When Vera Nikolaevna received a message that her third cousin Tatiana, who lived somewhere in the depths of the Urals, was asking to stay with her and her children in Moscow for a couple of weeks, her first reaction was to refuse. What could they possibly have in common? They had last seen each other … Read more
Maria gazed thoughtfully out the panoramic window of her office on the 47th floor of the city’s business center. Below, a dense stream of cars moved steadily, and the hurrying people appeared as vague shadows—but her mind was far from business papers and quarterly reports. She was thinking about Dmitry, the man who had become … Read more
The rich man unexpectedly invited the dishwasher to a banquet with foreigners. She entered the hall in a simple yet exquisite dress in shades of early sunset. Around her— a sparkling chandelier, crystal, silk tablecloths. And she—small, modest, as if accidentally caught in this world of luxury. But everything changed when she began to speak… … Read more
Tatiana never told anyone about what happened to her many years ago. She lived quietly, keeping to herself, trying not to meddle in other people’s affairs. If people asked for help, she always responded. But if not, she didn’t impose herself. Despite her blindness, Tanya sensed the world more sharply than many sighted people. By … Read more
– Mikhail, come quickly. Grandfather died last night. The hand holding the phone receiver trembled slightly. The voice of his cousin uncle Viktor sounded dry, almost indifferent. – What happened? – His heart gave out. At his age, it’s common. The funeral is the day after tomorrow. If you want to say goodbye, come. Mikhail … Read more
The day had been difficult. Maksim Vladimirovich, sitting in the stuffy office, massaged his temples — his head was splitting, and he had no desire to go home. There, his wife was waiting for him — a woman he had long grown cold towards, and who, as he believed, had never truly loved him. To … Read more
— I promise, everything will be alright, — Anna whispered, pressing her newborn son to her chest. The February wind hurled snow against the taxi window. The drive from the maternity hospital seemed endless. Anna caught her reflection in the glass — a gaunt face, sunken eyes. She felt like she had aged over these … Read more
The April sun beat into her eyes, making her squint. Marina was pushing the stroller along the broken path, weaving between puddles. Bags of groceries pulled down her elbow, and Misha had finally fallen asleep after two hours of fussing in the store. From a distance, she heard a familiar commanding voice: “Didn’t you go … Read more
On an October morning in 2003, Margaret Hayes — a widow known in their quiet neighborhood mostly for her famous lemon tartlets and her kind attitude toward stray cats — closed the front door and stepped outside. This time — without any particular destination. It was one of those rare days when loneliness ceases to … Read more
Lena stood by the kitchen window, watching a new jeep slowly approach along the garden path — shiny, clearly fresh from the showroom, with Moscow license plates. She involuntarily compared it to her old “nine” car, which had long needed a major overhaul. “They’re here,” Sergey said, coming out of the bathhouse. “Should we go … Read more