Swan Song Painting

Hello. My name is Yuliya Ra. I’m from Russia. And that’s my story.--- Happiness... pain... happiness again! And creativity, too! As medicine.--- I was born on October 4th, 1976. I grew up in a happy family. Mom, Dad, and Little sister. The small provincial town of Navoloki on the bank of the great Russian river Volga. There wasn't an art school. My Dad taught me to paint. He’s not an artist, he’s just a worker in a fabric factory. I drew a lot for myself, for school, for contests. I sang in the choir, read poetry from the stage, played in plays.--- I’ve lived happily ever after. I graduated from school, studied at a university in Ivanovo. It’s a fabricator’s profession. There I fell in love with a man and got married. It was amazing love. Together we went far to the Urals to work in a large factory.--- Two daughters were born there. I loved my husband very much, I helped him. He made a career. I worked at the factory, at the house, and with kids. We were poor. I made a lot to dress to myself and the kids. But I felt good. There was love in the family. The first incident occurred in 2003. The youngest daughter died. She was 10 months old. It was Medical error. So hard for me. We were visiting our parents at the time. After the funeral, I stayed with my parents for a while. My husband went to work in a factory. We wrote each other letters, called each other. We were supporting each other... but it turned out that the husband was seeing another woman at the time... It was a huge blow.--- I loved him very much, and I forgave his betrayal. I've been waiting for his return for about a year. We lived in the same apartment, but as strangers. I waited for him and I loved him. He’s back in town. He asked for forgiveness and promised to make me happy. We returned from the Urals to Ivanovo.--- Our lives have changed. We worked together at a private textile company. We got the directors. We bought an apartment and a car. We went to the sea. We were happy together. I forgot all the bad stuff.--- In 2009, the country’s economy entered a new crisis. We lost our jobs. The former employer gave us the business for his salary debts. My husband built windows. I had a small sewing business.--- It was very hard. My husband couldn’t do business. And he’s out of business. We sold our apartment to pay for our debts. He said he’d get it back, everything would be all right... And then a year later, he went to another woman... but already forever.--- I thought I died...