Once upon a time, a great king ruled in a small country. In this beautiful kingdom, a girl lived with her father, stepmother and non-native sisters. The named relatives nicknamed her Cinderella because she often did dirty and dusty work around the house.

Wait a minute, dear reader will say, but where is the novel based on real events? Probably, reading the title of the book, you will think that the author may begin to tell the good old fairy tale of Charles Perrault “Cinderella”, only remade in his own way.

But there is some truth in this. This story happened in real life, it happened to a person who survived it from the beginning to the very end.

And when you finish reading the book to the very last page, you will learn a completely new story of a modern young woman, in which people who met her on their way also saw Cinderella. Will there be a fairy tale? Of course it will, only you yourself will have to understand whether it is miracles or the inner strength of the heroine’s character and immeasurable love for a loved one helped her to live on and fight against the vicissitudes of fate.

The book tells about the love of a young woman and a married priest, and what price they had to pay for such happiness. You will also understand what the cricket that lives behind the old buffet is silent about.

Chapter 1

Sometimes, under the guise of love, a test comes to us

I often ask myself the question: how will I love a man if I meet a sincere and real feeling. Love is something important to me in life, and I wanted to be honest in my relationship, because it will be my real love.

So the frosty winter is over, and the first spring days have come, the sun’s rays, like bunnies, playfully play on my window.

Beautiful early morning. Opening the sash of the window frame and taking a deep breath of spring air, I take a sip of fragrant coffee brewed in a new coffee machine, press the “start” button on my laptop, the monitor lights up, and long live the miracle of scientific progress. I like to read articles on the Internet in my free time, sometimes I visit the Odnoklassniki website and communicate with my friends there.

And here’s the letter, I wonder who it’s from?

– hello.

They wrote to me from a page without a photo, I usually ignore such mail, but now I decided to talk, maybe some friend is hiding behind a faceless profile.

– Who are you? – I wrote back.

– My name is Peter, I am a priest, I serve in the Orthodox Church. I live in the city of Chernihiv in Ukraine. I’m not old yet and I’m not young anymore, I’m forty-three years old.

– Very interesting, and I’m Vlada.

– Good health to you, Vlad, and your family!

– Father, I live alone and am not married.

But there was no more response.

I had to finish my coffee alone.

It didn’t cost me much effort to put on makeup, because my naturally well-drawn facial features practically didn’t need to be tinted. Blue eyes with long, fan-like eyelashes, a straight nose and beautiful wide eyebrows lay in an even line on my oval face. My figure was slim, but for this I always had to sit on long grueling diets in order to maintain a thin waist and beautiful legs. My long blonde hair gave my face freshness and made me younger than my years.

Soon I left the house and was at work in a beauty salon all day. There was a lot of work that day.

The weather began to deteriorate in the evening, it was raining, interfering with melted snow and mud, it turned the road into a gray, muddy mud. Because of this, it was hard to walk and had to avoid puddles. For a few minutes I stopped at the entrance and, admiring, looked at the evening sky. Bright stars were burning on it, and among their brilliance I saw a constellation very similar to the Big Dipper. It even seemed to me that she was looking at me with her sad eyes, probably she was missing a little bear next to me, like me.

I quietly went into the apartment and closed the door behind me. In order not to be bored, I sat down at my laptop, and when I opened the Odnoklassniki website, I read there an interesting message from my new acquaintance, Father Peter.

– Your happiness is not going anywhere from you.

“What a nice man,” I thought. And I posted some of my successful photos, turned off the computer and went to rest.

Love cannot be predicted or hurried, it will come by itself with the beautiful murmur of the stream and the singing of birds, transforming your whole life.

At the age of thirty-five, I had quite a successful business in the field of beauty. My salon was called “Healthy Care” and was located in the center of Novosibirsk. When the front door opened, the bell rang, notifying of the arrival of each visitor, and at this time the face of our administrator Ekaterina spread out in a kind and hospitable smile.

– Good afternoon, what can I offer you,” she said politely.

So the days passed in the hustle and bustle of work.

