From this day on, you’ll eat outside!” Dasha couldn’t stand the pushiness of the rude relatives any longer. “Dasha, come on, what are you doing?” her husband Mikhail tried to calm her down. “I’ve said my piece! Period!” Finally, summer had come to the city. The forecast promised a heatwave for the May holidays, and … Read more
— Where do you think you’re going? We can manage without sour cream!” the mother-in-law tried to stop her. “Come on, I’ll be back in fifteen minutes on my bike!” Dasha was already rolling her iron horse out onto the porch. “Who eats borscht without sour cream anyway?” Anna Vasilyevna smiled, shaking her head after … Read more
Darkness had already fallen over the forest, the trees barely visible in the twilight. Everyone had long been home, warming themselves with a cup of tea or getting ready for bed. But in the distance, among the shadows, three silhouettes appeared. It was an old woman leading her grandchildren deeper into the thicket. “We’re here!” … Read more
In a small office on the outskirts of the city, where only a few dozen people worked, each day was much like the one before. The usual atmosphere of business routine prevailed here: calls, reports, deadlines — all demanding attention, focus, and energy. But even in the most ordinary days, miracles sometimes happen. The employees … Read more
He stopped drinking coffee with cinnamon. It may seem like a small thing — but that’s when I realized something had broken. Maksim always laughed at my love for “dessert add-ins,” but every morning he’d slide his cup toward me: “Try it, today I put twice as much.” But now he quietly brewed instant coffee, … Read more
— There’s dust on the shelves again. — Valentina Petrovna ran her finger over the dresser and grimaced with disgust. I stood frozen by the sink, towel in hand. This was already the third day in a row she had burst into our home without warning, as if inspecting a candidate for the perfect daughter-in-law, … Read more
Larisa stood by the window, looking out at the construction site where just a month ago there had only been pine and birch trees. Now, the frame of their future home towered there — two stories, spacious, with large windows and a wide veranda. Exactly the kind she had dreamed of since childhood. “Larka, come … Read more
Lena stood on the porch of the crooked summer house, examining the peeling boards and the glass yellowed by time. Meanwhile, Andrey kicked the wobbly step of the porch, grimacing at the creak of the rotten wood. “Well, Lenka,” he sighed, looking around at the warped window frames, “your Aunt Galya was right. It’s all … Read more
The March wind, sharp and cruel, cut across Sasha’s face as he walked through the streets, clutching the last piece of bread he had gotten that morning. Just a couple of hours ago, he was still considered a resident of the old dormitory — the very one with the sagging mattress and creaky iron bed. … Read more
Svetlana looked sadly at the moon, barely visible through the thick cover of misty clouds shimmering in its ghostly light. Her heart was full of pain — the last few months had turned into an endless eclipse for her since her husband disappeared. Life had become gray and joyless: colors had faded, and happiness had … Read more