A Disabled Husband's Wife
Petro and Elena had built a life together over seven years, their bond fortified by love, sacrifice, and the quiet resilience that came with being an army family. Petro’s deployments were long, often leaving Elena to navigate the days alone, her hands full with their spirited four-year-old son, Yuri, whose laughter filled the house like sunlight streaming through cracks in heavy curtains. She learned to balance the weight of responsibility—preparing meals for Yuri, tending to his scraped knees after playground escapades, and managing the household while waiting for Petro’s rare letters or sporadic phone calls from distant lands. Though she missed him deeply, Elena found strength in routine, cherishing the small moments: watching Yuri stack blocks on the living room rug, hearing his bedtime stories echo through the hallways, and stealing quiet evenings under the soft glow of lamplight where she’d write letters to Petro, pouring her heart into every word. When he returned home on leave, ...