Wrinkled fingers of Lidia clenched the cup of cooled tea. Thirty-two years of marriage, three thousand dinners together, endless washing of his shirts — and now she sat alone in their kitchen, where every inch was soaked with shared memories. “I don’t understand, Vitya,” her voice trembled like a string. “You’re just… leaving?” Victor methodically … Read more
Tamara looked at Valentin Konstantinovich and was once again convinced: her attitude toward him had remained the same — not changed even slightly. And he, as always, met her with the same piercing, full of hostility gaze. Once, a long time ago, before she foolishly got involved in that situation and ended up behind bars, … Read more
Autumn came to the Moscow suburbs slowly, without any solemn announcements—like a person who has long lived in the house but prefers to remain unnoticed, sitting quietly in a corner. The streets of Sergiev Posad were filled with the smell of wet earth, fallen leaves, and smoke from bonfires where the local elders seemed to … Read more
Nikita was trying his hardest to be someone he wasn’t. He knew that sooner or later, Yulia would find out the truth: he lived in the countryside, in difficult conditions, in a rundown apartment, and worked as a security guard. But he kept postponing the confession, continuing to play the role of a wealthy man. … Read more
For a long time, I was deceiving myself. Pretending that everything in my life was as usual — the same routine, no changes, that it was all just a bad dream. I couldn’t believe that Sergey really cheated on me. And not just casually, on the side, but seriously — he was seeing her! That … Read more
The room was narrow, with peeling wallpaper in tiny flowers. It smelled of old irons and cats from the hallway. Marina sat at the very edge of the bed, untying her shoelaces—her legs ached after a long workday. Today, a husky with a stab wound was brought to the clinic. The guys from the neighboring … Read more
— Did you spend the whole salary again? — Ivan paced the room, waving the bills. — How are we supposed to pay for the gas now? Darya lifted her head, her tired eyes flashing with indignation. — Spend it? On groceries! And where is your salary? Oh, sorry, you haven’t had one for over … Read more
Tanya was looking out at the yard. Yesterday, grandmother Alexandra Dmitrievna was still sitting there under the old cherry tree in her favorite wicker chair. She watched the blooming peonies, squinting in the sun and smiling with the wrinkles around her eyes. But today — gray clouds and silence, chilling to the bone. Only the … Read more
Maria wearily sank into the kitchen chair. The coffee had long since gone cold, but she didn’t even touch the cup — she was lost again in thoughts about yesterday’s conversation with her mother-in-law. “You have no idea how tired I am of all those hints!” Maria sighed, looking at her husband. “Your mother starts … Read more
Elena wearily set the grocery bags down on the table. Another long shift, another dinner after nine in the evening. She hadn’t even finished unpacking the groceries when the doorbell rang. Nina Borisovna was standing on the doorstep, her thin lips pressed together. “They raised the rent again!” the mother-in-law blurted out instead of a … Read more