When Mary was very young, she loved fairy tales. At first, her mother read her books, but then she learned to read on her own. Every time, Mary believed that a real fairy tale would happen in her life. It turned out that dreams do come true, but her fairy tale turned out to be a terrible one.
First, her mother died. It was so unfair that it just didn’t make sense in Mary’s little head. What, no more mom? Everyone else has one, and she doesn’t. Mary couldn’t believe her mom wouldn’t enter the house again, wouldn’t make a delicious breakfast, and they wouldn’t roll around in bed together, playfully pillow fighting.
It seemed to her that everyone around was pretending. If her mom didn’t die, she was enchanted by an evil witch and fell into a fairy tale sleep. When she asked her dad to wake up her mom, he cried. A year later, another woman appeared in the house.
“This is Aunt Emily,” explained Mary’s dad. “She will be your new mom.”
“No,” Mary replied, backing away from the smiling aunt. “I don’t need any new mom.”
“Of course you do.” Dad grabbed his daughter and pulled her closer. “Emily is good with kids. She’s a teacher. I’m sure you’ll become friends.”
“Not for anything!” declared Mary. “She should leave!”
And then, for the first time in her life, her dad slapped her. It didn’t hurt, but it was very hurtful. Mary spent the whole day in her room crying. When hunger drove her out of hiding, Aunt Emily said that she would only get food if she called her “Mom.” That evening, the tearful girl went to sleep hungry.
Contrary to her expectations, her father didn’t send the evil witch away, and soon she became the full-fledged mistress of the house. Everything followed the plot of a fairy tale about a stepmother and a poor stepdaughter. Even the fact that her father got sick. He suffered for a long time, the illness consuming him from the inside.
“I’m going to die soon,” her father said one day, very simply. “I thought I could handle it, that I could live without her, but it didn’t work out. Forgive me, Emily. It seems I’m a one-woman man.”
“What are you talking about, my love? Of course, I won’t leave,” the new wife said, holding his hand, but Mary knew it was a lie.
And then her father passed away, leaving all the money to his daughter. Aunt Emily became her guardian. At first, she dipped into the girl’s funds discreetly, then, feeling complete impunity, she went all out. It didn’t take half a year for the widow to find a new husband, young and brash.
Mary increasingly locked herself in her room or went out to wander the city. She did well in her studies and dressed neatly, but she never went on class trips. The real reason was that Mary had no money, not even for pocket money. She endured and waited for the day she could claim her inheritance and leave the house that had ceased to be her home.
Things got even worse when her stepmother decided her young husband was paying too much attention to the 12-year-old stepdaughter. She caused scenes, and one day, struck Mary with a hot frying pan. The girl shielded herself with her hand, leaving a burn mark. An already bitter life turned into a nightmare.
Mary would never forget the day the enraged stepmother dangled her over the balcony rail, threatening to throw her from the seventh floor. Staring into the crazed eyes of the mad woman, Mary screamed until her stepmother’s husband ran out and restrained her. Mary gasped for air, clutching her throat, but only hoarse sounds came out. Her voice had disappeared completely.
That evening, huddled under the covers, Mary overheard their conversation.
“What have you done?” her husband yelled. “Now she’ll definitely go to the police! Say goodbye to the sweet life on that kid’s money and hello to prison.”
“She won’t go,” the stepmother declared. “I’ll handle it.”
“What else have you planned?” he shouted. “I won’t sign up for anything like that!”
“I know, because you’re a coward,” she responded coldly. “I’ll take her to the countryside, to my granny, for some fresh air. It’s a remote place, and there’s a deep river nearby. Anything can happen.”
Mary’s heart pounded wildly. Go to the police without a voice? Her stepmother would just deny it. She would take her to the wilderness and dispose of her. Mary knew she needed to make a decision, and fast.
In the morning, her stepmother ordered her to get ready. Aunt Emily packed her things into a big bag, including her documents. With each passing minute, Mary became more terrified. “I’ll run away along the way,” she decided.
They drove out of the city, through unfamiliar places. The road became a dirt track and then disappeared into dense thickets. Mary desperately needed to use the bathroom and tried to signal this to her stepmother. Finally, her stepmother stopped the car.
“Well, go ahead! What are you waiting for?” she pointed to the road. Mary shook her head and nodded at the thick bushes.
“Oh, how shy we are!” the stepmother mocked. “Fine, go into the bushes. I’ll stay here by the car. Hurry up!”
Mary crawled into the bushes. “This is my chance!” she thought. She ran as fast as she could into the depths of the forest, squeezing through branches like a cornered deer.
