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— “And why are you coming to me, not to your daughter — the one you registered the apartment for?!” I said, looking at my parents.

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Irina grew up a quiet child. She did well in school, but her parents rarely came to meetings. Yet at her younger sister Olga’s performances, they were always in the front row, filming and applauding louder than anyone. “Olga is our talented one,” their mother would say whenever Irina brought home another top grade. “And … Read more

Yes, the house is mine now, but I’m not going to sell it,” I told my mother-in-law when she once again tried to interfere in the discussion of my inheritance.

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— No one’s asking you, Zhenya, — said Irina Alekseevna, sitting at the kitchen table in the city apartment. — It isn’t reasonable to cling to that kind of property. A hundred kilometers from the city! Think about it yourself—what’s the point? Evgeniya set the plate on the table with a bit more force than … Read more

We’re not getting divorced. I’ll just move my new girlfriend and her child in here. There’s enough room in our house for everyone,” her husband said firmly.

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Their home was like a large, quiet, well-oiled machine. Twenty years of marriage. The children had grown up and moved out. At forty-five, Irina finally felt she could exhale. She worked as an art historian and had her own small gallery. Her husband, Oleg, was a successful business consultant. Their huge country house, which they … Read more

I was fired from my job because I gave first aid to a homeless, dirty man, but a few days later I learned something unexpected

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I was fired from my job for giving first aid to a homeless and filthy man, but a few days later I learned something unexpected. I had worked as a nurse at the city hospital for many years. Every day—dozens of patients, protocols, instructions, strict rules. It seemed I knew everything and always kept my … Read more

“For ten years I raised my son without a father—the whole town laughed at me, until one day luxury cars stopped in front of our house, and the boy’s real father moved everyone to tears.”

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It was a hot day in the village. I—Han—was squatting, gathering dry twigs to start a fire. My ten-year-old son stood on the threshold, looking at me with innocent eyes. “Mom, why don’t I have a dad like the others?” I couldn’t answer. Ten years had passed, and I still hadn’t found the words for … Read more

— “How can you sink so low? Aren’t you ashamed, dear? Your arms and legs work—why don’t you get a job?” people would say to the beggar woman with a child.

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Tamara Ivanovna walked slowly along the aisles of the huge supermarket, studying shelves lined with colorful packages. She came here every day, as if to work. She didn’t need many groceries—she didn’t have a big family to feed. So every evening the elderly woman fled her loneliness into the brightly lit trading hall. In the … Read more

Tired of Being Convenient The envelope with the invitation lay on the table. Snow-white, with gold scrollwork, it seemed to mock the woman who was afraid to open it.

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Tired of Being Convenient The envelope with the invitation lay on the table. Snow-white, with golden flourishes, it seemed to mock the woman who was afraid to open it. Tamara Ivanovna ran her finger over its smooth surface. She knew—inside was a text that would hurt. Her daughter was getting married, and the mother was … Read more

After her husband’s death, she finally dared to open his safe—the one that had always been locked. The moment the door gave way, the woman barely stifled a scream.

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The memorial gathering was over. The guests who had come to say their goodbyes gradually went home. The neighbors, together with Marina’s mother, put everything in order: they cleared the table, wiped the floor, took out the leftover food. The house grew quiet again. Only Marina remained where she was—motionless, as if frozen in time. … Read more

— “My milestone birthday is in a month, and I don’t want that shrew anywhere near me!” the mother barked. “The last thing I need is to see her ugly mug on my special day

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Recently, Vasily, a successful businessman, and Maria, a talented designer, got married. All of the groom’s relatives, except for his mother, welcomed the new daughter-in-law warmly. Olga Nikolaevna was known for her strictness and high standards in everything—from household comfort to family relationships. Maria, despite her many virtues, simply couldn’t meet her mother-in-law’s expectations for … Read more

— ‘Sweetheart, we’ve decided to sell your car—your brother’s in trouble, and you can walk for a while,’ but the parents did not expect how their daughter would answer.”

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Anna stood by the window of her apartment, watching the rain turn the October evening into a blurred watercolor. Thirty is an age when you no longer expect miracles, but still remember what they’re supposed to be like. She worked at a consulting firm, earned good money, rented a spacious apartment in a respectable neighborhood. … Read more