Christina got up at the crack of dawn this morning: she had to hurry to the store while there was still fresh bread and before her favorite curd snacks were snapped up, which, in her opinion, paired perfectly with tea. She quickly pulled on her jeans, a sweater, and on her feet—her old, comfortable sneakers. … Read more
— Lyudmila Sergeyevna, please at least eat something,” the young woman said softly, looking at her mother-in-law with worry. “I just can’t, Ninochka, truly I can’t. Just the thought of food makes me feel ill,” the elderly woman sighed, shaking her head. Nina sat down beside her mother-in-law on the sofa. “You can’t do that,” … Read more
Svetlana, a thirty-nine-year-old woman with straight dark hair, had been married to Sergey for over ten years. He had always been a calm person—almost excessively phlegmatic at times. In all those years of their life together, emotional outbursts were extremely rare for him; he preferred a measured pace and a clear daily routine. They had … Read more
In the orphanage, there was a special atmosphere. All the residents, as if by magic, had stuck to the windows, watching Lena being seen off as she left hand in hand with her new parents. Their eyes revealed a curious mix of joy for their friend and deep sadness. Every farewell to a child here … Read more
You did nothing again!” Maria Pavlovna’s voice echoed throughout the apartment as soon as Elena entered the living room. Her mother-in-law stood by the window, arms folded over her chest, and looked at her daughter-in-law with a disapproving expression. Elena sighed deeply, trying not to fall into the provocation. It wasn’t the first time, and … Read more
Ludmila and Sergey lived together for fifteen years. Their marriage was a test of time: they went through difficult periods together, raised two children, and supported each other when needed. But, as in any long-term relationship, their connection gradually cooled. Ludmila began to notice that Sergey was less attentive to her needs, spent less time … Read more
I don’t need him, he’s sick,” the blonde said indifferently as she placed the carrier on the reception desk of the veterinary clinic. Rita had been working as the administrator for two years and had seen many different cases. Mostly, pet owners brought in seriously ill animals, trying to save them until the very end. … Read more
Sergey was in a state of complete confusion, not knowing what to do. At that moment his life could change drastically—something he desired the least. And Lariska was quite capable of stirring up such a commotion. Mother had been right when she insisted that Olga was not his life partner. But then he showed some … Read more
The old cemetery in the village had long ceased to inspire fear. The locals had grown accustomed to the crooked fence and the lopsided crosses, but even by early evening very few people appeared there – it just felt unsettling to wander among abandoned graves. Behind the cemetery stood a lonely shed. It was said … Read more
The phone trembled on the bedside table for a long time, yet neither man nor woman stirred. The clock showed six in the morning. Alexey had anticipated that something like this might happen, so he had already switched both his and his wife’s phones to silent mode. Although he tried to convince himself that the … Read more