“You little wretch!” her stepmother yelled in pursuit, but it was too late. Fear gave Mary speed, and she ran and ran until her stepmother’s voice grew fainter. Then she lost her strength, collapsing face-first into the soft moss.
This was what saved her. By some miracle, she had run into the center of a swamp, jumping from one firm island to another. A log she knocked down went under, and by the time her gasping stepmother reached the spot, the swamp had closed over it with a loud squelch.
“She didn’t drown. That’s your way, you wretch,” she spat, scowling, and went back to the car.
Mary didn’t hear her. She had lost consciousness. She woke up inexplicably wet. The mound she lay on was slowly sinking into the swamp. Mary froze, afraid to move. “I think I’m going to die now,” she thought with a strange sense of relief.
But she didn’t want to give up hope and attempted to crawl away, only to sink deeper. Mary whimpered, smearing sticky mud with her hands. Suddenly, a shadow appeared, moving towards her. Two yellow eyes gleamed in the distance. “A wolf,” she thought, and prepared to drown.
But the shaggy shadow was already close. “Perhaps it’s a dog,” she wondered. She grabbed onto the animal’s fur. Her unexpected savior yelped and pulled her out. Mary clutched the creature’s neck and began to crawl out of the muck.
Both of them were gasping for breath, but her savior growled and bit her hand gently. Mary sensed what it wanted and followed it, carefully retracing her steps. The journey felt like an eternity, but she finally managed to pull herself onto dry land.
She lay on her back and closed her eyes, losing consciousness again. She awoke to a rough tongue against her cheeks. The creature was nearby, breathing heavily. It did indeed resemble a wolf. “Well, now he’s going to eat me,” she thought with a strange indifference.
Nevertheless, she lifted her head and gazed into the creature’s eyes. It looked straight back at her, almost reproachfully, then trotted into the thicket, glancing back. Mary didn’t understand what it wanted. Was it full? Did she look unappetizing?
The creature, seeing she was still standing there, let out an irritated growl and returned. It grabbed the edge of her wet jacket and started pulling. She moved, indicating that she understood. “What difference does it make?” she thought. “I’ll follow it.”
Her doubts were dispelled when, after half an hour, they reached a clearing. In the middle of the forest stood a small hut. The creature approached the dwelling and emitted a raspy growl.
“Is that you, Forest Spirit? Are you hungry, wanderer?” a voice emerged from the hut. The door swung open, revealing an enormous man who looked like a forest ranger.
“Who have you brought with you?” the man asked in bewilderment, surveying Mary, who was trembling from fear and cold. “Did you pull her out of the swamp?” The Forest Spirit let out an affirmative growl.
“Who are you?” the man asked, towering over her. She gestured to her mouth and shook her head.
“Mute too?” he exclaimed. “Where did you come from?”
Mary burst into tears.
“No use wetting everything. You’re already soaking wet,” grumbled the man. “Come inside. My shirt is on the bench. Take off your wet clothes and put it on. I’ll deal with this shaggy one.”
Shivering, Mary entered the small, warm hut that smelled of herbs. She changed into the warm shirt, which felt like a dress on her. The man returned.
“Go get the warm felt boots from the stove and don’t shake like that. I don’t eat small ones like you.”
She put on the felt boots and felt a blissful warmth. Peering out the window, she saw the man drying the creature’s fur. After warming up, she stopped being afraid. She was just very hungry.
Mary approached the table and saw a newspaper with a crossword puzzle and a pencil. She wrote on the margins, “My name is Mary. I lost my voice because of my stepmother. She tried to kill me.” After a thought, she added, “I’m very hungry.”
She took the newspaper out to the yard. The man read her scribbles and let out an astonished whistle. “Lei, look at this! It’s a whole thriller here! You’re not making this up, are you?” he asked Mary. She shook her head.
“Well, what do you think, Lei? Should we believe her?” the man turned to the creature. The creature made a short sound, as if confirming her story.
“Well, you’ve had quite an adventure,” the man muttered. “Alright, first we need to feed you. So you’re Mary, right?” The girl nodded.
“You’re already acquainted with Lei,” the man continued. “You probably thought he was a wolf, right?” Mary nodded again.
“He is a wolf,” the man chuckled. “I rescued him as a little cub from a trap. Call me Kevin. I’m sort of the forest ranger around here.”
With a smile of relief, the girl followed him into the hut. Kevin poured rabbit stew into two large bowls. “Eat,” he said. “Don’t worry, we don’t eat little girls here. My stomach can’t handle it.” He chuckled, pleased with his own joke.