One day I got free a little earlier than usual, went to the Odnoklassniki page and saw a message from Father Peter.

– You are a nice lady, judging by the photo. I would like to hear your voice.

I was pleased with this, and without hesitation I texted him my phone number.

There are so many roads and moments in life that decide our fate, and we do not think that this second will be the main countdown of your new path.

The next morning, the smell of coffee cheered me up, and after a few sips, my brain was already in working mode. A minute ago, I wanted to climb into a chair with my feet, turn on the TV and spend the whole day like this.

But the phone rang and I answered.

– Vlada Romanovna, I’m really waiting for you at work, I need to talk, – Katerina, my assistant, said in an anxious voice.

“Okay, I’ll be right there,” I replied.

I went outside, the weather was sunny, a light breeze touched my face and gently blew my thick, long hair.

The phone rang again, I was sure that Katya was calling me, so I quickly said:

– I’m running, I’m running.

And she quickened her pace.

But he didn’t calm down, he kept ringing anyway, and as soon as I put it to my ear, I immediately heard a man’s laughter.

– Where are you running to? a pleasant voice asked cheerfully.

– Excuse me, but who am I talking to now? I asked, slowing down a little.

– Dear Vlada, I’m sorry that I don’t know your patronymic, it’s Father Peter calling, to whom you left your phone number in Odnoklassniki.

– It’s very good that you called me,” I said in a joyful voice.

– I feel that you are glad to receive my call. I liked the photos that you posted on your page.

– Thanks.

“You know, you have a very beautiful voice,” Peter said good – naturedly.

– So many nice compliments, – but then the second line intervened in our conversation, and I switched to it.

– Yes, tell me.

– Vlada Romanovna, administrator Ekaterina is unable to work, she has locked herself in the service room and does not come out. What should I do?

– Nelya, I’m already here.

Quickening my pace, a few minutes later I was already in the salon. When the front door closed behind me and the bell rang, there was no reaction. At first glance, one might have thought that I was completely alone in the hall, but my loneliness was broken by sobs and a quiet female voice that came from the service room. Getting closer to her, I pulled the handle on myself, but the door wouldn’t budge, it was locked from the inside.

“Girls… open up,” I said and froze in anticipation.

The lock clicked on the back and the door opened. What was behind it looked very sad. Nelya and Katya were sitting by the sink, and there was a bottle of motherwort next to them, Nelya was holding a glass of water in her hands. Katerina lowered her face down and covered it with her hands, while her body shook with sobs. Katya had a calm character, so it became clear that something very serious had happened in her life.

– Please calm down, let’s talk,” I said in a calm voice, stroking Katya’s back with my hand.

I took a towel and gave it to Katya to wipe her face. Putting her arm around her shoulders, she gently sat her down at a small table for the staff.

“Good, you’re my good,” I whispered in the hope that Katya would want to talk to me. Indeed, my words soon had an effect on her. She took a deep breath, as if she hadn’t breathed at all until that moment, and on exhaling loudly said:

– He’s gone!

– Who left? I asked, not understanding what he was talking about.

– Sasha, my husband. Yesterday he didn’t come to spend the night, took his things and documents, and today he called and said that I wouldn’t wait for him home, and didn’t explain anything else to me,” and tears shone in her eyes again.

– Katyusha, don’t worry so much, you’ve always been strong. After all, the most important thing in life is children and relatives, and he, you’ll see, will definitely regret everything later.

“I think it’s not that simple,” she said thoughtfully.

But her face had already stopped being so gloomy, she became calmer, and we went to our workplaces.

It was a wonderful warm evening, I was walking slowly along the sidewalk home. Cars were rushing towards them along the roadway. The phone rang, it was Katya.

– Vlada, I’m hugging my daughter now and I understand that in the whole world I can’t find a closer and kinder person than my blood, my daughter.

– Katyusha, everything will be fine with you, you’ll see.

I put my phone back away. Suddenly the noise of the engines died down, and all the sounds of the street disappeared, a gentle melody sounded that was coming from inside me, there was a cello, and a violin sang thinly, it was the music of happiness. After all, how good it is when good comes from you, and you extend a helping hand to someone who needs it.

