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The entryway reeked of fried bacon and unwashed bodies. Dirty women’s boots were sprawled on the mat. A gray puddle had formed where the soles had dripped onto the tiles. From the kitchen came slurping noises and the low hum of the TV. Marina slipped off her shoes and took off her coat. After her … Read more

“Irina, can you pass me the salad? No, not that one. The one with the crab sticks. You’re the homemaker here, you should know which is which.” Avdotya said it as if she was giving a compliment—smiling, tilting her head, her spoon gracefully hovering over her plate. It didn’t sound offensive, really. Still, the table … Read more

Lyuba never called a taxi in her life. She liked stepping out onto the road, raising her hand, and seeing who would stop. The person who stopped was always someone who needed to talk. Over twenty years, she came up with her own set of rules: people driving old Ladas stopped more often than those … Read more

“Olya! You look absolutely stunning today. I just can’t get enough of you!” purred Evgeniy in his most charming voice. “It feels so good being with you… so peaceful. You’re my joy! You’re my happiness. I’m so grateful we met…” He was singing his usual old tune. Olya had been seeing him for two years … Read more

The doors of the suburban PAZ bus slammed shut right in Oksana’s face. She even managed to slap her hand on the dirty glass, but the driver turned the wheel without a glance in the mirror. The bus covered her legs with diesel fumes and rolled heavily towards the railway crossing. Oksana was left standing … Read more

“What do you mean?” Sergey asked, looking at her with genuine confusion. He sat at the kitchen table, turning a mug of cold tea in his hands, looking as if he’d just heard something totally unexpected. Katya stood by the window, arms crossed. Outside, the first snowflakes drifted down slowly, even though it was still … Read more

None of the guests expected the family dinner to end the way it did. Just a few minutes earlier, the bright, spacious living room was filled with the sound of heavy silver-plated forks clinking against porcelain, while my husband’s relatives lazily discussed the leather seats in his new foreign car. I sat at the edge … Read more

“Are you wearing that skirt again?! Who do you work as, a secretary or a call girl? I told you to quit that job! The very thought of your fat boss staring at you all day makes me sick! Either you resign today, or I’ll come there myself and tear his office apart—along with your … Read more

“Igor, where’s the garment bag with my dress?” Natalia called out, standing in the kitchen doorway. In her hands, she clutched an empty plastic hanger she had found on the closet floor. Igor sat at the table, picking at his plate of fried potatoes with a fork. He didn’t even look up at the sound … Read more

“Your things are already in the hallway,” said my mother-in-law. She still didn’t know who the woman she decided to evict was calling. “Take your coat, and your bag too. And don’t look at me like that—you won’t be spending the night here tonight.” Vera paused on the threshold of her own apartment, not even … Read more