« Anna, you’re our only child. You have a responsibility. Can’t you understand that? » he said one evening over yet another quiet dinner.
One cool autumn afternoon, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped out of the house, leaving behind the cold silence that felt more like a tomb than a home, and started walking through the city. I didn’t know where I was going, but I knew I needed to escape, if only for a few hours.
As I turned a corner, I saw him. He was a young man with a slight limp, sweeping leaves off the sidewalk in front of a row of shops.
Without even thinking, I walked over to him.
« Excuse me, » I said, my voice shaking. He looked up, surprised, but didn’t say a word, just waited.
« Hi… I » I took a breath, steadying myself. « I need a husband. How would you feel about getting married today? »
