Maria spent three days scrubbing every corner of the house, as if her enemy weren’t dust but time itself—the time that had separated her from her son.

Three days Maria scrubbed every corner of the house, as if her enemy weren’t dust but time itself—the time that had separated her from her son. She woke before dawn, even though the bus wouldn’t arrive in the village until after lunch. She still couldn’t sleep. Andrei was coming home after five years in Germany. […]

Продолжение...

— “You’re no longer my daughter. Who he is and where he’s from—no one knows. I’m ashamed of you. Move into your grandmother’s log house and start living like an adult. Feel responsible for your actions.”

“You’re no longer my daughter. No one knows who he is or where he came from. I’m ashamed of you. Move into your grandmother’s hut and live like an adult. Feel the responsibility for your actions.” “Olya, did you hear? They sent people here on a business trip to help ours. Let’s go to the […]

Продолжение...

Grandfather didn’t just leave me a house—he left me a carcass of one. A sagging, wind-gnawed box on the edge of nowhere. And yet, the moment I crossed its threshold, something inside me jolted so hard I had to grab the frame to steady myself…

Grandfather left me a crumbling village house while my sister inherited a two-room apartment in the very heart of the city. My husband called me a failure and moved in with my sister. After losing everything, I went to the village—and the moment I stepped inside the house, I was stunned… The notary’s office was […]

Продолжение...

After the quarrel, the husband left with his things for his mother’s place, and five days later something happened that no one expected.

Ira stood at the stove stirring borscht. Sasha paced back and forth across the kitchen. “Salted it again!” He tasted it and grimaced. “How many times do I have to say it?” “I didn’t oversalt anything.” “What’s this then?” Sasha pointed into the pot with the spoon. “The Dead Sea?” Ira clenched her teeth. Thirty […]

Продолжение...