In the house that once smelled of apple pie and laughter, there now hung a strange, sticky air of things left unsaid. Artyom increasingly noticed the way his mother Anna’s gaze slid over his father Dmitry’s figure with a detached, almost outsider’s interest. And Dmitry, in turn, seemed to be seeking refuge— in the garage, … Read more
The golden light of a Neapolitan evening softly flooded the spacious hall of the Aurora restaurant, tinting the snow-white tablecloths in warm, honeyed hues. The air, dense and saturated, carried a stirring aroma of fresh basil, garlic sizzling in olive oil, and seafood just brought in from the nearby market. At every table a … Read more
— “Sveta, you look absolutely stunning in that dress!” her friend exclaimed, taking in the bride. “We’ll do your hair next—and you’ll look like a real princess!” Svetlana ran a thoughtful hand through her hair, looking at herself in the mirror. “Maybe I should dye it darker? What do you think?” “Absolutely not! Dark … Read more
I found out about the cheating by accident. No, there was no lipstick on the collar or someone else’s perfume—much more banal than that. His phone buzzed on the kitchen table while he was in the shower, and I glanced at the screen without thinking. “Miss you, kitty. When will we see each other?” wrote … Read more
Anna wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, trying not to smear the kitchen towel with tomato sauce. Valentina Petrovna’s apartment was steeped in the aromas of garlic, basil, and stewed meat. Three pots bubbled on the stove at once: spaghetti boiled in one, minced meat with vegetables simmered for … Read more
Lena was tallying the month’s expenses when the doorbell rang, followed by a familiar voice. Her heart skipped a beat—Marina again. On a Monday morning. As if she could sense when Lena’s husband was home and when he was at work. “Andrey, where are you?” Marina called from the hallway, barely saying hello. “I … Read more
“Mom called. She’s complaining about life again. She’s exhausted by my brother’s family,” Igor said, washing the dishes. Family games “Well, everyone gets what they deserve, right?” I replied, spooning my husband’s lunch into a container for work. “I’m just tired of hearing about the kids making noise and how cramped it is for all … Read more
Galina Petrovna had always believed she possessed a special gift—she could see right through people. In twenty years as the factory’s chief accountant, she had learned to read faces, catch intonations, and notice what others missed. That talent made her indispensable on the job, but at times it turned into a curse—especially when it came … Read more
“Do you even realize what this means?” the angry mother asked. “Today is the first, and the fifth is the final deadline! Is your mind capable of grasping that fact?” Svetlana Viktorovna had been lecturing her son for ten minutes already. The reason—his wife Kira had once again failed to transfer the mortgage payment. Artyom … Read more
Marina paced the living room nervously, lost in deep thought. She was torn by conflicting feelings—a mix of confusion and inner unease. Nothing had gone the way she’d planned, and now she didn’t know which choice to make. The day before, during a visit to the notary, she’d been stunned by unexpected news: six months … Read more