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Lena woke at six in the morning even though her alarm was set for seven. Her heart was racing, as if she weren’t simply preparing for her husband’s birthday, but about to sit an exam that could decide her whole life. Dima was turning thirty. Twenty guests were coming. And among them—Alla Viktorovna, her mother-in-law. … Read more

Alena found out about Sveta’s divorce—Sveta being her husband’s sister—through the family group chat. First came a message from her mother-in-law: “Girls, things are really hard for Svetochka right now. Let’s support her.” Then Sveta called in tears. Her voice trembled, her sentences broke apart mid-word. Andrey had left. Just packed his things and walked … Read more

I knew the day was about to go off the rails when Marina called me at three in the afternoon—four hours before the guests were due to arrive. “Ksyush… listen, don’t lose it, okay?” my sister began, using the exact voice people reserve for minor disasters. “Your mother-in-law found out about tonight.” I froze with … Read more

The Day Everything Started Falling Apart The first real warning sign hit in mid-March, when Oleg came home earlier than usual with a cardboard box in his hands. Marina could tell from his face right away—something they’d both secretly feared for months had finally happened. “Downsized,” he said curtly, dropping the box of his office … Read more

Lena Stood in Front of the Mirror… and Realized She Was Done Living Second Lena stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of her new blouse, smiling at the woman looking back at her. Thirty. Soon she’d be thirty, and it wouldn’t be just another birthday — it would be the celebration of … Read more

I didn’t read the bank alert until ten at night. I was already in bed with my tablet, flipping through work messages, and I must’ve missed the notification when it first came in. But now it was right there on the screen: **“Card transaction **3847: 42,000 rubles. ‘Diamond’ Jewelry.” I read it three times. Forty-two … Read more

Lera was sitting on the floor in a small room, shifting baby clothes from one box to another. The eighth month of pregnancy was making itself felt—her back ached, her legs were swollen, but she didn’t want to stop what she’d started. Tiny onesies with little bunnies, soft diapers, rattles—everything lay scattered around, waiting for … Read more

Lera was sitting on the floor in a small room, shifting baby clothes from one box to another. The eighth month of pregnancy was making itself felt—her back ached, her legs were swollen, but she didn’t want to stop what she’d started. Tiny onesies with little bunnies, soft diapers, rattles—everything lay scattered around, waiting for … Read more

Irina stood in the middle of the empty living room and slowly turned in place, taking in the room. The light of the autumn sun streamed through the windows, which still had no curtains, illuminating the freshly painted walls. An apartment. Her own apartment. The one she had been working toward for five years. The … Read more

October rain drummed against the windows of her parents’ apartment. Kristina sat at the table in the living room, nervously fiddling with the edge of a napkin. Pavel perched beside her, absentmindedly scrolling through his phone. Across from them sat her parents—Nikolai Petrovich and Valentina Ivanovna. Both looked solemn, even a little excited. The young … Read more