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You’re talentless,» he threw the words in front of everyone. It was then that I realized for the first time: talent is not only a gift but also a courage—a courage to remain oneself when others try to break you. Anna cautiously ran a rag over the surface of the old grand piano, recently moved … Read more

With numbers like these, it’s surprising you were hired for this position at all,» Natalya Andreyevna said with thinly veiled contempt, handing the folder back to me. «It’s astonishing how some people manage to move up the ladder with no real experience.» A chill ran down my spine, but I kept my face impassive. That … Read more

The sixth month isn’t exactly the ideal time for cozy family get‑togethers with your husband’s relatives—especially when most of them never warmed up to you. Vera knew this, yet she agreed anyway. Anton had just come back from a two‑week business trip, and her mother‑in‑law, Regina Mikhailovna, insisted on a “small family dinner.” “Come on,” … Read more

Yeseniya worked as an accountant in a modest construction firm. A nondescript office building on the outskirts of the capital. An average income. A routine life. Yet deep inside, she always held a cherished goal — to launch her own business. In the evenings, like many of her colleagues, she studied financial management software, devoured … Read more

Four rooms, a bright kitchen, and a living-room the size of a dance floor—Sasha led Alena through the new flat like a tour guide showing off a museum of his own achievements. “Look at the scale of it all!” he swept his arm across the living-room. “Now every relative can fit in—and we’ll still have … Read more

Oleg slammed the refrigerator door so hard that the contents on the shelves inside trembled. One of the magnets decorating its surface fell to the floor with a dull thud. Lena stood opposite him, pale, with tightly clenched fists. «Well, do you feel better now?» she exhaled sharply, tilting her chin up. «You just drive … Read more

The phone rang with a long, nerve-wracking trill, filling the hallway with a buzz. Holding the phone to her ear, Varya focused intently on her shopping list. She wiped the raindrops from her face with the sleeve of her sweater, and with a small smile at something in the conversation, she stepped toward the door. … Read more

— Mom called. She’s complaining about life again. She’s really tired of my brother’s family. — Igor said, washing the dishes. — Well, everyone gets what they deserve, right? — I replied, packing food for my husband to take to work.   — I’m just so tired of hearing about how noisy the kids are, … Read more

You know, I always dreamed of having my own place,” I said with a slight smirk, looking at the keys he was holding. “And I’ve always had my own place,” he replied with that same smile, which now only filled me with disgust. It was already 9:30 p.m. I checked my phone again—no messages from … Read more

Autumn winds chased fallen leaves along the paths, creating whimsical little whirlwinds. Victoria stood by the window, gazing pensively at her neglected garden. Over the past few years, it had turned into a real tangle of shrubs and tall grass—something between a wild forest and an abandoned lot. “Something has to be done,” she whispered, … Read more