Alina stood in the middle of her brand-new two-room apartment with gray walls and windows overlooking an equally gray new building opposite. The apartment still smelled of concrete dust, but she already loved it. Here would be a kitchen with a blue set, a living room with a large sofa, and a bedroom — finally … Read more
The wife and her lover called a taxi to secretly go to a cozy café on the outskirts of the city — a place where no one knew them, where they could just be two people hiding from the public eye. She was dressed neatly but tastefully, lightly made up, with a barely noticeable scent … Read more
A knock on the door sounded just as I was about to toss another batch of burnt pancakes into the trash. Three in the morning isn’t exactly the best time for culinary experiments, but insomnia mixed with VK video recipes is a dangerous combination. — If it’s Petrovich again with his homemade moonshine, I swear … Read more
Ivan always considered himself a man who knew what he wanted. His life seemed predetermined to him: a successful career, stability, family — but somewhere deep inside, a feeling of dissatisfaction smoldered. He believed that happiness was the pursuit of new emotions, that true passion should burn brightly like a flame, not smolder within the … Read more
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