The white dress flowed over Maria’s figure in waves of expensive silk. She stood in front of the mirror, unable to believe her happiness. Today she was marrying Ivan. The very same Vanya who, three years ago, had literally saved her from loneliness. “Mashenka, are you ready?” her mother peeked into the room, her eyes […]
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Olga pressed “end call” and stared blankly at her phone. The same thing again. Third day in a row. “Hi, Mom! We’re at Grandma Galya’s! It’s so cool here! She made pies! When are you coming?” In the background, her mother-in-law’s voice always chimed in: “Alisochka, tell Mommy that we love you! That we’re taking […]
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The silence of the night, broken only by the soft rustle of rain outside the window, wrapped the apartment like a warm blanket. Alyona had already put on her pajamas, tied her hair into a messy ponytail, and was about to collapse into bed after an exhausting nurse’s shift at the hospital. But the phone […]
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Lyudmila straightened the folds on her blue dress. Today they were celebrating her mother-in-law’s birthday. All the relatives had gathered in Tamara Ivanovna’s apartment. “Lyuda, come to the table,” her mother-in-law greeted her with an icy smile. “Valera is already here.” At the festive table sat Oksana with her husband, Uncle Grisha, and Aunt Nina. […]
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“You know what, darling? Mom’s right. You’re a freeloader—go get a job!” Ilya barked at his stunned wife, slamming the table so hard a spoon at the edge jumped. Svetlana froze. She had no idea what to say. A hot mash of hurt, anger, and bewilderment boiled in her head. Freeloader. She was the one […]
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Olga tapped “hang up” and stared blankly at her phone. The same thing again. Third day in a row. “Mom, hi! We’re at Grandma Galya’s! It’s awesome here! She made pies! When are you coming?” In the background there was always her mother-in-law’s voice: “Alisochka, tell Mommy we love her! That we’re taking good care […]
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I ran my finger over the cold steel of the keys in my pocket. Two brand-new, gleaming keys to an apartment Mark will never set foot in. “Should I hang another shelf above the dresser, what do you think?” he asked without looking up from his laptop. “For my awards. They’re bringing me another one […]
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The gate’s creak sliced through the frosty air. Not the usual kind—the one when her husband comes back from the apiary—but a different one: hurried and guilty. Anna set aside her knitting and looked out the window. No one. Only snow, lazily swirling in the lamplight. “Vanya, can you check?” she called deeper into the […]
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“You just don’t know how to present yourself,” Kristina drawled, stirring her cocktail with a straw. A bracelet studded with stones glittered on her wrist. She said it with that light, almost careless condescension that was her calling card. “It’s not about presentation,” Olya Yeremina answered quietly, studying a crack on her cup of cheap […]
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“You just don’t know how to present yourself,” Kristina drawled, stirring her cocktail with a straw. A bracelet studded with stones glittered on her wrist. She said it with that light, almost careless condescension that was her calling card. “It’s not about presentation,” Olya Yeremina answered quietly, studying a crack on her cup of cheap […]
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