The stair landing greeted Andrei with its usual silence. After a three-day business trip that had completely worn him out, all he wanted was to collapse into bed and sleep for twelve hours straight. However, as he took out his keys, he suddenly froze: music was coming from the apartment. That was strange—Olya never played … Read more
Lera locked the car, and she and her husband hurried to the office entrance. Rain poured down from the sky, turning the street into streams of water. Colleagues who arrived a bit later were stuck at the parking lot, not daring to step out into the cold rain. They helplessly glanced at their watches—the workday … Read more
Moving to a new school is always stressful for a student, as it requires adapting to an unfamiliar environment, which isn’t always ready to welcome you with open arms. This step becomes even more challenging when it happens in the upper grades. For an outgoing and confident teenager, it might not seem like a big … Read more
Without me, you are nothing, Anna. Remember this well,” Igor threw the last of his clothes into the suitcase and sharply zipped it closed. His words sliced through the semi-darkness of the apartment like a cold blade. Anna stood in the doorway, clenching her fists until they hurt. She was silent, not out of fear, … Read more
Grandpa, why are you heading to the junk dealers again? You should stay home, they only sell old antiques there.” “Ah, Sasha, you don’t understand the meaning,” Ivan Petrovich, adjusting his old beret, looked fondly at his grandson. “For me, it’s not just a place of trade, but a gallery of memories. Each item here … Read more
What did you say?” Anna froze, feeling a chill inside. Sergey stood by the door, tightly clutching a bunch of keys. His normally lively face had frozen into a mask of irritation. “I can’t live like this anymore,” he repeated in a tone devoid of emotion. “Neither can I, nor mom. Pack up the kids … Read more
Marina unlocked the apartment door, entered, and turned on the light in the hallway. The first thing that caught her eye was a pair of red women’s shoes in the hallway. She recognized them instantly; they were shoes… At work that morning, Marina felt ill. She experienced sudden nausea and dizziness. She had been feeling … Read more
Anna Igorevna, Ilya Petrovich is here. Shall I let him in?” asked the secretary, Liza, peeking into the office. The woman in the strict business suit briefly looked up from her documents and nodded tiredly: “Yes, of course, let him in, and Liza, could you bring us some coffee, please?” A few seconds after Liza … Read more
How dare you speak like that, Galina Evgenievna?” the voice quivered, betraying agitation. “Tanya, please explain, why such a tone?” “Mom, what tone do you think should it be? I’m not vacationing on some azure shore; I’m working day and night to achieve something! And you? Where have you been all these years?” “No need … Read more
Vera looked at Alexei in disbelief, unable to believe her ears. “Lyosha, don’t you understand that you’re making a huge mistake?” Alexei dismissed her, showing his impatience. “Let’s skip the drama. I’m just tired of your constant dissatisfaction. It’s the same thing every day. Milana is completely different. She’s like a breath of fresh air … Read more