Irina stood by the window, staring blankly at the falling St. Petersburg snow. The phone conversation with her husband was coming to an end—a typical, unremarkable call, like the many they had over fifteen years of marriage. Yura was reporting on his “business trip” in Moscow: all was well, meetings were successful, he would return … Read more
Christina fell in love at first sight with a modest green house on the edge of the village. Very convenient location. A half-hour drive and you’re in the city. Of course, the house needs a lot of work. The yard and garden are overgrown with weeds. The roof needs replacing. Everything is very old and … Read more
The young man drove his car, not knowing the way. He was driving, as they say, into nowhere. Kirill’s only desire was to escape from home, or more precisely, from the society of his ex-wife. After the divorce, the couple continued to live in the jointly acquired apartment, unable to find acceptable options for exchanging … Read more
The school auditorium buzzed with children’s voices. Kostya sat in the farthest corner, fidgeting with the sleeve of his worn sweater—the only decent one he found in his closet. The elementary school’s autumn festival always attracted many parent volunteers, and today was no exception. Around him, the festive chaos reigned—mothers in autumn coats bustled back … Read more
This story touches each of us in one way or another, as it tells of dreams and plans, of difficulties and the crushing of hopes. But it also tells of how real people cope with life’s situations. Where they draw strength, and what keeps them from giving up. Pasha grew up in an orphanage, placed … Read more
Forest ranger Ivan quietly walked along the path, listening to the familiar sounds of the forest: the rustling of leaves, the crackling of branches under the paws of a hare, the cries of magpies. It was a cool autumn morning. Ivan was headed to the southern part of the reserve, where he had recently noticed … Read more
Yegor stood on the threshold of his grandmother’s old house. In his hands, he held an envelope with his savings accumulated over the past few years. He had been saving money for a new laptop for work and a trip abroad; he had always dreamed of spending at least a week on tropical islands. But … Read more
Liza passed through the station every day on her way to work. The usual route, familiar faces, the hustle of early morning. But Liza had long stopped paying attention to the bustle. Her gaze always lingered on the same bench. He sat there. A homeless dog, who for some reason had chosen that particular spot. … Read more
Natalya slammed the door loudly. From the morning, she had a premonition that the day would not go well. Her 19-year-old daughter, Lusya, recently brought home a kitten named Musya, who managed to create a mess right on the bathroom mat. It was hard for Natalya to scold her daughter for this, as Lusya was … Read more
Rita’s phone vibrated in her hand. The voice of an unfamiliar woman, quiet but clear, echoed in the background. Just a second ago, she was expecting to hear her husband’s usual voice, but now this strange whisper was there instead. “Where are you?” she wanted to scream, but Rita gripped the phone tighter, held her … Read more