My mother was the chief engineer of my existence, the quiet drafter of every blueprint I ever followed. When my father vanished from our lives—leaving behind a six-year-old boy and a woman suddenly carrying the weight of a collapsing world—she became everything celestial to me: sun for warmth, moon for tide, constellations to steer … Read more
All our relatives are coming to stay with us for the summer!” Sergey announced happily, bursting into the kitchen with his phone in his hand. I froze with my half-finished cup of coffee. My first thought was, “He’s joking.” The second: “God, anything but this.” “What relatives exactly?” I asked cautiously, hoping he meant … Read more
Tatyana was wiping dust off the chest of drawers in the living room when she heard the familiar sound of keys in the lock. Her husband had come home from work an hour earlier than usual, and that could mean only one thing—more news about his sister Marina. “Tanechka,” Igor called from the hallway, … Read more
Anna lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart. Just a few minutes ago she had gone through one of the most frightening moments of her life — a confrontation with her own husband Alexander and his mother, Olga Petrovna. Their little daughter Sonya was sleeping peacefully in … Read more
“Andrew, please bring me some water…” Marina’s voice sounded чужим—dry and brittle, like last year’s leaves. It barely pushed through the cottony blanket that had covered her completely. Her body had turned into one solid, aching clot of pain. Everything throbbed—from her fingertips to the roots of her hair. Her skin burned, but underneath … Read more
— Yesterday I saw it myself: your “poor” mom was striding cheerfully down the alley with her friend, laughing her head off. And today—on my birthday—she’s suddenly at death’s door? How convenient! Larisa was a Scorpio. Not just by horoscope, but by her very nature—prickly, closed-off, unable to tolerate hypocrisy and lies. She was already … Read more
“Don’t Like My Celebration? The Door’s Open—I’m Not Keeping You Here,” Vera Said Calmly To Her Mother-In-Law. 28.12.2025admin — “Varvara Nikitichna, I’ve got everything ready, really. You don’t need to bring anything.” Vera pinned the phone between her shoulder and ear and kept slicing cucumbers for the salad. It was eleven in the morning; there … Read more
— The potatoes turned out especially good today. Just like in childhood,” Stas said, spearing a golden slice with his fork and popping it into his mouth with relish, his eyes closing in satisfaction. “And these cutlets of yours… pure magic.” Lena smiled—not the tired, automatic smile after a long workday, but a genuinely warm … Read more
— “Why Did You Transfer Fifty Thousand To My Mom? I Asked You Not To Do That!” Tatiana Stood In The Entryway, Clutching A Bank Statement In Her Hand 31.12.2025admin “Why did you transfer fifty thousand to my mother? I asked you not to do that!” Tatiana stood in the middle of the entryway, clutching … Read more
Okay then: the apartment is mine, the dacha outside Moscow is yours, the car is mine,” Andrey said, running his pen over the sheet without looking up. “You’ll get half of the bank deposit and my mother’s jewelry.” I stared at the man I’d lived with for twenty-six years. And I thought about how … Read more