– Heh-khe, girl, give the homeless for food, – suddenly a man’s hoarse voice rang out from behind me. I turned back and saw the stooped figure of a man. He was dressed in old, worn clothes, patches were visible in places, they were darned with threads of different colors.

– Just a second,” I said, and began to turn my pockets inside out, but there were only small bread crumbs and a handful of caramels in them. I didn’t find any change in my bag either, and some large bills were peeking out of my wallet. Now there is silence and expectation in the air.

I took out a five thousand dollar bill and handed it to the man.

– Thank you,” he said, and at that moment the man’s eyes sparkled, and tears rolled down his cheek, “and this is for you,” and he modestly held out several willow twigs, which he had been holding in his hand all the time.

– God bless you, – the man said goodbye.

This touching scene remained in my memory for a long time, and for many years I remembered the willow given to the homeless, it even became some kind of good sign in my life. After all, there was another story with her participation, but I’ll tell you about it a little later.

It rained all night, drumming on the glass first with a small fraction, then with increasing force it hit with large drops and became quieter again. In the morning, when the sunlight began to penetrate into my room, only wet patterns on the glass remained in memory of the rain. Such rainy weather has not been for a long time, and therefore I was happy to look out the window at the sun’s glare, which was reflected in puddles.

The phone rang, and a man’s voice wished me good morning. But I didn’t immediately understand who was talking to me.

– Vlada, it’s the priest who’s bothering you again.

– Come on, Father, what kind of concern can there be, I’m glad you called.

– Then I will call you every day. Our weather is so sunny, and the birds are singing in my soul. How are you?

“We didn’t get to talk to you last time,” I said.

– It’s God’s will for everything. And let’s talk right now.

“I want to talk about faith, hope and love,” I said.

– Probably, it will be about your friends? – the priest said with a touch of irony.

– About self – belief, hope for a better future and about love, which I have been waiting for for a long time, – I did not lose my head, I replied.

– Intricate, as I see it, you are a young lady, but it even pleases me. You can talk to me on absolutely any and different topics. Even the innermost secrets can be trusted with a priest. And with your permission, I want to switch to you.

– Okay, let’s break my rules,” I replied.

– And what, are there any other rules? – he was surprised.

– My personal rules of communication.

– Vladochka, do not attach much importance to this, breaking the rules, I will not cross the boundaries of our friendship. Better tell me about yourself.

– Peter, you have me very much in your favor, and I want to share a lot.

– Well, here you are again, Vlada, we have now switched to you, – his voice became quieter and more affectionate with me.

– In my life there was no communication with a priest at all, and therefore I want to tell one story.

– Of course, tell me what’s bothering you,” the priest said gently.

– When I was ten years old, my parents died in a car accident. Aunt Nina, my mother’s sister, took me to live with her. But while I was living with her, she was constantly drinking and driving gentlemen. Therefore, at the age of seventeen, after school, I left home for a completely different city and began to live independently. And she went on drinking.

– How old are you? Peter asked.

– Thirty – five,” I said.

– My girl, you are still so young, you still have a lot ahead of you. The main thing in life is not to lose yourself and love God. If you want, I will always support you.

– Yes, I want it, I really want it, – I answered and pressed the phone to my chest…

– I will always be there, – said Peter and hung up.

The next day, a burgundy Volvo drove up to my entrance, without turning on the headlights, the driver got out of the car. He lit a cigarette and blew out a smoke ring. I walked up to the car, greeted the taxi driver and said:

– On Kamenskaya, forty-three.

Sitting comfortably in the seat, I closed my eyes and began to think about him. Maybe it’s bad to think about a married man, especially a priest, but it began to seem to me that I was falling in love with his voice, his manner of communication, and I wanted to be near him.

– Girl, wake up… – the driver said loudly.

I was startled and woke up.

– Girl, you can get out, we’ve been standing on Kamenskaya, forty – three for a minute, – the taxi driver said with a smile.

