Returning from a business trip, Liliya decided to stop by the local deli located on the ground floor of her apartment building. She planned to buy something ready-made for dinner. It was already close to seven in the evening, and Liliya realized she had no time to cook, nor did she want to stand at … Read more
Valka, dance!» shouted Lyubasha, the postwoman, as she ran into the yard, waving an envelope in her lifted hand. «Oh, leave me alone!» Valentina waved her hand dismissively and adjusted the scarf on her head, «I’m not up for dancing. The water’s boiling; I need to sterilize the jars. I’m pickling cucumbers.» «Here you go!» … Read more
Listen, Valera, I’m telling you again, meet your mother anywhere you like, but I don’t want to see her in our house! I’m tired of going through the same thing every time! Whenever your mom comes over, something inexplicable always starts happening! She’s always meddling, trying to impose her own rules here, even yelling at … Read more
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