Lilya was only seven years old. But even at such a young age, she already knew that loneliness could be loud like crying, and quiet like rain. Often, sitting with her legs tucked up on the wooden porch, she would look into the distance — where the road disappeared beyond horizons hidden by clouds and […]
Continue...
Sorry, but with such a diagnosis, surgery is unavoidable,” the doctor said irritably, throwing up his hands as if Sergey had brought the illness on himself. Sergey felt a boiling rage inside. How many times had he already heard this? How many offices had he visited, hoping to hear something different? And this one — […]
Continue...
«— So, are you going to cook today?» Vadim drawled without taking his eyes off the flickering images on the screen. His voice, sluggish and slightly congested, spread through the cramped living room, mixing with the forced laughter from the TV. Kira barely stepped over the threshold when she felt the last remnants of her […]
Continue...
Learning that her son was born with disabilities, his mother officially abandoned him eleven years ago. San’ka saw that very document — the official «abandonment» statement — with his own eyes. He stumbled upon it while delivering personal files to the medical station. The nurse handed him the folders and asked him to follow her, […]
Continue...
Lera had always imagined her thirtieth birthday differently. As a child, she thought that by thirty she would have everything: a career, children, her own house with a garden and a white picket fence. Reality turned out to be more complicated and, at the same time, simpler. She had Maksim — a husband she had […]
Continue...
Victor was steering the motorboat over the calm surface of the Gulf of Finland, while his passengers — tourists from Moscow — were eagerly casting their fishing lines. The day was going wonderfully: the clear sun was shining, a gentle breeze was blowing, and the fish were biting willingly. “Victor Semyonych, is that something floating […]
Continue...
Cheese Soup and Uninvited Guests Vera carefully smoothed the fuzzy blanket over the back of the sofa, arranged the pillows in a symmetrical semicircle, and sighed with satisfaction. The air was filled with a harmonious blend of aromas — cheese soup with thyme, a crispy baguette with rosemary, just taken out of the oven. Everything […]
Continue...
Kirill was walking down the street, noticing nothing around him. As if through a fog, he pushed forward, bumping into passersby who grumbled discontentedly behind him—but he did not hear them. He didn’t even know where he was or which part of the city surrounded him. Everything seemed distant, alien. The man seemed to have […]
Continue...
— Can you imagine, I booked us a hotel in Sochi! Three stars, but it’s right on the first line, just five minutes walk to the sea! — Marina was excitedly showing her husband photos on the laptop screen. — Look at the view from the balcony! And here’s the beach… clean, sandy! And breakfast […]
Continue...
— Tanya? — Zhanna didn’t expect to see her ex-husband’s sister at the doorstep. The girl was completely soaked, water streaming down from her long hair. — It started to pour while I was coming. My things got wet, I need to wring them out… Can I come in? — Well… Come in. — Zhanna […]
Continue...