“Absolutely.”
“You’ll regret this. Do you think it’s so easy to leave me? I won’t give you a divorce. I’ll fight to the end. You are my wife and you will remain my wife.”
“The law is on my side. I have the medical report. I have proof of your control. You can’t hold me.”
“A medical report?” he laughed maliciously. “Some doctor wrote a piece of paper, and you think that means something? I’ll find ten doctors who will say the opposite.”
“Do whatever you want. I’m not afraid of you anymore.”
“Not afraid?” A threat was in his voice. “You should be. You’ve forgotten who I am. I can have you fired from your job. I can ruin your reputation. I can…”
Anna hung up. Her hands were shaking. Her heart was pounding, but not from weakness, from anger. She got in her car, took a deep breath, and drove back to Irina Dmitrievna’s.
That evening, they sat in the kitchen, drinking chamomile tea, and Anna recounted her conversation with Vladimir. Irina Dmitrievna frowned.
“He threatened you?”
“Yes.”
“You need to document this. Write down everything he said while you remember. If he calls again, record the conversation. Threats are a serious matter. You can report them to the police.”
Anna nodded. She felt cornered, yet stronger than ever. Vladimir was trying to break her, to scare her, to bring her back under his control. But she wouldn’t give in.
The next day, Anna went to the clinic to have a Holter monitor fitted. A small device was attached to her chest, which would record her heart’s activity for 24 hours. The doctor explained that this was necessary to get a complete picture and understand how much damage wearing the bracelet had done to her health. Wearing the monitor was not very comfortable, but Anna endured it. She went about her usual life – walking, reading, helping Irina Dmitrievna around the house. And all the while, the little device recorded every beat of her heart.
Twenty-four hours later, she returned to the clinic, had the monitor removed, and received the results a few hours later. Dr. Malakhova invited her into her office and laid out the printouts on the table.
“Anna Vasilyevna,” she began, “the results show that you did indeed have episodes of rhythm disturbance. Tachycardia, a few extrasystoles. But overall, your heart is in good condition. The main thing is that you took off the bracelet in time. If you had continued to wear it for another month or two, the consequences could have been more serious.”
Anna exhaled.
“So, everything will be okay?”
“Yes. Provided that you take care of your health, avoid stress, and, of course, never wear such items again. Here is an updated report. You can give it to your lawyer.”
Anna took the document and thanked the doctor. Now she had another piece of evidence. Official confirmation that the bracelet had indeed harmed her.
In the evening, she met with Elena Grigoryevna and gave her the new report. The lawyer reviewed it and nodded with satisfaction.
“Excellent. This strengthens our position. Now we have not only the contraindications but also confirmation of actual harm. The petition is ready, sign here and here. We will file it with the court tomorrow.”
Anna signed the documents with a steady hand. She was taking a step from which there was no return. And she was ready.
The next morning, Elena Grigoryevna called her:
“The petition has been filed. The court date will be set for next month. Vladimir will be served with a summons.”
“Thank you,” Anna felt a sense of relief. Now, all she had to do was wait.
The following days passed in a strange calm. Vladimir no longer called or texted. Anna lived with Irina Dmitrievna, helped her with housework, read books, and walked in the park. For the first time in a long while, she felt free. Stanislav Dmitrievich dropped by a couple of times, bringing fruit and asking about her well-being. He was tactful, didn’t ask unnecessary questions, simply letting her know she was not alone, that she had support. Anna appreciated it. She finally understood what true care meant—the kind that doesn’t suffocate, doesn’t control, doesn’t demand. The kind that is simply there, like a warm blanket on a cold evening.
The court hearing was scheduled for May 10th, a warm spring day when the city was awash in greenery and blooming chestnut trees. Anna woke up early, before her alarm, and lay for a long time staring at the ceiling of the guest room. Today, everything would be decided. Today, she would either gain her freedom or she wouldn’t. She didn’t want to think about the other option.
Irina Dmitrievna knocked on the door around eight in the morning.
“Anna, breakfast is ready. You need to eat before court.”
She came down to the kitchen. Anna drank a cup of strong tea with honey and ate half a piece of toast. Her stomach was in knots with anxiety.
“Everything will be fine,” Irina Dmitrievna placed a hand on her shoulder. “You have all the documents in order, the law is on your side. The main thing is to stay confident.”
Anna nodded, trying to believe those words.
She arrived at the courthouse half an hour early. Elena Grigoryevna was already waiting for her at the entrance, holding a folder of documents. The lawyer was impeccably dressed, her appearance exuding calm and confidence.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yes,” Anna nodded, though everything inside was trembling…
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