Vanya woke up earlier than usual. The room was dark and cool, the cold draught coming from the window. He pulled the blanket up to his chin and closed his eyes for a moment, but sleep did not return. Outside, it was November—gray and chilly. The streets of the village were deserted, and it seemed … Read more
Mom called again, worried about how you take care of me,” sighed my husband. “As if you were five years old,” I replied. “Tell her you’re thirty-two and you don’t need a sweater.” Borya gave a strained smile and dropped the conversation. My mother-in-law, Alevtina Nikolaevna, was one of those women who dedicated her life … Read more
Nazim’s bakery was renowned throughout the region and always enjoyed high demand from customers. Both adults and children loved the tasty baked goods. For his little culinary fans, Nazim always had a discount in place, bringing a smile and gratitude from their parents. Nazim, along with his family, came to Russia many years ago when, … Read more
Mash, don’t forget to lock the door,” Mom said tiredly, rising from the table. “Mom, how many times? Are you going to remind me for the rest of your life?” fifteen-year-old Masha replied, feeling hurt. “Not for life, but as long as grandma lives with us. If she goes outside, she will get lost and…” … Read more
Marina Sergeyevna noticed that Sashka stopped attending classes in mid-November. Initially, she thought the boy was just sick—autumn, viruses, nothing unusual. But a week passed, then another, and he was still absent. During breaks, she caught herself waiting for Sashka to enter the class, sit at his desk by the window, and pull out his … Read more
It was a frosty morning, the sky had not yet fully warmed up, and the road was already covered with a thin layer of frost that shimmered as if it had just been dusted with powdered sugar. There was something special in the air, a light crystalline freshness that made you want to breathe deeply … Read more
Mikhail woke up in horror, with cold sweat streaming down his face. The same cursed dream again. It used to be rare, but now it was a constant companion of his nights. Getting out of bed, Mikhail, as always, headed to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water, trying to calm the trembling … Read more
Nina was tired and leaned back in her chair. It was unclear whether her head or back hurt more. There was a gentle knock on the office door. “Nina Sergeyevna, may I come in?” The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Rita, why aren’t you home yet?” The girl smiled sheepishly: “I can’t just leave … Read more
There are always differences between the rich and the poor, the kind and the evil, the educated and the uneducated. All this becomes irrelevant when a person enters the emergency room. Ambulance services are open to everyone. Everyone there is simply a patient. Yet, even here, some manage to secure better conditions for themselves. Lev … Read more
— “You know I don’t need you hanging around here,” Maxim told his wife. “So I suggest you move to the village.” — “What village, Maxim? What are you talking about?” Tamara didn’t care anymore. Her closest person had betrayed her. They had started from scratch together. Tamara had sold her apartment, and Maxim had … Read more