God, please let everything go well,” Anzhela thought for the hundredth time, smoothing the creases in her new dress. The pale‑blue silk shimmered in the light of the setting sun. In a small box on the dressing table lay a brooch—the very one her mother‑in‑law had been harping on about for the past six months. … Read more
Svetlana realized she wouldn’t be able to carry all her purchases by herself. The market day had been so successful that she hadn’t restrained herself and had bought a huge amount of fruit. The shopping was done—but how to get it all home? She’d have to take a taxi. Pushing through the crowd, she searched … Read more
— Are you sure you don’t need anything from the store? — Anna asked again. — No, no, just go already, — Boris waved her off. It seemed like he was in a rush to get her out. Anna sighed quietly. Lately, her husband had become noticeably irritable. But she chose to ignore it so … Read more
Coffee scorched my fingers through the thin cardboard cup, but even that discomfort couldn’t drown out the flutter inside me. “Masha, I’ve decided. Tomorrow I’m filing to register as a sole proprietor,” I leaned forward across the table toward my friend. “I’m going to help small businesses with financial planning.” Masha nearly choked on her … Read more
— Are you unfaithful to me?” he said, lowering his eyes and staring at the floor. She did not rush to answer. Silently, she approached the mirror, adjusted her earring, ran her fingertip over her lips, slightly smudging her lipstick. Then she turned toward him. “— And do you remember how you betrayed me yourself?” … Read more
Lena, did you forget to put sugar in the tea again?” Viktor’s voice was deliberately calm, but I already knew: it was about to begin. In the living room the conversations instantly died down. His mother averted her gaze, his sister buried herself in her phone, and his father began scrutinizing the pattern on the … Read more
He’s not a live one anyway,” said the wife in an alien, cold voice. “Why don’t you come yourself and talk with the doctor if you don’t believe me. They have nurses there—everything will be provided for him. After all, they didn’t invent this palliative care for nothing; everyone does it…” Ilya was born two … Read more
Maria stood in the middle of the living room, silently surveying her surroundings. Everything looked foreign—even the walls on which she had once lovingly hung photographs. Now they were empty. Only hooks and the traces left by frames remained. In the corner were several boxes, fitting twenty years of her life. And now her husband … Read more
Do you think we could move into a place like that? You’ve dreamed of it for so long, haven’t you?” I asked while examining pictures of houses on my laptop screen. Igor snorted and put down his fork. “On your salary? Let’s be honest, Anya, the whole budget runs on me. And I’m just not … Read more
Valya, have you already made the mortgage payment? Today is the final deadline,” Denis said without even looking up from his phone as he continued scrolling through the news feed. “Yes, as usual. Ninety-two thousand. And, as always, it was charged to my card,” replied Valentina as she set a cup of coffee in front … Read more