Evgeny Vasilyevich slowly descended the steps of the courthouse, his heart heavy with sorrow. Every step felt like a burden, as if he literally carried the weight of defeat upon himself. He had lost the case — everything was gone: his reputation, his medical license, and along with them, the future he had built over … Read more
“Mom, we’ve been thinking,” my son Oleg began cautiously, barely stepping across the threshold. His wife Anya, standing behind him, nodded vigorously, as if to confirm the wisdom of his every word. She carried into the hallway the scent of expensive perfume — and a sickly-sweet hint of unease. “That always ends badly,” I muttered … Read more
Anna lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. Just a few minutes ago, she had experienced one of the most terrifying moments of her life — a conflict with her own husband, Alexander, and his mother, Olga Petrovna. Their little daughter Sonya was sleeping peacefully in her crib, … Read more
Late evening wrapped the kitchen in thick darkness, as if the walls had absorbed all the sounds and light. The air was so dense and tense that Igor was afraid even to take a deeper breath. He looked at Svetlana — the woman he had lived with for ten years, loving and trusting — and … Read more
The daughter disappeared on May fifth. Valya had spent the whole evening in the garden: the snow had just melted, and the soil needed preparing for planting. This was the third spring she had to tend the garden on her own, and it didn’t hurt so much anymore. Her husband left just before New Year’s. … Read more
The Fiancé Allowed His Mother To Live In His Fiancée’s Apartment, But Then Came A Misunderstanding: Polina Appeared—Plan “B,” A Broken Nose, Torn Hair, And Silence. — Alla, it’s me! Polina’s voice echoed from the hallway, bouncing off the narrow corridor walls. Keys clattered into a ceramic vase — a habitual ritual established by … Read more
Lidiya Viktorovna woke up in the silence of the early morning, wrapped in an inexplicable feeling of anxiety—dull and muted, just like every year when spring awakened from its winter slumber. This feeling accompanied her every spring for twenty-three years now. It came with the first rays of light, as if warning that this day … Read more
Margarita Vasilievna, with a quiet rustle as her cane tapped against the stones of the pavement, once again confirmed that the door behind her was tightly locked. Trying not to hurry, she began her journey — carefully, step by step, listening to the sound of each touch of her cane’s tip on the cobblestones. The … Read more
An old, crooked house with an overgrown garden, but with a soul. That’s exactly how Alyona saw it in the advertisement. And her heart skipped a beat. The city hustle and bustle had worn her out. Alyona needed a place where time flows slowly, and merging with nature would help heal the torn wounds after … Read more
— Tolik, you’re going to pick me up from work, right? We’re going to the theater tonight, remember? — Natasha glanced at the clock. There was an hour and a half left before the performance. And, as if on cue, rain mixed with snow started falling. She had spent the whole morning doing her hair. … Read more