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— What did you bring? — Lidiya Ivanovna looked at the package of cottage cheese with disgust. — Olga, can’t you buy a decent one? — Decent? — Olga put the bags on the table. — This is the nine-percent one, just as you asked. — I asked for the fat-free! — her mother-in-law’s voice … Read more

Jingling keys in the lock, Margarita opened the apartment door. Voices came from the kitchen, and the familiar smell of borscht filled the hallway. Her heart started beating faster, and her teeth clenched involuntarily. Again. Viktoria Pavlovna had appeared in her home without warning. “Olezhka, what kind of pilaf is she making you? That’s not … Read more

“Have you not heard?” Her voice trembled, as if something inside it was cracking. “What exactly?” I asked, already holding the handle of the front door with one hand. The bag with medicines almost slipped from my fingers. Lidiya Pavlovna, 84 years old, a widow with eyes full of lived years and unspoken sorrows, stood … Read more

For Nina Petrovna, her son’s wedding was supposed to be one of the brightest days of her life. But just hours before the celebration began, she heard words that seemed to tear everything apart inside her: — Who is she anyway? A homeless woman… The mother of my bride… What a disgrace. These words were … Read more

Tamara Petrovna was carefully wiping an old porcelain cup — a gift from her late husband. Every movement, every swipe of the cloth was like a ritual. The house smelled of pies, and that familiar aroma seemed to confirm: everything here was hers, everything rightfully belonged to her. Sixty-seven years of life, forty of them … Read more

Lena loved the morning. She would get up early, make herself a strong coffee, and open her laptop to start working on another article. In those moments, she felt confident, in control of every detail of her life. But with each passing day, that feeling of control slipped away. Artyom had changed a long time … Read more

Konstantin sat stunned, unable to grasp how he’d gotten himself into such a mess that now he couldn’t tell his head from his tail. Although, to be honest, he’d brought it on himself. He knew Rimma was married, but hadn’t given it much thought — he didn’t care. More than that, it was convenient: fewer … Read more

Marina woke up to noise from above — someone was moving furniture too vigorously. A dog started barking again behind the wall, and the March wind began to tap on the window as if on purpose. She lay there for a long time, hoping this day wouldn’t start. The hallway was cool. She threw on … Read more

Olga Petrovna was sitting at a table in a café, waiting for her long-time friend. As usual, her friend was late, and Olga, bored, was observing the other visitors. Her gaze wandered around the room, and she tensed up: her son, Anton, had entered the café, unaware of anyone around him. He was escorting some … Read more

Tatiana woke up at 6:45 — as always, to the alarm. Monday. The kitchen smelled of oatmeal — grandma was already up. Life was going on as usual: ninth grade, lessons, homework, rare meetings with friends. It seemed like everything was as it should be. But in reality, it was a little different. Since childhood, … Read more