I told her I loved you more than life itself, but she said shed always been a friend, like a brother.
She listened, then asked why hed broken up with Inna.
I didnt love her.
And? she shrugged. Shes beautiful, smart, funny. You dont love her, she loves youwhats the point?
He realized shed shown him that she didnt love him, pinching his cheek like a kitten. He couldnt stay with someone he didnt love, yet he forced her to stay.
Later he married.
No, I havent been a walking corpse, Ive lived, had fun, just when I think of the woman I truly love, love feels like a curse to me. I feel bruised, unable to give a woman happiness. Women hear with their ears, dont be offended I cant lie.
Do you think Im just rambling, feeling sorry for myself?
No, I just want you to decide for yourself whether you can live without intense emotions. My wife couldnt. Think about it.
Emma thought, then a week later she met his large family. They were lively, cheerful, welcomed Emma and her daughter warmly.
Shed feared theyd treat her as a replacement or with pity, but everything went smoothly.
She never regretted marrying Yuri; he was reliable, solved her problems, she tried not to dwell on passion. Their life was good, and only occasionally, a stray glance from her husband would catch her eye, reminding her of the past. It never harmed their marriage.
That lingering look sometimes bothered Emma. Honestly, she placed her hand over her heart and thought, what woman doesnt dream that her man might change? Emma had married not out of great love but grew to love him; he was an ideal partner.
The cloudy glance remained, but it didnt define them.
One spring morning Yuri watched Emma washing the windows, sunlight blazing on the glass. He entered the room, admiring his wife, feeling utterly free.
Dont you feel it, love? he asked, his voice soft.
Emma smiled, humming a quiet tune as she worked.
He danced lightly, twirling from the windowsill, laughing.
Everythings fine, Emma. You have no idea how wonderful it feels.
He kissed her, whispering that he had just realised how deeply he loved her, how precious she was.
Emma thought, the old aunt hadnt lied; she had simply told her to wait.
Good morning, dear ones! May your love, if still unseen, flutter in through your window. And if its already there, cherish it. I send you warm sunshine and positivity. Always yours.
Patience teaches that true happiness often arrives unannounced, and waiting can be the quiet work of destiny.
