Elena Nikolaevna stopped at the familiar door, took out her keys, and stepped into her son’s apartment. A woman’s laughter and the scent of perfume greeted her in the hallway. She walked into the living room and froze—the sofa was occupied by an unfamiliar woman in a bathrobe, clearly just out of bed. — Artur! … Read more
Maxim slammed the refrigerator door shut and turned to his wife with a displeased look. — Elena, what are these sausages for three hundred rubles per kilo? Have you lost your mind? Elena froze at the stove, continuing to stir the contents of the frying pan. Her fingers gripped the wooden spatula tighter. — Maxim, … Read more
“Rewrite it. I want it on my desk by morning,” Tamara’s voice, my boss, clanged like a gun bolt. She tossed a folder with the report onto my desk. The corner of its expensive leather jabbed into the stack of my neatly arranged papers. “Tamara Igorevna, but we submitted this project last week. It was … Read more
“The wallpaper here is newer,” I said, running my fingers over the wall behind the bulky bookshelf. Dust had settled deep into my skin. Oleg waved wearily without turning around. “Anya, what does it matter? Let’s just sort through her books and go home. I feel like this house has absorbed the smell of medicine … Read more
“Come on, Anya, don’t be childish. My money is mine. Yours is yours. Fair and square,” Dima leaned back on the couch and laughed loudly, from the gut. That laugh, which just a year ago had seemed genuine and contagious, now grated on my ears like cheap metal. He looked down at me, and his … Read more
Oleg slammed the fridge door so hard that the shelves inside rattled. One of the magnets fell to the floor with a dull clunk. Lena stood across from him, pale, her fists clenched. “Feel better now?” she exhaled, lifting her chin. “You’re driving me insane,” Oleg’s voice cracked, though he tried to speak more quietly. … Read more
Igor dropped his fork. It clattered against the plate, leaving a greasy streak of sauce on the white porcelain. He didn’t even notice. His eyes were fixed on his phone screen, and a strange, vacant smile froze on his lips. “Something interesting?” I asked, trying to sound as casual as possible. “Huh? Oh, just work,” … Read more
“— And the toast?” my husband’s voice cut through the rich aroma of roasted meat. “To family. May it only grow bigger.” Stas raised his glass but didn’t look at me. His gaze—warm and a little nervous—was fixed on my sister. On Lenka. She was sitting across from us, fiddling with the edge of her … Read more
The Sea and the Choice “Marinka, your vacation is canceled,” Vova announced over dinner, stretching his lips into a smug smile. He was clearly savoring the moment. “I bought Mom a trip. She’s dreamed of the sea her whole life, you understand? So now she can go instead of you, finally relax. She deserves it.” … Read more
“You ungrateful girl!” her mother’s piercing voice shrieked. “Come home this instant or I’ll—” Svetlana hung up and blocked the number faster than she could blink. “Another one for the collection,” she thought with a bitter smirk. Half an hour later the phone came alive again. A new number flashed on the screen—apparently her mother … Read more