You’re not seriously expecting my Nikita to take care of someone else’s child, are you?” Svetlana Petrovna delicately placed the porcelain cup on its saucer. “The boy is already grown. It’ll do him good to learn independence.” Irina felt the air freeze around her. The perfect silver hair, manicured nails, expensive jewelry—everything about her mother-in-law … Read more
Len, are you out of your mind? We just had our own baby!” — Alexey slammed the cupboard door in irritation. “What adoption are you talking about?” Elena stood by the window, looking at the grey February day. The maternity hospital was on the outskirts of their small town, and the view from the room … Read more
Who is a child without roots? No one. A ghost that accidentally found a physical shell.” “Does that mean you always felt like a ghost?” Mikhail asked as he stirred his coffee in my stylish kitchen. I looked at him—my only friend who knew the whole truth. The man who helped me find her. The … Read more
Alina squeezed into the crowded bus with difficulty. She hadn’t been to these parts in a long time — ever since her grandmother passed away, she’d only visited the village once. After that, it just never worked out — studies, fun, life. Honestly, even that one visit she would rather erase from memory. That was … Read more
The tap water trickled sluggishly—rust‑colored and foul‑smelling. Lyuda set the kettle under the spout. Outside, dusk was falling, the April evening invading the city earlier than usual. She watched the kettle fill and thought, “Eighteen years… Eighteen years I’ve been drinking this stinky water—wish someone would install a filter.” “Lyudka, where have you disappeared to?” … Read more
Nadezhda had always known how to work. At twenty‑two, after earning her degree in economics, she got a job at a small company. Five years later, she was already heading the finance department at a large firm. Her schedule—six days a week, often staying late into the evening—never elicited a single complaint from her. Everyone … Read more
White hospital tiles floated before Viktoria’s eyes. Consciousness returned slowly, as though making its way through a thick fog. The beeping of the monitors, the sharp scent of disinfectant, the cold touch of a starched sheet—she realized she was in a hospital. Her eyelids felt unbearably heavy, and Vika decided not to open her eyes … Read more
Marina woke up earlier than usual: the sounds of passersby could be heard outside the window — the night had been warm, and people had been out walking almost until morning. She sat up in bed and looked at her sleeping husband, Andrey. His steady breathing revealed he was in a deep sleep, but he … Read more
You gave birth to four? Take them and figure it out yourself—this is too much!” my husband declared the moment he stepped inside. I stared at him without blinking. My mind was empty. Four tiny bodies in homemade cradles seemed unreal. Four breaths, as faint as a butterfly’s wings. The labor lasted eighteen hours. The … Read more
Ekaterina belonged to the category of people who maintain faith in the best even in the most difficult times. Even after meeting Igor’s mother, she did not lose her optimism. The future mother-in-law’s gaze was cold and judgmental, as if she was evaluating whether Katya deserved her son. “So, you’re an interior designer?” Anna Petrovna … Read more