“Come in, Marina. Dinner needs to be made—the groceries are in a bag in the kitchen. The laundry’s in the basket. Dust the living room; it hasn’t been done in ages,” the future mother-in-law rattled off, then casually added, “And Vanya and I will watch a movie in the living room for now.”

“Come in, Marina. Dinner needs to be cooked—the groceries are in a bag in the kitchen. The laundry’s in the basket. Wipe the dust in the living room; I haven’t gotten around to it in ages,” the future mother-in-law rattled off, and then, as if casually, added, “And Vanya and I will watch a movie […]

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— Be a man. What other apartment are you trying to split up? — his wife said firmly. — I’ve already given you what’s yours.

When Lena stepped off the train, it was still dark. She hadn’t told anyone she was coming back. She bought a ticket for early morning, took the last car, didn’t read, didn’t look out the window. She only listened to the clatter of the wheels—as if they were tapping out what she still hadn’t said. […]

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