Varya stopped her car near a familiar house and looked at her watch. Thirty minutes early—she had arrived too soon. “No big deal,” she thought, “My mother-in-law is always happy to see me.” She adjusted her hair in the rearview mirror and stepped out of the car, holding a box with a cake. It … Read more
Anya sighed as she exited the office building. Today was nothing but stress. Did he really need those reports right now? She could have gotten everything done tomorrow. The day at work had been stressful, so she decided to stop by her usual café. She was already looking forward to having a Greek salad and … Read more
Maria was sitting in the kitchen in front of her laptop, checking work reports, when Yegor emerged from the room with a cup of coffee. Their evenings had become almost identical: work until late, a few words to each other, a little TV, and then work again. With each passing day, Maria felt her … Read more
Len, I’m heading out, I’ll be late! Don’t wait up if you’re going to bed!” Ivan shouted from the hallway to his wife. “Stop!” Lena shouted back. She emerged from the bathroom with a towel on her head. “Why are you going to be late today? Did they change the work schedule at the office? … Read more
Alina sat in the kitchen, feverishly gulping down bitter, long-cold, and tasteless coffee, quietly crying. The children slept soundly in their beds, dreaming interesting dreams and sniffling with their little noses, while she just couldn’t fall asleep. Everything that had happened had so drained her that tears simply rolled down non-stop, from despair and hopelessness. … Read more
There are always differences between the rich and the poor, the kind and the evil, the educated and the uneducated. All this becomes irrelevant when a person enters the emergency room. Ambulance services are open to everyone. Everyone there is simply a patient. Yet, even here, some manage to secure better conditions for themselves. Lev … Read more
Rita’s phone vibrated in her hand. The voice of an unfamiliar woman, quiet but clear, echoed in the background. Just a second ago, she was expecting to hear her husband’s usual voice, but now this strange whisper was there instead. “Where are you?” she wanted to scream, but Rita gripped the phone tighter, held her … Read more
Nazim’s bakery was renowned throughout the region and always enjoyed high demand from customers. Both adults and children loved the tasty baked goods. For his little culinary fans, Nazim always had a discount in place, bringing a smile and gratitude from their parents. Nazim, along with his family, came to Russia many years ago when, … Read more
— Are you out of your mind? I said I wanted us—a blanket, the fireplace, and silence. What the hell are Viktor and Larisa doing in our New Year’s? — Alice, don’t blow up. They called when they were already on the road. Total emergency—a pipe burst, their place got flooded with boiling water! What … Read more
Part 1. The Entryway and Living Room A thick, sickly-sweet cloud of someone else’s perfume lingered in the air—like overripe fruit left baking in the sun. Polina stopped in the doorway without even taking off her coat and slowly let her eyes drop to the floor. Where her shoe rack usually stood, with her pumps … Read more