A few minutes later I was standing on the threshold of the theater. There were a lot of people gathered in the lobby, they were crowding everywhere: at the entrance, in the locker room, in the long corridors. They were smartly dressed, so a state of celebration reigned everywhere. There were tables with various trinkets and souvenirs along the walls, there was everything you could buy for a slow-moving onlooker. When the first bell rang, the audience slowly began to pass into the huge hall. And I was sitting in the buffet of the theater, enjoying the aroma and taste of latte, and with the second bell I also went to the stalls to take my place.

My dear reader, let’s open the veil of a woman’s soul with you, what does she want and what is she looking for? Spirituality is theaters, movies, exhibitions, wants attention, but most of all she is waiting for love.

My soul was also full of expectation of this feeling and, like a wonderful rose, is ready to open its ripe bud towards female happiness. And I saw this happiness in Peter.

Two months have passed. It was a wonderful summer evening, my room was filled with a cloud of dust from a huge pile of things that I took out from the shelves and put in boxes. It was a grandiose move to Moscow, which completely changed my whole life. Through the wide-open window, the screams of local children who were playing football in the yard could be heard.

– This goal was mine, you prevented me, you didn’t score it yourself and didn’t give it to me, – one young football player shouted.

– Let’s hit!

– Go-o-l!” they shouted again.

I heard a beautiful melody from the phone, and I answered.

– Good afternoon, Vladochka, – Peter said in a cheerful voice.

– Good afternoon, Peter.

– I hear screams, what happened there?

– Yes, these are young football players outside the window.

– Are you probably packing your things now and getting ready for the road?

– Yes, I’m packing everything in boxes, tomorrow a car from the transport company will arrive, and the movers will load all the things into the car, and then I will go too.

– You have no idea how glad I am that we will meet soon. Sorry, I can’t talk for a long time now, I’m in a hurry, my service will start in a few minutes.

– See you later, Peter, – I whispered.

– See you later, my dear, – he said warmly in response, and the connection was cut off.

I went to the window, opened the curtain and shouted with all my might:

– Hooray! Goal!

The boys stopped playing and raised their heads high in confusion. One of them hesitantly shouted back:

– Actually, there was a penalty!

I laughed and walked away from the window.

Apple of discord

The rattling of a spoon in a glass of tea on the table in my compartment interrupted my sleep. Opening my eyes slightly, I immediately squeezed them shut from the bright light of the lamp that was right above me.

My neighbor was a middle-aged Georgian with beautiful thick hair and a pronounced Georgian profile.

It was obvious that he was an intelligent and well-mannered man. There was a lot of aristocratic in his behavior. He spoke Russian at a high level.

Lowering my bare legs from the shelf, I felt the man’s gaze, he was sitting opposite and practically eating them with his eyes.

“I want to help you, – he said.

– Yes, I guess, because I forgot how to ride on the upper shelves.

His strong hands touched my legs and slid higher, up my buttocks, penetrating my dress with his fingers, a little higher, and, putting his arm around my waist, he lowered me down. My body clung to him for a second, and I involuntarily felt the exciting smell of his skin.

– My name is Avtandil, I come from the city of Tbilisi. And you, girl, where are you going?

– To Moscow. My name is Vlada.

– Vladochka, try the apples from my native house, – and he held out a grated liquid apple to shine.

I took a bite, and the juice flowed down my lips.

– Are you also going to Moscow alone? I asked with interest.

– Now I’m not alone anymore, – the man smiled. – Vlada, you can safely move your bed to the bottom shelf, no one will come to us anyway.

– Why? I said, surprised.

– You will see for yourself soon, let me help you.

Avtandil got up and reached for my bed, he had a sporty figure, and abs cubes were sexually peeking out from under his T-shirt.

– And if suddenly … – I wanted to ask, but he forestalled my thoughts.

– Don’t worry, I’m a man and I give you my word that no one will bother you.

It was comfortable on the bottom shelf, I felt tired and immediately fell asleep.