The stew was incredibly delicious. As she ate, she secretly examined Kevin’s face. He was more like a father’s age. Thoughts about her own father brought tears to her eyes.
“Hey, none of that here!” Kevin raised his voice. “I can’t stand all that female fuss.” Frightened, Mary stopped crying and continued eating.
“What kind of monster would harm a child?” Kevin reflected. “And why didn’t your father intervene?” Mary raised her eyes, sighed, and shook her head.
“What? Neither mom nor dad?” the forest ranger exclaimed. “Oh, you poor thing! But don’t be afraid of me.”
Mary finished her meal and looked at Kevin. “What’s next?” she seemed to ask.
“You’ll take a bath now,” he said. “The basin is outside.” Mary rolled up her sleeve to reveal a burned scar.
“Who did this to you?” Kevin gasped. “Was it your stepmother?” Mary nodded. Kevin’s face darkened. “Go wash up. Lei will keep an eye on you.”
As she washed, she felt like she was cleansing not just the dirt, but the fears and tension of the past few years. Lei lay nearby, guarding her. Afterward, she sat next to her guardian, stroking his fur and muttering words of thanks. In Kevin’s cabin, she felt safer than she had ever been.
“Finished with your water procedures?” Kevin asked. Lei responded with an affirmative roar.
“What should I do with you, huh?” he asked, more to himself than to Mary. “Do you have any family?” The girl shook her head.
“That’s not good,” he pondered. “We should send you back to the city and file a lawsuit against your stepmother.” Mary looked at him with frightened eyes.
“I don’t believe in our courts,” Kevin shrugged. “It could get worse. They’ll place you in a shelter, and it’s not pleasant there. I can’t have you stay with me either. It’s not right for a young lady to live with an old recluse.” Mary’s lips trembled.
“One thing remains,” he brightened. “I’ll take you to Granny Karen. She’s a witch doctor, maybe she can help you get your voice back.” Lei seemed to chuckle, covering his nose with a paw.
“Alright, go ahead, laugh at me!” Kevin threatened him with his finger. “By the way, this is your responsibility, since you’re the one who brought her from the swamp!”
Mary dropped her face onto her arms and cried. Kevin entered and sat beside her, gently stroking her back. “Don’t cry, little one. Life is such that tears won’t help.”
He told her about his friend, Granny Karen, a powerful witch doctor who lived in a nearby village. “She’s quite temperamental,” he warned. “But I’m sure she can cure your muteness.”
Mary listened, holding her breath. It felt like a fairy tale, but going to some old woman was frightening. What if she was as wicked as her stepmother?
“We and Lei will visit you,” Kevin continued. “She once cured me. Agree, Mary. There’s a chance you’ll start speaking again.” Mary nodded hesitantly.
“That’s settled,” Kevin exclaimed. “I’ll gather some gifts for Karen. We can’t go empty-handed.”
While he was gone, Mary found a broom and started sweeping the floor. Eventually, she lay down on the bench and fell asleep.
“Are you tired, hostess?” Kevin’s voice woke her. She smiled timidly. He didn’t seem so scary now.
“I’ve gathered gifts. If you’ve rested, it’s time to hit the road.” Kevin handed her a woven sack filled with berries. Then he took her hand, and together, accompanied by Lei, they set off.
With the huge and strong Kevin by her side and the faithful Lei close by, life didn’t seem so bleak. Soon, she was covered in berry juice, and every time Kevin looked down at her, he would chuckle.
When the forest ended, they arrived at a row of dilapidated cottages. Mary became frightened and gripped Kevin’s broad hand. “You promised to be brave,” he smiled encouragingly.
Granny Karen lived in the farthest cottage, the only inhabited house in the forgotten village. “Granny Karen, open up!” Kevin shouted.
The door creaked, and out into the light came a woman who looked just like Baba Yaga from Mary’s fairy tales. Mary shivered and tried to withdraw her hand, but Kevin held her firmly.
“Is that you, Kevin?” the witch asked.
“It’s me. And who’s with you?” she asked, her eyes seeming to peer right through Mary.
“I found her in the woods,” Kevin shrugged. “She can’t talk. Her stepmother abandoned her.”
“She’s not lying,” Granny Karen rendered her verdict. “This little girl truly got the short end of the stick. What do you want from me?”
“Please heal the girl,” Kevin requested. “It’s out of fear. Can you help her?”
“I might be able to,” Karen said, her gaze fixed on the pale girl. “Are you scared?” she turned to Mary. Mary nodded.
“You see?” Grandma Karen shrugged. “Nothing will come of it. The child needs to be sent to the city.”
