— That’s my late husband! — Vera was stunned in shock when she recognized at the wedding where she was working as a waitress the man she had long mourned…

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Vera Vasilyevna Loshkareva, a waitress at the restaurant “Skatert-Samobranka,” was changing into her uniform before her shift and listening in on her colleagues’ conversations. “She searched for him for thirty years, and met him on a cruise ship,” Zinaida was telling the plot of a movie. “Just like that, recognized him after thirty years? Nonsense,” … Read more

Mom disappeared on my birthday… And only ten years later did I realize it wasn’t an escape and learned the truth

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— Daughter, don’t worry about me. Right now, you must not quarrel with your father. Please, don’t try to defend me.” Julia remembered these words from her mother forever. She was only fourteen then, and in her young heart, it felt as if the world had collapsed overnight. Her mother’s words sounded like a warning, … Read more

“You’re just pretending to bury her,” the gravedigger heard a child’s voice. He touched and pulled back his hand.

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Semyon Petrovich, or simply Petrovich — that’s what everyone who occasionally stopped by this forgotten-by-God place called him — with a strained groan plunged his shovel into the heavy, damp earth. Another day, like hundreds before. He had been working here, at the old village cemetery, for twenty years now, ever since the noisy and … Read more

“Nastasya, we’re expecting you on Sunday at two o’clock!” — Mom’s tone was uncompromising and left no room for doubt.

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“Nastya, we’re expecting you on Sunday at two o’clock!” — Mom’s tone was firm and left no room for doubt. “Okay, Mom, I’ll be there. Should I bring something?” — the girl sighed heavily: another ruined weekend! It would have been much better to spend Friday evening cleaning and cooking, go to some party on … Read more

— You gave birth to two at once? I’m leaving, I want to live for myself! — my husband declared, but thirty years later my children became his bosses.

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“Finally,” I breathed out as the key turned in the lock. Viktor entered the apartment, dropped his travel bag on the floor, and wearily ran a hand over his face. Six months on a work rotation, six months I hadn’t seen him. He smelled of the train, dust, and a foreign city. I wanted to … Read more

— Lena can’t do without a car anymore. She needs to go to training, then to her internship. And you’re just sitting at home all the time, the car is going to waste.

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— Lena can’t go without a car anymore. She needs to get to training, then to her internship. And you’re just sitting at home now, the car is going unused. Arina at first didn’t believe it and, frowning, asked again: — Why should I give my car to Lena? — Arina, you’re a mother now. … Read more

Dear guests, I have a special gift for my husband’s birthday,” Svetlana said as she pulled a small box out of her bag, and her mother-in-law’s face turned green with anger.

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— Dear guests, I have a special gift for my husband’s birthday, — Svetlana pulled a small box out of her bag, and her mother-in-law’s face turned green with anger. — Shame! Aren’t you ashamed, you promiscuous woman?! — Galina Arkadyevna burst out. The guests fell silent. A hush fell over the table… Svetlana’s husband … Read more