The café smelled of cinnamon, caramelized milk, and something sweetly unsettling, as if the air carried the fresh tension of an autumn storm. Darya sat by the window, holding her cup close, as if hoping the coffee would not only invigorate her but also help her “come down to earth” a little, distract her from … Read more
When Artyom was given a new bus, his heart froze with joy — it felt as if they handed him the key not just to a vehicle, but to a new life. One without the grinding of the old gearbox, the smell of diesel in the cabin, and the constant fear that the suspension would … Read more
Andrey frowned as he heard his mother’s hoarse voice over the phone. “Mom, why are you breathing so hard?” “I just caught a little cold, son. I’ve been coughing for a week — it just won’t let up.” “Then go see a doctor! At your age, you can’t take colds lightly.” “I did. The doctor … Read more
I was sitting in the kitchen, staring into an empty cup. Outside, the rain poured relentlessly, and inside me grew a heavy emptiness. Andrey and I had argued again. He slammed the door and left, leaving me alone in the house of his parents. I felt like an unwanted guest, crushed, lost. “Are you okay?” … Read more
Darina had been working as an emergency medical doctor for several years. Sometimes she thought she couldn’t handle the pressure — the workload was enormous. But quitting the profession was impossible: the city was desperately short of qualified doctors. Getting into a private clinic was almost unrealistic, and switching to a local therapist position meant … Read more
They shoved Yulia into the car so skillfully that she didn’t even have time to squeak. And she never thought something like this could happen in our time. Yulia worked at a sanatorium, and she had to take the electric train to get there. The commute was exhausting, but the pay was decent, and the … Read more
— If you don’t take your son to his father tomorrow, I will throw both of you out of the house! I don’t want to deal with your snot and tears at night! Do you understand me? The words struck Veronika like a slap, stinging her cheeks more painfully than a smack. She was sitting … Read more
— Irina, we are getting a divorce. Please be kind enough to move out by tomorrow. — What? Anton, did I hear you right? Divorce? — Yes. — And why should I move out of my own apartment? — Your own? You’re mistaken, baby. Here are the documents. Look: the sole owner is me. Irina’s … Read more
— Sveta, here’s the thing. Mom needs help: the balcony windows have to be washed — she can’t manage it herself anymore. And groceries need to be bought for the week, the list is quite long. Can you go today? Kirill entered the kitchen wearing casual sweatpants and a crumpled T-shirt, radiating that relaxed weekend … Read more
“Oleg, finally! What air, huh! Do you hear how the nightingales are singing somewhere? It’s like some kind of paradise… I can already imagine: we’ll light the grill, the meat in the trunk has been marinating for a long time — the barbecue will be excellent!” Lena jumped out of the car even before the … Read more