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Irina twirled the keys between her fingers. The keys to the new apartment—their new apartment—burned her palm. Fifteen years of saving. Fifteen! And now… “Ir, why are you frozen?” Sergey touched her shoulder. “Come on, open it already!” “Maybe you open it? Technically, after all…” “Ir, we’ve talked about this a hundred times. Mom is […]

Dad, are you serious? I’m not going to work here!” “You are, Pasha. And don’t even think about resisting. If you keep this up, I’ll just turn my back and leave you to deal with it yourself. Think about how much trouble you’ve already caused.” Pavel snorted and looked away. What had gotten into his […]

Do you remember that last shift, when that girl gave birth here? The one who was screaming so crudely—asking why all of this was happening to her. She was swearing filthy— not every man could talk like that. It was downright unpleasant to hear it coming from a woman!” “I remember. What about her?” “She […]

— Mom, hi. I need your help urgently. Her son’s voice on the line sounded as if he were speaking to an annoying subordinate, not to his mother. Nina Petrovna froze with the remote in her hand, never having turned on the evening news. — Kiryusha, hello. Did something happen? — No, everything’s fine, — […]

“I’m pregnant,” I said, and a smile spread across my face all by itself. Kirill, standing by the window, froze. He didn’t even turn around, but in the glass I saw his shoulders tense. I was waiting for a hug, joyful shouting—anything at all, but not that strange, rigid stillness. “Me too,” Lena’s quiet voice […]

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Tonya let out a heavy sigh. Some people were spared a midlife crisis, but hers had hit like a real, knock-you-off-your-feet hurricane. She disliked everything about herself and wanted to change it all. “You look gorgeous, sweetheart! No one would ever say you’re forty!” her coworker would tell […]

Irina twirled the keys between her fingers. The keys to the new apartment—their new apartment—burned against her palm. Fifteen years of saving. Fifteen! And now… “Ir, why are you standing there?” Sergey tapped her shoulder. “Come on, open it already!” “Maybe you should open it? Technically…” “Ir, we’ve talked about this a hundred times. Mom’s […]

Granny Anya drank some sour milk, said her prayers, and got ready for bed. Her knees ached worse than usual today. The alcohol rub didn’t help, and she’d run out of ointment. Ah, look what she’d come to. Her eyes barely saw, her back was twisted with pain, her knees throbbed. And when would God […]

“Sir, please help us—we’re lost!” the children anxiously called out to Viktor Alexeyevich, having no idea how it might all end. Viktor Alexeyevich had known this forest since childhood. His family used to come here to pick mushrooms and berries, and years later he still kept that tradition. The woods reminded him of happy times—when […]

Larisa Pavlovna stood in front of the hallway mirror, adjusting the collar of her snow-white blouse. Behind her, her husband’s familiar voice rang out: “Have you turned those shows on again? Lara, how long can this go on? Twenty years of the same thing—kitchen, TV, kitchen, TV.” She didn’t turn around. On the screen, a […]