You know, I’ve always dreamed of having my own place,” I said with a faint smile, looking at the keys he held in his hands. “And I’ve always had my own place,” he replied with that same smile, which now only caused me disgust. It was already 9:30 PM. I checked my phone again—no messages … Read more
Elena carefully stirred the sauce when the lady of the house peeked into the kitchen. Svetlana paused at the threshold, scanning the room with a critical eye, then grimaced in displeasure. “Why is it so stuffy here? You need to air out more often,” said Svetlana, adjusting her perfectly styled hair. “And this smell… What … Read more
Vera looked at Alexei in disbelief, unable to believe her ears. “Lyosha, don’t you understand that you’re making a huge mistake?” Alexei dismissed her, showing his impatience. “Let’s skip the drama. I’m just tired of your constant dissatisfaction. It’s the same thing every day. Milana is completely different. She’s like a breath of fresh air … Read more
What did you say?” Anna froze, feeling a chill inside. Sergey stood by the door, tightly clutching a bunch of keys. His normally lively face had frozen into a mask of irritation. “I can’t live like this anymore,” he repeated in a tone devoid of emotion. “Neither can I, nor mom. Pack up the kids … Read more
Jennifer always described her daughter Emma as a beacon of light, often dressed in vivid colors, creating vibrant drawings of magical creatures. Yet, a noticeable shift in Emma’s mood—her recent withdrawal, lack of appetite, and preference to be outdoors—prompted Jennifer to suspect something was amiss. Initially, she attributed these changes to typical childhood phases, but … Read more
Elvira didn’t like to remember that place, but the gray institutional walls of the orphanage, the dreary, dirty courtyard, and the worn swings and benches would never be forgotten. Like many children from the orphanage, she never knew her parents, and no one ever visited her. She was left at the gates as an infant, … Read more
Svetlana indifferently pushed the plate of borscht away from her, and in a careless, almost solemn tone, announced: “Svetlana, I am leaving you!” At these unexpected words, the 45-year-old woman dropped the cup from her hands, which shattered into pieces on the floor. Svetlana looked at her husband and realized from his serious expression … Read more
Semyon Markovich, an elderly but very well-groomed man known as a millionaire and owner of several firms and companies, sat in the police chief’s office with his head bowed, ready to sink through the floor. He was being reprimanded like a little boy! The police chief could no longer contain his emotions: “Dear Semyon Markovich! … Read more
Marina and Oleg had lived together for ten years. They had experienced so much during these years—a wedding, children, cozy family holidays, trips to the sea in an old car. Sometimes she was amazed at how quickly it all flew by, leaving no substantial traces on her soul. But if you looked a little deeper, … Read more
Again that smell. Cinnamon with vanilla. I check the cheesecake recipe for the hundredth time, although I know it by heart. My hands shake as I take the form out of the oven. Please, let it be perfect this time. — Masha, did you fall asleep there? — Andrei’s voice comes from the living room. … Read more