The teapot quietly whistled on the stove as Elena sorted through tea bags. Chamomile, mint, black with bergamot… Vika had brought them from her last business trip to London. Elena smiled, remembering how her daughter had solemnly handed her these keys five years ago. “Now, Mom, you’ll have your own home,” Vika had said then, … Read more
“Well, Valyusha, are you going dress shopping with your girlfriends today?” Lev Zakharovich inquired, looking at his daughter. “If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll transfer more money to your card, just in case.” “Oh, Dad,” Valentina chuckled, “I’m not planning to buy anything from Dior. We’re just looking for something unique, … Read more
Nobody remembers who and when built the house standing at the very end of the village. It was said to have been built at the beginning of the last century, possibly by a rich peasant, a revolutionary committee chairman, or a bandit who fled from Moscow—a murderer, or maybe even earlier. Its solid stone foundation … Read more
“Lida is divorcing her husband; he was living with another woman on his work rotation. She found out when she went to surprise him on his birthday,” Masha stopped Natalya just outside the store. “Did she?” “It turns out he did. She entered his trailer, and there he was celebrating his anniversary, not alone. That’s … Read more
Svetochka peeked into the private room where her mother was mopping the floor. “Mom, I’m scared to sit there alone,” she said. Olga turned around sharply and whispered: “Svet, you can’t be here. We had an agreement. Do you want them to fire me?” “Mom, I’ll just stand here quietly.” “No, go away.” “Let her … Read more
“I was at my mom’s, that’s why I was delayed. Sorry, my phone died,” Zhenya said. “I see. Are you going to eat? Or did you eat at your parents’?” I automatically sat up, ready to start heating up dinner. “I ate, don’t worry, Masha. Let’s watch a movie and then go to bed. I’m … Read more
“Vanya, are you actually serious?” Valentina Yurievna, puzzled and slightly agitated, turned to her husband. “Kirill, did you hear him?” Kirill Konstantinovich let out a heavy sigh, setting aside the evening newspaper: “Son, you really need to consider this carefully. I’ve had enough for today; I’m off to bed.” He exited swiftly, leaving Valentina staring … Read more
Alina sat in the kitchen, feverishly gulping down bitter, long-cold, and tasteless coffee, quietly crying. The children slept soundly in their beds, dreaming interesting dreams and sniffling with their little noses, while she just couldn’t fall asleep. Everything that had happened had so drained her that tears simply rolled down non-stop, from despair and hopelessness. … Read more
“Daughter, pour some water for the old man into a bottle, please. Your tap doesn’t work,” said an elderly man in tattered clothes, leaning on the fence and extending a plastic bottle. Olga paused her work and turned toward the fence. “Yes, the tap hasn’t been working for two years now; something broke or was … Read more
Taxi driver Sergey sat behind the wheel of his old car, frowning at the blizzard raging outside the window. “What a weather!” he muttered, wiping the fogged glass with his hand. “You wouldn’t even kick a dog out on a night like this…” Outside, the wind howled, shaking the car so much that it seemed … Read more