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Stefania was the youngest daughter of Matvey Yegorych Patkin. Matvey already had six adult sons, and even grandchildren. And then came the “last one,” a girl… Nina Patkina didn’t realize right away that she was pregnant. She had thought she was past her prime as a woman when her period stopped coming, and she wasn’t … Read more

I was kicked out of the house at fifteen. Not with a suitcase and shouting like in the movies. Just one day my mother looked at me as if I were a stranger and said, “Ilyusha, it’s better this way. You don’t belong here.” I stood in our cramped kitchen, which smelled of borscht, her … Read more

Katya woke up on Sunday to the loud sound of someone furiously pressing a pin code on the door. Someone was banging on the buttons with such rage as if the ATM had refused to dispense their salary. She jumped up—in an old T-shirt, with a ponytail on top of her head and panda-like eyes … Read more

— Ninul, another croissant? — Kirill slid a plate with golden pastries toward her, the aroma filling the cozy kitchen with a feeling of home warmth. His voice was soft, almost tender, as if he were offering not just food, but a piece of his care. — No, thank you, dear, — Nina smiled gently, … Read more

Ivan stood near the subway exit, pressed against the wall to shield himself from the persistent autumn rain that had been lightly and insistently scratching at the skin and clothes of passersby for over an hour. The wind whistled between the buildings, tearing drops off umbrellas and throwing them straight into faces. The world around … Read more

Asya was never known for any outstanding abilities. From early childhood, she realized that nature had not favored her with good looks. Her grandmother, glancing at her granddaughter, would always sigh and say: “Ah, who did you take after? Probably your father.” “Grandma, what was my father like?” Asya asked. “How should I know, child? … Read more

Lera pressed herself tightly against the wall and tried to breathe as quietly as possible. The nurses were talking about her — who else could they speak about so loudly and without fear of being overheard? Naturally, someone who would never respond, never defend herself, never stand up for herself. “I heard some girl came … Read more

Svetlana was sobbing, burying her face in a pillow. Her heartbreaking gasps tore through the silence of the room. Aleksey couldn’t find peace — he nervously paced from corner to corner, trying to understand how something like this could even happen. “How can you lose a child?” he asked, trying to restrain his anger. “I … Read more

Claudia, as usual with the first rays of the sun, went out to the garden. There was no shortage of tasks: she needed to water the beds, weed the grass, check the chicken coop, and inspect the fruit trees — all of which required attention and time. And she had no helpers. No one nearby. … Read more

Natalya stood by the kitchen window, watching the summer yard where children were running between the swings, their screams coming through the open window sash. The heat had promised to be unbearable since the morning. The air conditioner was humming at full power, but the coolness did nothing to relieve the stuffy feeling that had … Read more