Gennady was born in a tiny village and had only visited a big city once in his life. It happened when their class was taken on a field trip to a museum. It was then that the noise of the streets, the endless flow of cars, and the majestic buildings struck a chord in his … Read more
Alina froze at the traffic light, nervously tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. With her left hand, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and glanced in the rearview mirror—her appearance was impeccable: perfect lipstick, the flawless style of a successful businesswoman. She was late for a meeting again—for the third … Read more
For her fiftieth birthday, Elena decided to organize an unforgettable celebration. She sent invitations to relatives, friends, and… her ex-husband, Sergey Vasilyevich. In the personal note, she added a provocative line: “Come with your current wife, if you wish.” Her friend Galina nearly choked on her coffee when she heard about it. “Have you lost … Read more
— Doctor, please be straight with me! — Irina’s voice trembled, and her fingers gripped the edge of the desk so tightly her knuckles turned white. — I can’t wait any longer! The man behind the desk slowly lifted his head. The desk-lamp’s light flashed across his glasses, masking his eyes. He put down his … Read more
Old Pyotr found himself on the street, cast out by his own son and daughter-in-law from the house he had once built with his own hands. His beard was crusted with frost, and his fingers had grown numb from the biting cold when something warm suddenly touched his face… Ivan sat on a snow-covered bench … Read more
Get out,” Tatiana Petrovna said, pressing her lips together, then spat after me. “If you leave now with the children, I won’t take you back,” Tatiana Petrovna shrieked. “Just so you know: I’ll leave the apartment to an animal shelter!” “Do whatever you want,” I replied wearily. “But we won’t stay here another second.” My … Read more
Tanya stepped out of the metro and immediately realized she was dressed too lightly. She shivered from the cold wind, hugged herself, and ran into the warm shopping mall. “I guess it’s time to start wearing my down jacket,” she thought. Inside the mall, Tanya headed to the café area and bought herself a coffee … Read more
Misha, look!” I froze at the gate, unable to believe my eyes. My husband clumsily stepped over the threshold, hunched under the weight of a bucket filled with fish. The morning chill of July seeped into my bones, but what I saw on the bench made me forget the cold. “What is it?” Mikhail set … Read more
Sitting on a bench outside the shop, I was mindlessly scrolling through my phone, paying no attention to the bustle around me. People hurried past—some talking on their phones, others simply going about their business. I would probably have stayed indifferent if I hadn’t heard a child’s voice—thin, weary, yet astonishingly serious. “Auntie, do you … Read more
You’re loafing around on your day off anyway—go work my shift for me. It’s only one day,” her husband grumbled, finishing his dinner as if nothing were wrong and shamelessly dumping yet another burden on the woman who already carried the whole family on her shoulders. Viktoriya Semyonovna was a strong woman—one of those people … Read more