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— Do you have any brains at all?! Couldn’t you have checked everything right away?! — Step, I dressed Olya and somehow forgot… — Did you forget your head too? The man was interrupted when he saw the neighbor in the doorway. They were practically strangers, as the neighbor had only moved into their building a couple of weeks ago. And Stepan didn’t like it when anyone saw or heard his arguments with his wife. — Good morning, — Stepan greeted gruffly. — Good morning to you too, — replied the neighbor Roman, observing the man and his companions: a young woman and a frightened-looking wife with a little daughter. Stepan’s wife, Anya, smiled faintly and immediately looked down. They all went into the apartment, and from behind the closed door, Roman once again heard Stepan shouting. Roman frowned, but didn’t intervene. After all, maybe it was just an off morning. Still, he couldn’t understand how a man could allow himself to yell at a frightened woman, especially in front of a child. But soon, Roman got caught up in his own affairs and forgot about his neighbors. Not for long though. One evening, after work, Roman parked in his yard. He stepped outside, breathing in the fresh spring air. The snow had already melted, and everyone was eagerly awaiting summer. So, some people had already shed their heavy winter coats for lighter jackets. It was still a bit chilly, but the air had a distinct smell of spring. Suddenly, his enjoyment of the warm evening was interrupted by shouting. Roman frowned and then headed toward the sound of voices. — Don’t you dare humiliate me! — a male voice yelled. — Otherwise, you know what will happen! — Stepan, not in front of the child… — the woman pleaded. Roman approached and saw an interesting sight. His neighbor Anya was standing pressed against a car, while her husband loomed over her. Nearby, their little daughter stood, shifting from foot to foot, clutching a toy to her chest, quietly crying. — What’s going on? — Roman asked loudly and sternly. — Nothing, just our family business, — Stepan dismissed him, stepping away from his wife. Roman didn’t leave right away. He walked up to Anya, standing between her and Stepan. — Is everything alright? Anya glanced at her husband and nodded uncertainly. — Listen, Roman, go on your way. We’ll handle this ourselves! — Stepan began to get angry. And then, louder, he added, — go, what are you standing there for? He grabbed the daughter’s hand and pulled her toward the entrance. Anya immediately rushed after them, and Roman didn’t know what to do. On one hand, he should intervene, but on the other hand, he was sure that after his intervention, Anya would get into even more trouble. For a moment, Anya turned back, and in her eyes was such hopelessness. Roman felt his heart fill with anger. He knew men like Stepan. His cousin was the same. A domestic tyrant who had terrorized everyone. And when Roman saw his cousin hit his wife, he hit him so hard that he fell. Afterward, Roman threatened that if he touched her again, he would kill him. In the end, his cousin’s wife left him. And the cousin stopped talking to him, saying, “Why interfere?” But Roman understood that it had to be done. He was very glad that his cousin’s wife got rid of those shackles. But it was easier for her: they didn’t have children. Anya, on the other hand, was clearly worried not only about herself but also about her daughter. But why didn’t she leave her husband? Roman didn’t understand that. The next day, Roman ran into Anya on the landing. She was taking her child to kindergarten, and fortunately, Stepan wasn’t nearby. — Good morning, Roman, — Anya smiled. Her smile seemed embarrassed, probably remembering how the neighbor had stood up for her. — Good morning, — Roman replied, but then couldn’t help but ask, — Anya, is everything alright with you? Sorry, but I have to ask, does Stepan behave like a tyrant? Anya blushed. She adjusted her daughter’s jacket, and only then did she look at Roman. — Stepan, he’s quick-tempered… It’s hard sometimes. But I am often to blame too, I can be so scatterbrained. — Anya, you’re not to blame. Please understand that. And if you have any problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’ll help. — Thank you. It seemed like Anya really believed Roman could help. And a week later, she needed his help. Anya had caught a cold and asked her husband to take their daughter to kindergarten. That’s when she and Stepan had another argument. He shouted so loudly that probably everyone heard it, including Roman, who had just left his house. Angry, he knocked on the door. But Stepan, still shouting at Anya and calling her lazy, didn’t even hear the knock. However, little Olya, who always feared it when her dad shouted, did hear it. She was terrified of her father and couldn’t understand why the other kids at kindergarten were so happy when their fathers came to pick them up. When Stepan came for Olya instead of her mom, she just wanted to hide somewhere. Read the continuation in the first comment
