Here is her story:
I worked hard all my life and the house was in my hands. I am a seamstress, I worked hours on a sewing machine and I earned well. It was a time when women sewed a lot of things because there were few things in the shops. I had a small shop of my own and there were always queues and I was trying to keep up with everything. My husband worked in the bank and came home early, but he did nothing in this house. I had to cook, wash and clean.
I have a son and a daughter. Everything was there for them. Because I wanted them to live a better life, without such tyranny. It's true, it's my fault for not rushing to help around the house. I wanted them to have time for lessons and fun. They both studied well and I “embroidered” their futures on this machine. I wanted them to go to university and they had to leave home because there was no university in our town. And it costs a lot.
We didn't go on vacation, I went to the sea for the first time when I was 50, and they sent me to a sanatorium. We used to go abroad to help my parents. I mean, I mainly helped because the kids played with others and my husband always knew how to sign. But there was food from the village and my parents also helped me, that was important.
The children completed their studies and worked. One lives in Australia and the other lives in America. They are great, my husband and I even visited them a couple of times. Nice houses, family, good job. I was very proud of them then.
My husband and I have always lived modestly. Even when my parents died and the money was distributed to my siblings, I did not benefit from it. But I was able to travel and see the world because I didn't need any clothes, I sewed them myself. I can go to cafes, eat delicious cakes, go to the SPA. I've never been to anything like this. But my daughter was building a house abroad at that time and I bought dollars with my father's money and it was her house.
I have always lived modestly and had nothing for myself. I only go to the sea once a year because I love it so much. Above our polish, not even in season, because it's so cheap, and I don't have to sunbathe. I was with Anushka last year.
After my husband died, I was completely alone. The kids are far away, I'm in an old apartment, and few of my friends are nearby. As long as I was fit, somehow it was still good. I went to church, sometimes to gossip, at home I watched TV, cleaned and cooked dinner.
Fortunately, I broke my hip two years ago. They fitted me with an endoprosthesis, but I didn't fit very well. In an old man, such actions are bad. I am 78 years old and I use crutches and have trouble doing anything around the house or washing myself.
Of course, the children took care of me. They hired me a nanny, she was from Ukraine, she survived the war. And I don't know what I would do without Anushka. There is also Mrs Jazia, who checks thrice a week, accesses my account, pays bills and takes care of all the formalities. Like I can't, but my daughter ordered it. Mrs. Jacia is a wonderful person, but it pains me that the kids call her more often than me and that they handle so many things behind my back. They sleep peacefully, their mother takes care of them, for which they send money from abroad.
But none of them offered to take me to their place in my old age, for example. They finally came to Poland for their husband's funeral, and a lot of time has passed.
Queer women are like family to me and I regret leaving me like this. I spent my whole life trying to make them feel better. I thought they would somehow do me a favor in my old age.
Now I think, did I do the right thing? I should have been more selfish. Take something out of life for yourself, go on vacation, treat yourself to some pleasures. Because I was really invested in the kids, in their future, in their education. But today I doubt it is a good choice. Because yes, they pay me, but I have no heart from them.
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