How much longer, Nastya?” Vitaly grimaced, staring at the macaroni and cheese. “Every day it’s the same. Pasta, buckwheat, pasta again. I’m sick of looking at it.” Anastasia placed another portion on his plate and gently patted his shoulder. “Vitalik, just a little longer. Next month my salary will be reviewed.” Vitaly irritably jerked his … Read more
Ruslan sat opposite the elderly woman, staring intently at her face, as if hoping to find a clue or justification for his actions. But in her eyes, he saw only silent, calm observation — the gaze of a person who had lived a life not without bitterness, but with dignity. And at that moment, Ruslan … Read more
Sergey stood by the window, mechanically fiddling with a bundle of keys. The apartment, which had once seemed cramped for four, now felt oppressive with emptiness. Three days ago, Galina took the children and left. She just left, without shouting or hysterics, as if that was how it should be. Only a note on the … Read more
I sat in the kitchen, mechanically stirring tea that had long since cooled. The old clock on the wall ticked away, its steady sound a monotonous reminder—it’s been a month since I’ve been alone. A month since Viktor packed his things and left. Left her. Left Larisa from the third floor. —Galya, understand, it’s better … Read more
Warm May evening gently enveloped the city as if wrapping it in a delicate blanket. Ksenia settled on the balcony of their new country house, watching Artem fussing with the grill in the yard. Four-year-old Lera, trying her best to help her dad, handed him all sorts of little things, while six-year-old Maxim tirelessly chased … Read more
In one of the wards of an expensive private clinic, a young woman was quietly fading away. The doctors moved around her cautiously, as though afraid to disturb death itself. Periodically, they cast worried glances at the monitors, where the vital signs flickered weakly. It was clear to them: even the largest sums of money … Read more
— Who’s crying out there? Stepan, can you hear? In such dismal weather, someone is crying! — Probably it’s just the wind howling, Katyusha. What tears could there be on a night like this… I ran out onto the porch without even grabbing my scarf. The autumn rain whipped against my cheeks, yet I kept … Read more
My name is Tamara Alexeyevna. I am seventy-four years old. I used to have a full life: a loving husband, a beloved job, a warm home, and three children. But ten years ago, my husband passed away—his heart couldn’t take it. After he left, the house became empty, and I became unwanted. The children started … Read more
The phone rang just at the moment Ella was taking off her noise-cancelling headphones — sharp, piercing, as if someone suddenly threw open a window in a quiet room. “Hi, Ellochka,” Vera’s voice sounded too cheerful, with that very intonation behind which unpleasant words usually hide. “Listen, my mom and I were thinking… You know, … Read more
At the evening wedding anniversary, my husband solemnly raised his glass. I followed his example but suddenly noticed: he quietly slipped something into my glass. A cold, uneasy feeling clenched my stomach. I decided not to take any risks. When everyone was distracted, I carefully swapped my glass with the glass of his sister sitting … Read more