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“Sveta, are you home?” came the familiar Saturday morning phrase. “What is this? Again?” Svetlana reacted irritably, while tending to her beloved flowers in the yard. It was a scorching July. For several days the daytime temperature had hovered around 40°C, so one could only work in the garden either late in the evening or … Read more
The white dress flowed over Maria’s figure in waves of expensive silk. She stood in front of the mirror, unable to believe her happiness. Today she was marrying Ivan. The very same Vanya who, three years ago, had literally saved her from loneliness. “Mashenka, are you ready?” her mother peeked into the room, her eyes … Read more
I closed the last little cake box with cling film. Candles, gifts, congratulations—all behind me now. My sixtieth birthday had been a great success! The guests had already left, and only Marina—my friend since our student years—stayed to help with the cleanup. “Sveta, don’t touch the dishes,” Marina took the plate out of my hands. … Read more
Larisa had always considered herself a calculating and cold-blooded person. The orphanage had taught her a harsh truth: rely only on yourself. She had a clear life route — like a project measured down to the millimeter. First, a teacher training college, then a job — modest, but reliable. And later — marriage. Not on … Read more
The phone rang just as Ella was lifting her noise-cancelling headphones off her ears — shrill, piercing, like someone had flung open a window into silence. “Hi, Ellochka,” Vera’s voice sounded overly bright, the kind of cheerfulness that always came wrapped around something unpleasant. “So, Mom and I were talking… You know about Dad’s anniversary. … Read more
Outside the windows, garlands glowed with warm light, their reflections trembling in the glass where Christmas trees sparkled faintly. From inside came the muffled strains of holiday melodies. Beyond those walls, however, ruled a different world—a white, breathless silence. Snow tumbled down in heavy flakes, as though an unseen hand endlessly poured it from the … Read more
The phone rang so suddenly that I almost knocked over my cup of instant coffee. Seven in the morning! Who on earth would call at such an hour? An unfamiliar number flashed on the screen. “Hello,” my voice sounded hoarse after a sleepless night spent on translations. “Anna Sergeevna? This is Igor Vladimirovich Sokolov, a … Read more
Olga pressed “end call” and stared blankly at her phone. The same thing again. Third day in a row. “Hi, Mom! We’re at Grandma Galya’s! It’s so cool here! She made pies! When are you coming?” In the background, her mother-in-law’s voice always chimed in: “Alisochka, tell Mommy that we love you! That we’re taking … Read more
“I call him ‘Morel.’ I can’t stand old people! Useless people. Why are they even around?” Nika laughed. “Especially this one, he’s so disgusting! Whenever I walk Dior, I always run into his mug in the window. Sits there with his pipe, reading his newspaper. A mammoth! In this day and age! He probably hasn’t … Read more
Larisa Pavlovna stood in front of the mirror in the hallway, adjusting the collar of her snow-white blouse. Behind her sounded her husband’s familiar voice: “You’ve got those shows on again? Lara, how much longer? Twenty years of the same thing—kitchen, TV, kitchen, TV.” She didn’t turn around. On the screen, a French pastry chef … Read more