“We can’t send her to the city,” Kevin said, shaking his head. “They’ll likely put her in an orphanage, or her stepmother will take her back.”
“Will you take care of the girl, or do I have to take her back to the forest?” Kevin asked, his tone serious.
Grandma pursed her lips. “You’re a fool, Kevin. Okay, I’ll see what can be done. Leave the girl.”
Mary trembled, but Kevin let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you. I brought some gifts.”
“Unload the gifts in the barn,” she ordered. “And you, dear, come to me,” she said, unexpectedly tenderly, to the girl. “Go on, I don’t eat children.”
Mary hesitated, but Lei nudged her with its nose as if urging her to obey. Taking a deep breath, she climbed the creaky steps and opened the door.
Inside was an extraordinary sight: a samovar and a laptop, bundles of herbs and numerous scientific flasks. “That’s me, a modern-day Baba Yaga,” the witch proclaimed proudly.
“Karen defended her doctorate in herbs, and not just one,” Kevin added. “People come from all over the country. She even got me back on my feet once.”
“She got you back on your feet but didn’t fix your brain,” Grandma Karen grumbled. “Leave the girl and go on your way. We’ll sort this out without you.”
Kevin laughed, winked at Mary, and prepared to leave. “Don’t be afraid,” he whispered. “Listen to Grandma Karen. Lei and I will visit you soon.”
Left alone with the old woman, Mary turned pale. But Karen approached and hugged her shoulders tightly. “I can see life has been hard on you. Just like Kevin when we first met. He came here to die. I healed his body, but I couldn’t heal his soul. Now I look at you and I wonder, maybe this is your purpose?”
Mary stared, bewildered.
“Alright, let’s have a tea party,” Karen said, changing the subject. “Do you like berries?”
Mary nodded. In the cupboard, she found a set of unimaginably beautiful porcelain teacups. The tea, steeped with crushed berries, tasted a hundred times better in them. With every sip, her fears and worries slipped away.
“So, how’s the tea? Magical, isn’t it?” Grandma Karen asked. Mary nodded and timidly smiled.
“Do you know about living water?” Karen continued. “Well, we have it right here. It helps not everyone, only the good and kind. Are you ready?”
Mary nodded again. She liked this fairy tale-like Grandma. “Good. We’ll finish our tea, and then we’ll start driving the sickness out of you.”
They walked down a path to a river lined with water lilies. Clouds drifted through the crystal-clear water. Karen shed her clothes, revealing a simple garment. Feeling shy, Mary did the same and dipped her toes into the water.
“It’s cold, brr!” Mary exclaimed.
“Be brave, my girl, or the water might refuse to take the sickness away,” Karen said sternly.
Mary took a step, then another, and suddenly she was underwater. She flailed her arms, opened her mouth in a silent scream, and a hoarse, high-pitched “A” emerged from her throat. Karen poured handfuls of water over her, murmuring, “With goose water, let Mary be rid of all her ailments.”
Her fear dissipated. Her breathing evened out.
“Try to say something,” Karen demanded.
“A-a-a,” the girl managed in a singsong tone. Her throat didn’t cooperate, but she was certain she would speak again soon.
“Good job,” Karen praised her. “The river accepted you. We’ll come here every day.”
Returning to the cottage, Mary felt hungry. She tried to get Karen’s attention, but the old woman, engrossed in a book, didn’t turn.
“Don’t murmur, speak with words,” Karen responded without looking up.
Mary felt a deep sense of injustice. How could she speak with words? She tensed. Sounds bubbled up in her throat. She imagined them as billiard balls, picked three, and pushed.
“I am,” she managed to say unexpectedly.
Karen put her book down and patted Mary’s head. “Well done. Everything will work out. But for now, it’s time to eat. Go to the backyard, I have some chickens. Collect eggs.”
Ignoring the disapproving clucking of a brightly colored rooster, Mary collected five eggs. Soon, the cottage was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling bacon and scrambled eggs.
As Mary closed her eyes in contentment, Karen’s mood shifted. She opened the door just in time for Lei to burst in. The wolf whimpered, pacing, and Mary saw blood on his fur.
“Something happened to Kevin!” Karen cried out. “Looks like he ran into poachers. Stay here, I’ll call for help!”
But Mary didn’t hear her. Following Lei, she sprinted down the path. Lei led her to a clearing and howled. Mary saw a man lying in the grass. She rushed to him, knelt, and tried to turn him over.
For a moment, she thought Kevin wasn’t breathing. His camouflage pants were soaked with blood. When all hope seemed lost, a hoarse sound erupted from her throat: “Dad!”
