Lena stood in front of the hallway mirror, studying her reflection. A gray turtleneck, old jeans, hair pulled into a messy ponytail. When was the last time she’d bought herself something new? Six months ago? A year? She ran a hand over her face, noticing new fine lines at the corners of her eyes. Thirty-two, … Read more
Your tea is still tasteless, Svetochka. Just grass-flavored water. And in those teabags, too—like in a factory canteen.” Marina Vitalyevna said it in that special tone that both stated a “fact” and expressed the deepest pity for the misery of someone else’s everyday life. She sat at the perfectly clean glass table in Svetlana’s kitchen, … Read more
— Starting tomorrow, you hand over your card to me. And the password to the app. I’ll be the one allocating our money.” Kirill said it while standing in the middle of the living room. He didn’t look at Anna; his gaze was fixed somewhere on the wall, as if he’d rehearsed the line in … Read more
— “I’m coming in.” The phrase, thrown from the doorway in a firm voice that tolerated no objections, hit Ksenia like a blast of icy wind. She hadn’t even fully registered who was standing in front of her when her mother-in-law’s monolithic figure was already seeping into the entryway, rudely shoving past her with a … Read more
— And your tea, Sveta, is still tasteless. Just weeds. And in those tea bags too—like in a factory canteen.” Marina Vitalyevna said it in that special tone that both stated a “fact” and expressed the deepest pity for the wretchedness of someone else’s home life. She sat at the flawlessly clean glass table in … Read more
The wedding dress was still hanging in the closet, and my mother-in-law was already unpacking her suitcases in my bedroom. The man I thought was perfect betrayed me on the second day of our marriage, whispering, ‘Well, it’s Mom—just put up with it.’ She thought she’d won. But she didn’t know I had one single … Read more
Where did these slippers come from in our entryway?” Alina stopped on the threshold the moment she stepped inside. Her gaze snagged on a pair of worn women’s slippers with faux-fur pom-poms, huddled sadly against the wall. They looked alien there—like a wildflower in a sterile vase. Egor came out of the kitchen, wiping his … Read more
— Andryusha, sweetheart, could you buy me some pomegranate juice?” Lyudmila Sergeyevna’s voice dripped with a sugary, suffering sweetness. “The doctor said it’s very good for hemoglobin. But not the boxed kind—those are full of chemicals. Fresh-squeezed. They say they make a good one in that shop three blocks away.” Olga, standing at the stove … Read more
“Irisha, the guys and I are going fishing for the whole weekend! You’ll watch Nastyukha, yeah?” Valera’s voice—loud, carrying the bracing street-cold and a clean, undiluted selfishness—burst into the apartment’s cozy stillness. Irina didn’t turn around at once. She sat at her desk in a soft set of loungewear, moving the mouse with focused precision … Read more
— “Anya, Dima needs help. You understand—I can’t manage it on my own.” Larisa Mikhailovna’s voice was soft and wrapping, like warm honey they used to give for a cough in childhood—cloyingly sweet, and nauseating. With carefully practiced nonchalance, she slid a glossy brochure across the lacquered kitchen table. Expensive, with embossed gold lettering and … Read more