So, Nadia often heard the same teasing question from the men around her: was a marriage certificate really stronger than simply living together?
“I’m not going to our thirty-year university reunion. I refuse to spend the evening feeling miserable afterward. Let the people who attend every year go instead—they won’t even notice how much they’ve changed,” Nadia said firmly into the phone while speaking with her only close friend.
“And what exactly has changed so much about you?” Margaret replied, genuinely puzzled. “The last time we met was five years ago, remember? You looked perfectly fine then. Have you suddenly gained a lot of weight or something?”
“It has nothing to do with that. I just don’t want to go, and that’s final. Please stop trying to convince me, Maggie.”
Nadia was about to hang up, hoping Maggie would simply move on and continue calling others from the list. But this time her friend refused to give up.
“Nadia, there are fewer and fewer of us left from our class.”
“What do you mean—has someone died?” Nadia asked, suddenly uneasy. She knew they were no longer young, but the thought of her classmates passing away felt frightening.
“No, nothing like that. Some people just moved abroad. The only one we lost was Andrew Bush—he died twenty-five years ago, remember? He was so young. I told you before.”
“So stop being stubborn. Everyone is trying to come—four groups in total, about thirty people. And hasn’t your son finally gotten married? You can relax a little now.”
Maggie kept talking, but Nadia’s thoughts drifted back to Andrew Bush. He had always looked pale and tired, dark circles under his eyes. The other students used to call him weak.
Later they learned he had a serious heart condition. Andrew had been a brilliant student who dreamed of building a great cable-stayed bridge in his hometown, but he never had the chance.
And what had Nadia done with her life?
After graduating she fell in love with Ian, a foreman at the construction company where she worked. Ian worked shifts in their city but lived somewhere else.
They had been together for years, and Ian even called her his wife.
“A civil union is based on real love,” he used to say. “People stay together because they care about each other, not because of some official certificate.”
But when Nadia discovered she was pregnant, Ian never returned for his next shift. Only later did she learn he had a wife who was seriously ill and three children already. He had resigned from the job without even telling her.
Nadia realized she had no right to demand anything from a man with a family, so she quietly resigned from her position before anyone could find out the truth.
On her final day one of the workers joked:
“So in the end, a wedding ring really is worth more than promises, isn’t it?”
She barely reacted. Instead she found work at a small corner shop where a neighbor helped her get a part-time job. They agreed she would work just two days a week even after the baby was born.
Her mother promised to look after little Daniel but constantly complained that her daughter had ruined a good career.
“You’re the one who raised me this way!” Nadia finally snapped one day after hearing too much criticism.
“I hoped you would grow up respectable, not waste all the effort I made sending you to university!” her mother replied angrily.
“Well, you can’t expect apples from an oak tree,” Nadia answered quietly, then immediately regretted it. They hugged and cried together, but nothing really changed.
So when Maggie called about the five-year reunion back then, Nadia refused to go.
Her classmates would talk about their careers and families, showing photos and achievements, while she worked cleaning three different places: an apartment building, a school, and a kindergarten. What could she possibly tell them?
Daniel was the only bright part of her life. For him she was ready to do anything.
Eventually her mother decided that once Daniel started nursery school her responsibility was over. She moved to the countryside to live with her sister, claiming the city air was bad for her health.
Years later, however, something unexpected happened: Nadia managed to get a part-time job in her profession again. By that time Daniel was already in school, so she could pick him up every afternoon. Some of his classmates even envied him for that.
One of her coworkers later tried to start a relationship with her, but Nadia stopped it immediately. She believed her son didn’t need a stranger entering their lives. A stepfather would only complicate things.
Despite everything, she proved capable at work. Eventually she was promoted to a full-time engineering position and finally earned a stable income.
Yet she never felt confident. She dressed simply, never dyed her hair, and by her forties the grey was clearly visible.
Deep down she believed she didn’t deserve happiness after once loving a married man and almost taking a father away from three children.
So she avoided bright clothes, makeup, or anything that would draw attention. She feared history might repeat itself.
Nadia stopped believing in happy endings. After all, the world was full of broken marriages—was she really any different from those people?
Daniel, however, grew up kind and grateful despite everything. Her sacrifices had not harmed him.
Every summer he visited Granny Irene and Aunt Lizzie in the countryside, helping them with the garden.
He planted carrots and beetroot, dug potatoes, watered plants, and helped harvest vegetables in autumn. He even chopped firewood and stacked it neatly in the shed.
Eventually Nadia’s mother admitted she was lucky to have such a hardworking grandson, and her lonely sister Lizzie adored him as well.
So why would Nadia want to sit in a café at a reunion?
All these thoughts flashed through her mind while Maggie continued insisting on the phone.
“So have you written it down? The café across from the old dormitories, next Friday at three. Please come—I’d really appreciate the company.”
Maggie’s voice trembled slightly, and before she fully realized it Nadia replied:
“All right… I’ll come.”
She ended the call and immediately regretted agreeing. Standing in front of the mirror, she picked up the phone intending to call Maggie back and cancel.
But the line was busy.
That evening she opened her wardrobe and took out the blue dress Daniel had bought for her wedding celebration.
He and his wife Natalie had practically forced her to wear it. Natalie even dragged her around several shops until they found something suitable.
They chose the blue dress, matching shoes, and Natalie took her to a hair salon for coloring and styling.
That had been a year ago. Daniel and Natalie now lived happily in their own home.
Nadia’s hair had turned grey again. Who was she supposed to dress up for now?
Still, she arranged her hair, put on the blue dress, and applied lipstick—then quickly wiped it off, feeling it looked too bold.
The café was crowded and lively when she arrived. Maggie noticed her immediately and hurried over.
“Nadia! You look wonderful! I’m so glad you came!”
Maggie herself had gained some weight, but somehow it made her look younger.
They talked for a while. When Maggie was distracted by someone else, Nadia sat quietly sipping juice and listening to music from their student years. Someone had prepared a playlist that brought back old memories, and for a moment everyone seemed young again.
“May I have this dance?”
Nadia heard the voice and looked up.
It was Alex Sewell from another group at university. He had married during their third year, and Nadia had secretly liked him back then.
“Nadia, you look amazing. I barely recognized anyone tonight, but I spotted you immediately.”
Alex offered his hand. She accepted.
They danced several times, quietly and a little awkwardly. Later Alex said softly:
“Nadia, may I walk you home? I should tell you—I’ve been divorced for years. But if someone is waiting for you, I understand. I can simply make sure you get home safely.”
He walked her to her door. The next day they met again.
Soon they were spending almost all their time together.
Later Natalie helped Nadia choose her dress and shoes for the wedding. Natalie herself was expecting a baby, which meant Nadia would soon become a grandmother.
Being a bride at her age felt strange, almost embarrassing.
But for once she allowed herself to feel happy.
“Mrs. Sewell, you look beautiful,” Natalie whispered. “Daniel and I are so happy for you. Happiness has no age limit.”
Sitting beside Alex at their wedding table, Nadia looked at her new husband and thought quietly:
Maybe now I’m finally allowed to be happy.
At last she forgave herself and embraced joy.
Sometimes life offers a second chance when you least expect it—and happiness has no expiration date.
