Katya woke up on Sunday to the loud sound of someone furiously pressing a pin code on the door. Someone was banging on the buttons with such rage as if the ATM had refused to dispense their salary. She jumped up—in an old T-shirt, with a ponytail on top of her head and panda-like eyes … Read more
— Ninul, another croissant? — Kirill slid a plate with golden pastries toward her, the aroma filling the cozy kitchen with a feeling of home warmth. His voice was soft, almost tender, as if he were offering not just food, but a piece of his care. — No, thank you, dear, — Nina smiled gently, … Read more
Ivan stood near the subway exit, pressed against the wall to shield himself from the persistent autumn rain that had been lightly and insistently scratching at the skin and clothes of passersby for over an hour. The wind whistled between the buildings, tearing drops off umbrellas and throwing them straight into faces. The world around … Read more
Asya was never known for any outstanding abilities. From early childhood, she realized that nature had not favored her with good looks. Her grandmother, glancing at her granddaughter, would always sigh and say: “Ah, who did you take after? Probably your father.” “Grandma, what was my father like?” Asya asked. “How should I know, child? … Read more
Lera pressed herself tightly against the wall and tried to breathe as quietly as possible. The nurses were talking about her — who else could they speak about so loudly and without fear of being overheard? Naturally, someone who would never respond, never defend herself, never stand up for herself. “I heard some girl came … Read more
Svetlana was sobbing, burying her face in a pillow. Her heartbreaking gasps tore through the silence of the room. Aleksey couldn’t find peace — he nervously paced from corner to corner, trying to understand how something like this could even happen. “How can you lose a child?” he asked, trying to restrain his anger. “I … Read more
Claudia, as usual with the first rays of the sun, went out to the garden. There was no shortage of tasks: she needed to water the beds, weed the grass, check the chicken coop, and inspect the fruit trees — all of which required attention and time. And she had no helpers. No one nearby. … Read more
Natalya stood by the kitchen window, watching the summer yard where children were running between the swings, their screams coming through the open window sash. The heat had promised to be unbearable since the morning. The air conditioner was humming at full power, but the coolness did nothing to relieve the stuffy feeling that had … Read more
Vika was standing by the sink, washing the dishes after dinner, when Dmitry came home. Her husband looked unusually tense—his eyebrows were furrowed, shoulders slumped. Usually, after work Dmitry joked around, told stories about his colleagues, but today he silently went into the room and plopped down on the couch. “What’s wrong?” Vika wiped her … Read more
Vera was sitting on the bed, sorting through summer dresses. The tickets lay on the nightstand — the train to Sochi was tomorrow morning. A week of planning, choosing a hotel, studying routes. The first vacation in three years when she could just be herself. Not a wife, not a hostess, not the organizer of … Read more