She entered the hall filled with the hum of voices, the clinking of dishes, and the shuffling of waiters between tables. Everything around was buzzing—as if the restaurant were a living creature, pulsing in time with the clock. And she—a quiet shadow amid the chaos. She wore a simple dress without any fancy patterns, her … Read more
Why are you so gloomy?” Ira looked into Sergey’s eyes. “Nothing.” He answered curtly. “Come on, I can see you’re not yourself! Sergey, what happened?” Irina asked insistently. “I got fired.” Sergey grabbed his head with his hands and leaned his elbows on the tabletop. Sergey had long been afraid of getting fired, and his … Read more
One autumn day, an emergency call came into the ambulance station: “A five-year-old child, high fever, loss of consciousness, possible cardiac arrest.” The team was dispatched to a neighborhood of expensive mansions — not the typical place for ambulance work. Usually, such families prefer private doctors or their own clinics. Doctors Olga and Igor arrived … Read more
Svetlana woke up before the alarm clock — as always. The room was filled with a soft twilight: that very ghostly light that appears before dawn, when night is no longer the ruler, but day has not yet taken its rights. Outside, there was deep silence, so dense it seemed as if time had frozen. … Read more
A morning mist slowly spread over the village, hiding the tops of the birch trees as if someone had gently covered them with an airy veil. Dew sparkled on the grass like scattered diamonds, and the air was cool, moist, and filled with the scents of autumn. A light breeze barely stirred the yellowing leaves, … Read more
Valeria stood by the door of her parents’ apartment, examining a bunch of keys, one of which, darkened by time with a deep scratch on its side, she recognized immediately. Once, her mother had tied a red ribbon to it so it wouldn’t get mixed up with the others. The ribbon had long since frayed … Read more
— What are you doing? Put it down immediately! — Tatiana exclaimed, standing in the doorway, clearly upset by what she saw. — I just wanted to see what apps you have installed, — Olga, the future sister-in-law, answered innocently. — So what’s wrong with that? Tatiana was holding the edge of her open blue … Read more
Little Timofey cried again at three in the morning. Anna opened her eyes and realized that her husband didn’t even stir — Oleg was sleeping the deep sleep of exhaustion after a hard day at work. She got up, went to the crib, and took her son in her arms. The tiny body was hot, … Read more
— Anya, hi. I feel really awkward asking, but could you possibly lend me a couple thousand? Even through the phone, Anya could feel how ashamed Alena was. This wasn’t the first time she borrowed money. And although Anya always said it was no big deal, Alena still felt uncomfortable. — Of course, no problem. … Read more
Tatiana woke up exactly at 6:45. The daily alarm clock ringing cut through the early morning silence every time — loud, sudden, merciless. She didn’t jump up or plunge immediately into the day’s reality. She simply opened her eyes and lay there for a while, staring at the ceiling, gray from age and constant dampness. … Read more