At the cafeteria of Lyceum No. 6, there was always the smell of burnt pea soup and stale bread crusts, as if the air itself absorbed the same scent as the meat patties. The long tables rattled with trays, someone was banging their spoon against a glass, grumbling that the compote was more sour than … Read more
Nearly two years had passed since that cold October day when fate struck Masha a heavy blow. The funeral had been quick, as if life itself was hurrying to hide the pain as fast as it could. But the internal wound remained open, still bleeding. And only now, after many months, did Masha finally dare … Read more
The baby’s almost here,” the midwife whispered, wiping the sweat from Galina’s face. Galina clenched her teeth and gripped her mother’s hand. A sharp pain ripped through her, but she stayed silent—she was afraid of frightening the neighbor’s children. “Viktor should have been back long ago,” she rasped. “He only went out for baby shirts.” … Read more
— Mom, I’m hungry! — Olya tugged at Anna’s shirt hem while she was sorting through the empty bags in the kitchen. Anna stifled a sigh. In the fridge, there was a bag of milk and three yogurts. For three kids. — We’ll figure something out, honey, — she absentmindedly patted her daughter’s head. — … Read more
In January, the frost around Novomikhaylovsk was so intense that the hoarfrost on the wires sparkled in the sun. Seven-year-old Kirill Timofeev would wake up earlier than his mother’s alarm clock on Fridays—only on that day of the week. The rest of the time, everything went as usual: kindergarten, school, work, stores. But for the … Read more
Tatiana Leonidovna was just pouring the tea—regular, with bergamot. Suddenly, her mobile phone rang. She flinched—it was already almost nine in the evening. — Aunt Tanya? It’s Rita! Margarita! Do you remember me? Of course, she remembered. Her niece. Loud, red-haired, with a mole above her lip. The last time they saw each other was … Read more
— Why has your mom already made the menu for the celebration without asking me? — I asked, irritated, almost imprinting the words in the space between us. Oleg looked up from his phone with an expression as though I had interrupted him while reading a state document of vital importance. I knew that look … Read more
Gennady was born in a tiny village and had only visited a big city once in his life. It happened when their class was taken on a field trip to a museum. It was then that the noise of the streets, the endless flow of cars, and the majestic buildings struck a chord in his … Read more
Alina froze at the traffic light, nervously tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. With her left hand, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and glanced in the rearview mirror—her appearance was impeccable: perfect lipstick, the flawless style of a successful businesswoman. She was late for a meeting again—for the third … Read more
For her fiftieth birthday, Elena decided to organize an unforgettable celebration. She sent invitations to relatives, friends, and… her ex-husband, Sergey Vasilyevich. In the personal note, she added a provocative line: “Come with your current wife, if you wish.” Her friend Galina nearly choked on her coffee when she heard about it. “Have you lost … Read more