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The call caught Natalia at the moment she was trying to hang a picture. Five months of solitude in her small apartment were gradually becoming cozy. This painting—a mountain landscape—she and Andrey had bought in Crimea back in the nineties. During the division of property, it had almost accidentally ended up with her, and now, … Read more

Evening was slowly settling over Petersburg, covering the streets with a soft twilight. In a three-room apartment on the city’s outskirts, Alla Petrovna was inspecting the kitchen with a critical eye, running her finger over the recently cleaned stove. Her face froze into an expression as if she had just discovered something unpleasant. “Sveta, how … Read more

Sitting in his office, Vyacheslav leaned back in his comfortable chair with a satisfied smile playing on his face. He couldn’t stop marveling at how his restaurant, now the pride of the entire city, had gained such great fame. The restaurant owner ordered a homeless old woman to finish her bread and leave immediately! But … Read more

Lidia stood by the kitchen window, watching the last rays of the October sun paint the maple leaves in golden hues. At that moment, she felt like those leaves — beautiful to look at, but ready to break free from the branch at the slightest gust of wind. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. A … Read more

— Mom, are you working the night shift again today? — Katya asked, looking at her mother with concern, as if hoping for a different answer. — Yes, sweetheart. You and Yura will behave yourselves, won’t you? — Marina gently stroked her daughter’s hand, trying to reassure her. — Of course, Mom. But you never … Read more

Marina tore herself away from the laptop screen where she was reviewing the estimates for the new project and saw Sergey standing in the doorway. He looked uncertain—his shoulders slumped, his head slightly lowered. Marina knew that look all too well: it foretold trouble. After twelve years of marriage, she had learned to read his … Read more

I was born in the middle of winter — at the very end of February, when the cold still holds the earth, and hope for spring seems elusive. In a small town where summer seemed never to come. There, snow would settle as a dense blanket already in December and linger until April. The entrances … Read more

Elena stood by the mirror in the bedroom, adjusting her hair. Forty-five years old — an age when a woman either completely gives up or starts living anew. She ran her palm over her face, noticing the barely visible wrinkles near her eyes. No, she looked good. Regular workouts at the gym, proper nutrition, quality … Read more

Outside the windows of the houses, warm lights of garlands were glowing, Christmas trees were reflected in the glass, and sounds of New Year’s melodies could be heard. And beyond these walls—there reigned a white silence. Snow fell in thick flakes, as if someone invisible was endlessly sprinkling it from the sky. The silence was … Read more

— Natasha, daughter, where do you plan to live now? — Angelica Viktorovna, Natasha’s mother-in-law, approached her daughter-in-law. Natasha was still reeling from her husband’s funeral and did not immediately understand the question. She was mechanically packing leftover candies from the memorial into a container. — Sorry, what? — Where do you plan to live … Read more