It all started suddenly — my little daughter Lizochka got sick. She was only nine months old, and then suddenly her temperature shot up sharply, and she started vomiting and having diarrhea. I was in panic — I’m 23 years old, a young mom with almost no experience in such situations. And Sasha, my husband, … Read more
When Pasha was not even five years old, his world collapsed. His mother was gone. He stood in the corner of the room, stunned by confusion — what was happening? Why was the house filled with strangers? Who were they? Why was everyone so quiet, so strange, speaking in whispers and avoiding eye contact? The … Read more
— School? Seriously? — Valentina Sergeevna grimaced as if from a toothache. — Artyom could have found a more decent wife. I silently poured tea into the porcelain cups, trying not to spill. My hands trembled with anger, but I couldn’t show it to my mother-in-law. Three months of marriage had taught me one thing … Read more
— You decided to buy Mom an apartment? — Alisa looked at her husband with confusion. He was sitting at the kitchen table, wearing a somewhat guilty expression. Kolya nodded, avoiding her gaze. — Yes, I decided. She’s just a million short, and we’ve almost saved that much. — What do you mean, “decided”? — … Read more
Vika was waving a printout of bank transactions in front of her husband’s face. Andrey sat at the kitchen table, staring into his phone. He wore a wrinkled T-shirt with the logo of some long-forgotten rock band, and he clearly hadn’t slept well — shadows lay under his eyes, and his stubble grew uneven patches. … Read more
On the city streets, where the pavement was covered with a thick carpet of golden and crimson leaves, late autumn had settled. The air was clear and cool, with a slight fragility, as if it could shatter in your hands like glass. The sun no longer warmed as generously as in summer, but its rays … Read more
That evening I stayed in the kitchen longer than usual. Sergey was already asleep, but I couldn’t tear myself away from my phone — scrolling through the statement from our joint card. Something was wrong. “Seventy thousand… Another fifty… And here,” I muttered under my breath, taking a sip of cold tea. “What does this … Read more
Veronika Sergeyevna adjusted her strict jacket one last time in front of the mirror and frowned — everything had to be perfect. Then, as usual, she put on a mask of cold calmness behind which she habitually hid her true feelings. “It will do,” she thought, looking at her reflection. After fifteen years as the … Read more
In a small town where everyone was known at least by sight, the name Alexey sounded like a promise — a promise of life, a chance, salvation. His surname was synonymous with medical skill, a symbol of generations of doctors whose dedication to the profession knew no bounds. It was more than a tradition — … Read more
I noticed the folder by accident. Yesterday, Kolya brought another batch of papers — “work stuff, Val, nothing interesting.” Usually, I didn’t meddle with his documents. For thirty-two years of marriage, we had invisible but strong boundaries: the kitchen, cleaning, grandchildren — that was mine; bills, documents, property — that was his. But this morning, … Read more