Mom, you have to help me.» «I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I don’t have to do anything for you.» Those words hung in the air like heavy raindrops before a storm. Yekaterina Vasilyevna gripped the phone receiver so tightly her knuckles turned white. On the other end of the line, a deafening silence prevailed. «What do … Read more
Are you my real mother?» I asked in a trembling voice, examining the locket. «No, dear. I’m just the one who knows the truth,» the woman in black dissolved into the crowd, leaving only the echo of a mystery behind. Mornings at the train station always started the same way—with the smell of fresh pastries … Read more
Antonina Sergeevna put the kettle on and sat down on a stool. The morning was gray, like most days lately. She glanced at the clock — quarter to nine. Outside, rain was drizzling, leaving winding trails on the window. Drops slid down, merging with each other to form intricate patterns. The three-room apartment she … Read more
Ah, you insolent brat!” Irina Viktorovna shouted loudly and fiercely, frowning angrily. Her hand swiftly lashed out at Natasha’s head, and a sharp slap rang out across the table like a gunshot. Taken by surprise, Natasha flinched and dropped her spoon onto the plate. A wave of bitterness and anger instantly overwhelmed her — this … Read more
Ah, you insolent brat!” Irina Viktorovna shouted loudly and fiercely, frowning angrily. Her hand swiftly lashed out at Natasha’s head, and a sharp slap rang out across the table like a gunshot. Taken by surprise, Natasha flinched and dropped her spoon onto the plate. A wave of bitterness and anger instantly overwhelmed her — this … Read more
— There’s dust on the shelves again. — Valentina Petrovna ran her finger over the dresser and grimaced with disgust. I stood frozen by the sink, towel in hand. This was already the third day in a row she had burst into our home without warning, as if inspecting a candidate for the perfect daughter-in-law, … Read more
Lena stood on the porch of the crooked summer house, examining the peeling boards and the glass yellowed by time. Meanwhile, Andrey kicked the wobbly step of the porch, grimacing at the creak of the rotten wood. “Well, Lenka,” he sighed, looking around at the warped window frames, “your Aunt Galya was right. It’s all … Read more
Karina carefully took the electronic scales out of the box and started setting them up. The new gadget, with many features, was not cheap, but the woman was sure it was worth it. The summer season was approaching, so it was time to seriously focus on her figure. Pressing the button, she placed the scales … Read more
Lena took the baking sheet with the fish pie out of the oven, and a fishy aroma wafted through the kitchen. Everything was just the way her husband, Viktor, liked it. There was fresh borscht on the stove, and the fish pie was on the baking sheet. All that was left was to finish boiling … Read more
Hello, darling! I have a big surprise for you! Prepare your signature dish for dinner tonight!” “What happened?” Svetlana asked, worried. “Everything’s fine! I’ll tell you later!” The call ended, and the woman looked out the window with doubt. It was a chilly October. Her husband’s call didn’t lift her spirits; after twenty-five years of … Read more