When Lena first saw Sergey, he looked older than their professor—tall, with perpetually messy hair and a piercing gaze, he entered the lecture hall as if he were certain the world would one day bend to his will. They were both freshmen in an architecture college—young, ambitious, full of grand plans, and hopelessly broke. It … Read more
Margot did not take her eyes off the door. Finally, the day had come when she would get her revenge on her husband. Her eyes sparkled with a wicked gleam. How long she had waited for this moment! Hearing the sound of the door opening, Margot realized that her time had come. For two whole … Read more
Anton rarely visited his grandmother’s house after her passing. It stood on the outskirts of the village, half-hidden by the thick branches of apple trees that stretched toward the windows, as if trying to peer inside. The air smelled of age—dust, dried mint, and something faintly sorrowful. The belongings remained in place: embroidered napkins on … Read more
Irina nervously ran her fingers through the wooden bead rosary— a gift from her daughter from Bali. Thirty-five years of marriage with Vladimir had turned into a kaleidoscope of memories: here they were young, in a dormitory, making soup from just potatoes; here she sewed at night for orders while he finished his studies at … Read more
He sat on the cold metal bench, wrapped in a worn-out cloak—once worn while working as a master at the housing office. His name was Nikolai Andreevich. A pensioner, widower, father of a single son, and, as he had once thought, a happy grandfather. But all of that collapsed one day. When his son brought … Read more
Once, Marina studied at university, dreaming of becoming an economist and had promising prospects. Her professors noted her analytical mind, sharp eye for numbers, and ability to see things others didn’t notice. It seemed like everything was ahead of her. But now, she was just happy to have gotten a job as a cleaner at … Read more
Maria flinched at the director’s sharp command but did not stop wiping the baseboards—after six years of working as a cleaner at “FinProekt,” she had learned to be invisible. “Hey, you!” he snapped his fingers. “Maria? Tomorrow, dress decently and be on the ninth floor at eleven.” She lifted her eyes. In front of her … Read more
“Hello, Igor…” Galina called her husband, terribly anxious. “Are you at work?” “Well, yeah…” he answered after a short pause. “Yeah? Well, okay.” “What’s up?” “My mom just called. She said she saw you with some blonde at a café. She’s always making things up… I know you’re eating at work. By the way, the … Read more
Nine-year-old Alyosha came home from school in a good mood, and after waiting for his parents to return from work, he declared: — Mom, Dad, starting today, I will only do the household chores if you pay me for it! — Who put that idea in your head? — asked Mom, Sveta. — No one, … Read more
Sasha had been working as a cashier for three years. He didn’t dream of leaving, but he didn’t think he’d stay for long either. The store was small—peeling walls, three rows of shelves, dim light that was more annoying than helpful. But it was the only store in the area. Every day was the same: … Read more