Anya, there’s not going to be a wedding for now. My parents bought a car.” Those words hit like a bolt from the blue. Anna froze with a cup of tea in her hands, unable to believe her ears. Just an hour earlier she had come home from a wedding dress fitting, spinning in front … Read more
Zoya had always felt that her mother didn’t love her. It wasn’t that Yelizaveta Leonidovna ever said it outright or behaved deliberately cold. She never shouted, never reproached her, never said anything openly hurtful. Everything was like in other families, even better: nice clothes, new toys, trips to the sea. She always cooked delicious food, … Read more
Friday was hellish. Dasha and I were worn out at work like dogs, but there was no choice — urgent chores were waiting at the dacha. We left in traffic and arrived after dark. It poured all night, and in the morning the sun burned all the moisture away, turning the ground into a dirty … Read more
So, tomorrow morning we’re taking the bikes to the new park, and then to that little Georgian restaurant that opened on the embankment?” Katya set a plate of pasta down in front of Alexey with a smile. Her voice sounded light, filled with the anticipation of a well-deserved rest. Friday evening was spreading through their … Read more
You could at least park farther from the curb. A gust of wind will blow it away and you won’t even notice,” Kirill was standing, leaning against the kitchen doorframe, watching Svetlana unpack the groceries from the bag. “It won’t blow away, I’m sitting in it. Heavy,” she threw over her shoulder without turning around. … Read more
“Ilya’s mom and Lenka are coming on Friday. I’ve already bought their tickets,” Igor mentioned offhandedly, without taking his eyes off his phone as he lazily scrolled some feed. He was sitting at the kitchen table in a relaxed pose, one of those evenings when the world feels simple and predictable. Veronika, who was … Read more
“Oh, I’m really not feeling well today… and the apartment is all dusty again, it’s awful. You’re not busy tomorrow, are you? You’ll come and help me tidy up a bit, right?” “Sorry, but tomorrow is my birthday…” “But you’re free in the morning! Come to me around seven, you’ll be done by eleven at … Read more
Today Masha’s husband upset her badly. And not for the first time. Anything that had to do with his mother had now become unpleasant to Masha. It plunged her into a state of gloom and made her feel unwell. She wanted to run away from this whole family as far as possible, and the only … Read more
living-room window, watching Lena get out of her car. Lena waved, smiling broadly, and headed for the porch. The third time in two weeks already. “Ol-ya!” Lena burst into the entryway with a bouquet of roses and a bag with wine. “How could I say no? Sergey insisted so much that I come for the … Read more
Sveta,” drawled her colleague and best friend Natalya, “are you by any chance pregnant?” Sveta came back from the ladies’ room, pale as a sheet. During lunch at the café next to the office she had suddenly felt unwell and, apologizing, had hurried off, leaving half her meal untouched. “Only if it’s by accident,” Svetlana … Read more