Kevin groaned and turned over. “Mary? Is that you?” he said with difficulty.
“They got me, the bastards,” he winced. “Local poachers. Caught a load of buckshot in both legs. Mary, I have a knife in my belt bag. Try to cut the trousers and bandage them.”
The girl composed herself. She managed to cut the sturdy fabric and gasped at the sight of his legs.
“Don’t lose heart, daughter,” he encouraged. “Cut the fabric into long strips and bandage them as tightly as possible. I’ll try to crawl.”
Mary bound his legs as tightly as she could, and the bleeding stopped. With Mary’s help, Kevin attempted to crawl. It was slow, agonizing work. After what felt like hours, his strength gave out, and he lost consciousness.
Mary jumped to her feet, and a cry echoed through the forest: “Help!” She screamed and prayed for a miracle. And a miracle happened.
A tall, beautiful woman burst onto the clearing, followed by a massive, gray-haired man in the same camouflage suit as Kevin. “Brian, we need to get him to the house,” the woman ordered. Turning to Mary, she said, “Run to the house, we need warm water. A lot of it.”
Lei appeared, and Mary followed him. They managed to boil water and prepare bandages just as Brian, the giant, carried the moaning Kevin into the house. The beautiful woman, Rebecca, followed.
“Let’s go, we won’t get in the way,” Brian’s large hand rested on Mary’s shoulder. In the yard, her tears finally flowed.
“Don’t worry about Kevin, honey,” Brian said, stroking her back. “He’s been through worse scrapes. We’ll catch and punish those bandits.”
Karen came out and embraced the girl. “You’re mistaken, Brian. She saved his life today.”
Inside, Rebecca tended to Kevin. “He’s still asleep,” she would later say. “But they’ll talk eventually. Kevin is stubborn.”
“He can’t forgive Rebecca after all these years,” Brian shook his head.
“Foolish,” Karen replied. “His mother didn’t want to share her son with a bride. She told him Rebecca had an abortion, and he believed her. He signed a military contract, and she, poor thing, had a miscarriage. No fault of hers.”
Later, a pale Rebecca stepped out. “Is he awake?” Karen asked.
“Yes,” Rebecca replied, her lips barely moving. “He kicked me out.” And she covered her face with her hands.
“Alright,” Karen stood up resolutely. “I’ll go clear the stubborn guy’s head.”
Half an hour later, a satisfied Karen emerged. “Rebecca, go into the house. You need to talk.”
When they were allowed back in, Rebecca and Kevin were together, his hand caressing hers as she fed him tea.
“First aid has been provided. Now we need to go to the hospital,” Karen announced.
“We’ve already decided,” Kevin looked at Mary and smiled. “After all, you didn’t call me ‘dad’ in the forest for show, did you? You won’t abandon me when I’m helpless, will you?”
Mary shook her head and said with some difficulty, “No.”
“Well, Rebecca,” Karen grinned. “It seems we’ll have to use our official status. You are an authorized representative for children’s rights, aren’t you?”
Rebecca nodded. “Yes. And I know exactly how to deal with those who try to harm children.”
With Kevin’s head resting on Mary’s lap, they drove to the hospital. She stroked his hair, pleading with someone up there, “Leave Kevin for me, don’t take him.”
Her plea was heard. Kevin quickly recovered. While he was in the hospital, Mary lived with Rebecca. Rebecca, using her official status, ensured Mary’s stepmother faced the consequences of her actions. There was no direct evidence of an attempt on Mary’s life, but the law hit the cunning woman where it hurt the most—her wallet, with a hefty fine. Rebecca’s request for adoption was granted.
When Kevin was discharged, he and Rebecca submitted their documents to be married. Mary had already realized that they had always loved each other, separated only by the interference of Kevin’s mother, a truth that had come out too late for the mother to absolve herself of her sin.
Soon after, they visited the graves of Mary’s parents. “I love you,” Mary whispered, placing flowers on the ground. “Don’t worry, now Kevin and Rebecca are with me. You won’t mind if I call them Mom and Dad, will you?”
“And now I also have Grandma Karen and Grandpa Brian. They got married too. He moved to the woods to be with her. We’ll be going to them soon.”
“Oh, you don’t know,” she whispered to the photos. “I was completely mute, but now everything is fine.”
Mom and Dad smiled at their daughter from the photo. Mary raised her eyes to the sky. She had always believed in happy endings in fairy tales. And it seemed her own personal fairy tale had indeed ended happily. Or rather, it was just the beginning.