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
Varya stopped her car near a familiar house and looked at her watch. She was thirty minutes early for her appointment—she had arrived too early. «No problem,» she thought, «My mother-in-law is always happy to see me.» She adjusted her hairstyle in the rearview mirror and got out of the car, holding a box with … Read more
That morning, everything was as usual. I was the first to arrive at the office, turned on the computers, brewed coffee for my colleagues—just as I had done for the last ten years. An office manager is almost like the mother of a big corporate family. At least, that’s always what I believed. The monitor … Read more
Sorry for coming so late, but we have nowhere else to go. -This is your home now too,» said his wife’s best friend, blushing, holding her son in her arms, and confidently stepping in. The husband shamefully lowered his eyes. Svetlana was holding her little son, dragging a big suitcase into the hallway. «Of course, … Read more
Darling, maybe we could skip going to the dacha this weekend?» I suggested, hoping for a positive answer. «I can’t, dear,» he replied without even looking up from his laptop. «You know how much work I have.» And so I went alone. I got on the commuter train and settled by the window. I don’t … Read more