Love and Consciousness

Ivan Petrovich, a surgeon of a large district hospital, had just finished night duty and passed the shift, but he was not in a hurry to leave. At home, in a running bachelor apartment, no one expected him. Soon forty and he is alone and alone all the time, life did not turn out in his youth, but now, how could he fold it?

Nurse Lyudochka also ran after the night: "Ivan Petrovich, let's get to us, please, have a cup of coffee!" They had drunk coffee, chatted. Well, it's time to go, and he already wanted to sleep. Ivan Petrovich slowly changed his clothes and went out into the street.

It was morning, a light autumn breeze drove yellow-orange leaves along the asphalt. Ivan Petrovich liked walking through the park, listening to the morning twitter of birds, breathing in the chest with the air, full of autumn smells, admiring the mighty majestic oaks, the branches of which pulled Ivan Petrovich their strong hands. A trembling maple gave him tenderness, giving birth in the heart of the poetic image of the woman he once loved. The sight of curly birches soothed him, and he listened to their whisper: "Look how beautiful we are, because we give everyone happiness!"

Suddenly in the far corner of the park, he saw a thin woman sitting on a bench and burying her face in her hands, her shoulders trembled. Approaching closer, he noticed a small suitcase standing near her feet. Even closer and before him huge tear-stained black eyes with fear, staring at him. But, seeing his smile and kind face, the woman calmed down.

Pity with a razor cut over the heart of Ivan Petrovich. He put his hand on her shoulder and asked:
"What happened?" Then he paid attention to her small protruding belly.
"Months five, perhaps?"- he thought.

The woman rushed to his chest, bursting into tears.
— He drove me out, saying that neither I nor my child needed him.
— Come with me!

Ivan Petrovich picked up the suitcase, took the woman by the hand and led her towards the house, she silently obeyed, tired of all the experience.
They passed the park and five-story buildings appeared ahead. They came to the entrance, then up to the 3rd floor, and entered to a standard 2-room apartment.

-Stay in this room. While you will live with me, and then it will be seen.
-Yes, what's your name, poor fellow? ..
— Marina.

The days of calm life, in which Marina played the leading role, began to flow. Ivan Petrovich was her savior, that was the main component of her attitude towards him, which gave Marina peace and confidence in the future, faith in his spiritual nobility. Marina was a good hostess, order and cleanliness, a delicious lunch were always in the house. Marina had a little girl named Galya.

Ivan Petrovich was never interested in Marinin's past, he accepted her as he saw: weak, unhappy, defenseless, needing help. Another year and a half passed and the boy Dima was born. They have formalized their relationships.

So years of equal family life were going on, the children grew up and already went to school.
And now, like a bolt from the blue, one day during a morning round he collided in a corridor with a tall stately blond woman of about 35 with magical blue eyes. He fell in love at first sight. A new anesthesiologist was called Victoria. Now, almost every operation, they worked together as Ivan Petrovich did everything to get with her in one shift or on the same night duty. The light fragrance of perfume coming from her, circled his head, but Victoria's actions had always been accurate, literate and timely, her eyes were strict, her voice was business and cold.

And in the end, happened the next: it was the time during the night duty after surgery, they were alone in the medical room, Victoria made coffee, she put a cup on the table in front of Ivan Petrovich, and accidentally dropped coffee on his trousers, she got agitated, grabbed a napkin, wet it and began to wipe the stain.It was uneasy for Ivan Petrovic. He? with unintentional intimacy, embraced Victoria's slender body, and they froze in a long kiss.

Then the novel developed with extraordinary strength and speed. Victoria already planned the organization of their life together. And Ivan Petrovich's heart contracted with horror. Coming home, Ivan Petrovich avoided his wife's direct and insistent look. He suffered from what strikes Marina's sore spot, as she has already experienced one day treachery in her life. He understood that he will just finish her off with his behavior. But he could not help himself. Life stopped for him at those intervals when he did not see Victoria.

And one evening, after a delicious and hearty dinner, Marina sat down beside Ivan Petrovich and spoke:

— Ivan, I understand your state and do not want to interfere with your happiness. I'm grateful you, you've done so much for me! Arrange your life with the woman you love. Only with children do not lose touch!

After these noble words, with eyes broadened with horror, she waited for an honest answer, Ivan Petrovich was confused. He realized that he could save a person, but he could not kill.

- Do not worry, my dear, you exaggerate, I have no a woman!

Standard male lies, but Marina was happy from this lie. She continued cleaning the table and washing the dishes, and the proceedings, evidence and clarification of any details were not in her style.

-So, he still needs me,- Marina thought, tied with her whole heart to this honest and noble man during their years of living together.

Marina knew how to wait. Victoria quit, as soon as Ivan Petrovich told her about his decision. Where's she? He did not know. And again the days went by turns, but the former ease that he always carried in his soul, he lost, habitually fulfilling his duties at work.

The legs did not move so fast, gray hair appeared on the head. In the evenings, he read for a long time, avoiding intimacy with his wife.

The character of Marina spoiled before her eyes, she became nervous and irritable.

Being 50 years, Ivan Petrovich had a heart attack. But he survived and then he realized that without Victoria his further life is impossible. And he began to look for her.

It was a difficult search, finally, he learned that she went to work abroad, to one of the underdeveloped countries as part of a group of peacekeepers.

He decided to make every effort, but to go to where Victoria was. And he left. His heart was beating loudly in his chest as he drove past the clay villages and drove up to the modern hospital building.

He almost ran down the corridors, knowing that Victoria was there.

Ivan Petrovich approached the ordinarian with a determined gait, opened the door and saw Victoria chatting with the local surgeon.

It was enough only to meet with Victoria to understand that he was young again, that life and joy returned to him.

And what about Marina? Never mind. Marina, a young, spectacular woman, also met her fate, although at first she was killed because of Ivan Petrovich's departure. And now she, relying on Victor's muscular arm, thought with horror what would have happened to her if Ivan Petrovich had not left?


The character of Marina spoiled before his eyes, she became nervous and irritable.

Being 50 years, Ivan Petrovich had a heart attack. But he survived and then he realized that without Victoria his further life is impossible. And he began to look for her.

It was a difficult search, finally, he learned that she went to work abroad, to one of the underdeveloped countries as part of a group of peacekeepers.

He decided to make every effort, but to go to where Victoria was. And he left. His heart was beating loudly in his chest as he drove past the clay villages and drove up to the modern hospital building.

He almost ran down the corridors, knowing that Victoria was there.

Ivan Petrovich approached the ordinarian with a determined gait, opened the door and saw Victoria chatting with the local surgeon.

It was enough only to meet with Victoria to understand that he was young again, that life and joy returned to him.

And what about Marina? Never mind. Marina, a young, spectacular woman, also met her fate, although at first she was killed because of Ivan Petrovich's departure. And now she, relying on Victor's muscular arm, thought with horror what would have happened to her if Ivan Petrovich had not left?