Are you seriously deciding to invite your mom to live with us without my consent?» I blurted out irritably, feeling everything inside boiling with outrage. Andrey froze with his coffee cup halfway to his mouth. Outside, a light autumn rain began to fall, droplets tapping on the ledge, creating a tense accompaniment to our conversation. […]
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The phone rang at ten in the evening when Masha had already dozed off over her book. Pavel was tinkering with yet another washing machine in the kitchen—he often took work home to earn extra money. «Pash, it’s your phone,» Masha reached for the smartphone lying on the nightstand. «Mom is calling.» Pavel came out […]
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«And she spent the whole bonus? The entire amount? That much money?» Lydia Gavrilovna asked in surprise. «You said Galya would pay for our trip to the Shishkins! I’ve already promised them that we would come. What’s going on?» — «I don’t know, all of it or half. Mom, why are you starting this again?» […]
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When Natalia returned home, she found her husband, Nikita, in a very anxious state. He was pacing nervously from one corner to another, constantly dialing a number on his phone. “Hi, honey,” Natalia said casually, pretending not to notice her husband’s tension. “What’s for dinner?” It was as though Nikita didn’t hear her; he went […]
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Maria stared absently out the window. Her fingers were gently stroking the photograph in its frame. An old snapshot showed Tamara Ivanovna smiling back at her. Aunt Tamara had been the only person to support Masha after her parents died. Even this apartment was the last gift from Aunt Tamara. Every corner reminded her of […]
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Anna looked at the mess in the living room. Empty bottles, dirty plates, crumbs, and ashes on the couch—an all-too-familiar sight after another of Dmitry’s get-togethers. The clock read three in the morning, yet loud music and raucous laughter still filled the apartment. How had the neighbors not shown up yet? Anna rubbed her temples, […]
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From the very morning, Anfisa was out of sorts. And that was putting it mildly. She had already berated herself a hundred times for giving in to her husband Maxim’s persuasion. “Fool, spineless fool!” she scolded herself. The worst thing was that nothing could be changed now. Once she had agreed, there was no going […]
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Are you serious? Is that all you’re capable of?» Andrey greeted Olga in the hallway, waving a sheet of paper. «I found the perfect car, and you won’t even discuss it?» Olga carefully placed her bag on the floor, shaking the raindrops off her coat. Andrey’s eyes burned with an unusual fire, which immediately put […]
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— Natasha, dear, where do you plan to live now? — Angelica Viktorovna, Natasha’s mother-in-law, approached her daughter-in-law. Natasha had not yet recovered from her husband’s funeral, so she did not immediately understand the question. She mechanically packed the leftover candies from the wake into a container. — Excuse me, what? — Where do you […]
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Anna Georgievna was busily setting the table while her husband, Sergey Viktorovich, spoke on the phone. «Everything’s just great, Igorek,» the man reported. «Exactly as we planned, it all worked out. So don’t worry, we’re in chocolate.» «Say hello to him,» Anna Georgievna chirped, finishing the table setting. «Hello from mom,» Sergey Viktorovich said into […]
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