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Irina sat at her desk in her room, reviewing a website mockup for a new client. Colorful blocks, fonts, and icons flickered across her laptop screen. She had been working remotely as a web designer for four years now, and it brought in a decent income. Orders came in steadily, she set her own schedule, […]

— The apartment is mine. You’re moving out. Sergey was standing in the bedroom doorway. One hand on the doorframe. Not drunk—just certain. Behind him hovered Kristina from his department. About twenty-eight, a short skirt. She was studying the photos of us on the wall, as if deciding what to keep and what to throw […]

Irina stood by the door with a key in her hand, listening to someone wheezing with laughter behind it. The music was pounding so hard the door was vibrating. For two years she’d been paying for this seaside apartment—skipping vacations, saving on everything—and now she was standing there like an idiot with a suitcase, unable […]

Sveta came home from work exhausted. The day had been rough—reports, meetings, deadlines slipping. She worked as a procurement manager at a small company, and before New Year’s it was always chaos: everyone wanted to close contracts before the holidays. She kicked off her shoes in the entryway and went into the kitchen, hoping at […]

The door slammed so sharply that Polina flinched and dropped the towel. Margarita Semyonovna—her mother-in-law—burst into the hallway, a loud, emotional woman who was convinced the world revolved around her opinion. “Where is he?” she blurted from the doorway. “Where’s your lover?” Polina stood in the middle of the hall in a house dress, her […]

The apartment came to Yekaterina from her grandmother—three rooms on the fourth floor of a panel apartment block, with wide windows and a view of the park. Her grandmother died quietly, in her sleep, leaving her granddaughter her only treasure. Yekaterina entered into the inheritance six months later, as required, and became the lawful owner […]

Alyona stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room, adjusting her veil. Two months ago she had married Dmitry Volkov, and that day had seemed the happiest of her life. The wedding was small—about thirty guests, a modest reception at a café—but everything felt heartfelt and warm. After the celebration, the newlyweds went […]

Alyona stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room, adjusting her veil. Two months ago she had married Dmitry Volkov, and that day had seemed the happiest of her life. The wedding was small—about thirty guests, a modest reception at a café—but everything felt heartfelt and warm. After the celebration, the newlyweds went […]

Alina closed the bedroom door behind her and leaned against it with her back. Her head was splitting after yet another scandal. Three years of marriage had turned into an endless chain of fights, resentments, and icy silence. Sergey was sitting in the kitchen, furiously typing something on his phone. Probably complaining to his mother […]

Nadezhda was sitting in the kitchen, looking out the window and watching the neighbor’s dog wander around the courtyard. Behind her came the clinking of dishes—she was washing cups after dinner. Sergey appeared in the doorway with his phone in his hand. “Mom’s coming tomorrow,” he announced. Nadezhda flinched and turned around. “Again?” “Oh come […]