The train jerked violently, I shuddered in surprise and woke up. It was already quite dark outside. The lights from the lanterns made their way through the curtain into the window and the glare lay on the walls of the compartment. Avtandil’s eyes were open, and he was staring at me. His passionate gaze began to penetrate my body. Suddenly, desire seized me, and I opened the blanket a little, and bared my excited breasts. He put his hand on my stomach, gently stroked the skin, touching my breast, and gently squeezed the nipple with his fingers.

I moaned with pleasure and excitement, and he lay down on me, covering my body with himself. Our breathing quickened, and in an instant I felt his strong and wet penis inside me. Soon my body was shaking in convulsions, and he was whispering softly in my ear, pressing his lips:

– How good it feels to be with you.

Early in the morning I woke up to loud voices outside the door. I stretched and felt that the blanket completely hugged my naked body, but after spending the night with a man, I felt only spiritual emptiness. We no longer looked into each other’s eyes, he silently took his things and left the car without saying a word.

Moscow did not please me with the sun, it was a fine drizzling rain. People from the train were walking along the platform in a crowd and pushing me forward to the station, and then suddenly a ringtone from my phone rang.

– How is my beloved? Peter asked cheerfully.

– Hi, I’m already in Moscow, – I said without warmth in my voice.

– Why are you so unhappy or not happy with me at all?

– Sorry, but we’ll talk later.

I felt embarrassed in front of him, because recently I just succumbed to instinct and easily changed my feelings.

Peter’s voice became warmer, and he gently whispered:

– My dear, you are like a gentle sun, a warm breeze, a bright ray of light in my life, fly, my feather, and most importantly, take care of yourself.

I hung up the phone, and I felt warm in my soul from his tender words.

I had to visit several apartments that were pre-selected as options for living.

Several years of my separation from Moscow have passed, and now it pleases me again with its captivating beauty of the streets, worries my heart again, and I am happy to wander through it, looking at the facades of houses.

The first landlady of the apartment was an old, thin woman with very thin, bony fingers. Grandma reminded me of an old, rusty needle that was stuck in a homemade soft shoe from the Soviet Union. The apartment fully corresponded to the age and appearance of the old lady. I politely refused her and hurried to the exit. The weather did not change, there were large puddles on the sidewalk, it was raining, it seemed that there would be no end to it.

The next three meetings were canceled for various reasons, and only two apartments remained. One option was in the city center. But the apartment itself was very unsightly, and if compared with the dishes in the restaurant, it looks like boiled potatoes in a uniform, decorated with beautiful inedible twigs and artificial flowers.

My last option was far from the center, but I decided to stay in this apartment. She met all my requirements for temporary residence. By the middle of summer, I had settled into a new place. There was a lot of furniture in the apartment, I put things neatly on the shelves in the closet. The only unpleasant detail in the interior of the apartment was a painting, but there was no way to get rid of it. The painting hid a hole in the wall, although it served a noble role, but I had no desire to look at it at all. The reason for this was a naked woman who was lying on a red bedspread, she generated carnal desires, her nakedness drove me crazy and at the same time caused shame.

It was a warm summer day, and suddenly the phone rang.

– My sunshine, hello, – Peter’s voice was very happy.

– Hi, Peter, – I was glad to hear him.

“I’ve missed you and I’m looking forward to meeting you,” he replied.

– When are you coming to Moscow?

– I will come next week, one businessman promised to help me with money for medicine to his wife, he is from Moscow. And I will definitely stop by your place.

– I will look forward to this day.

– You know… – he said thoughtfully.

– What do you want to tell me?

– If at the meeting we do not feel any feelings for each other, despite this, always count on my support as an older friend and priest.

– Okay, – I agreed.

We talked for a long time that day until very late in the evening, and then I just fell down from fatigue and fell asleep without letting the phone out of my hands.

The man kissed my swollen nipples without interruption, his hands stroked and caressed, then suddenly grasping my buttocks, he pressed against me with all his might. I opened my eyes in great excitement and could not remember his face. What’s wrong with me? Maybe the painting on the wall is to blame? Or maybe that man was Peter?

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Golden сarriage for Cinderella. A novel about love

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