“Guess what?” Marina gripped the gift bag so tightly the plastic emitted a pitiful crinkle. “You… you just…” “Is there a problem?” Andrey barely glanced up from his laptop, his screen alive with graphs and data. “Problem?!” She flung the bag onto the sofa. “Your mom appeared yesterday wearing a mink coat worth two hundred … Read more
“Nina, what’s the reason for all this?” Nina Grigorievna settled beside her husband, exhaling deeply. “Kolya, to be honest, I’m not sure myself. Everything seems fine, but I just can’t trust him, I doubt his sincerity. Clearly, Katya is smitten and blind to any faults.” “I get it. I have reservations too. Guess it’s just … Read more
Nastya hated Mondays, especially ones like today—when the printer jammed an important report, the coffee machine decided to strike, and her boss nitpicked every comma. “A typical day in the life of typical office plankton,” she thought, inserting the key into her apartment lock. “Why wasn’t I born a millionaire?” Nastya muttered, kicking off her … Read more
Alexey looked around again. He was terribly worried that someone would notice him getting back into the shabby suburban bus. Now his surroundings were completely different: acquaintances might snicker if they found out he was from the backwoods where his mother lived, whom he visited from time to time. It would undoubtedly be calmer if … Read more
In the nineties, Grigory organized a construction company and gradually gained momentum. Soon, he succeeded. He built high-rise residential buildings and private houses in cottage settlements. He even built himself a three-story house. His wife, Galina, was thrilled after moving into the prestigious home. She had long forgotten about the Soviet times when she worked … Read more
The morning chaos at Anna’s house began as usual—with shouting and stomping upstairs. “Sonya, you took my nail polish again!” shouted the younger daughter. “Ksusha, it’s actually my polish. Look at the date—I bought it last month!” “Girls,” Anna smiled, stirring her coffee, “you have a whole makeup bag of those polishes. Can’t you just … Read more
Anna stood by the window, holding her son who had just begun to recognize her face. The tough day was ending, and the evening light barely made it through the curtains. The house was nearly empty: an old sofa, a worn nightstand, and a baby crib bought with the last of her money. Her husband … Read more
Friends and colleagues condemned me, calling my actions abnormal, but I didn’t care. To me, those who harm animals aren’t human at all. How can you betray your friends? And my dog, my beloved Plushka, is my dearest friend, and I wouldn’t trade her for anything. Plushka is a beautiful little ginger Spitz, adored by … Read more
Alice’s longing for her grandfather’s presence was overwhelming. Despite the jovial atmosphere, her heart wasn’t in the celebration. She excused herself from the table, retreating to her room to think. Upstairs, in the quiet of her space, she pulled out a small box from under her bed—her savings box. It was filled with coins … Read more
Jennifer always described her daughter Emma as a beacon of light, often dressed in vivid colors, creating vibrant drawings of magical creatures. Yet, a noticeable shift in Emma’s mood—her recent withdrawal, lack of appetite, and preference to be outdoors—prompted Jennifer to suspect something was amiss. Initially, she attributed these changes to typical childhood phases, but … Read more