Two months. That’s how long I’d been away, caring for my mom after her surgery. Two endless, draining months of bland hospital food, uncomfortable naps in stiff chairs, and a constant knot of worry in my stomach. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of finally returning to my own apartment, my … Read more
The midwife whispered softly, wiping the sweat from Galina’s brow, “The baby’s almost here.” Galina clenched her jaw and gripped her mother’s hand tightly. A sharp wave of pain surged through her, yet she stayed silent, afraid to disturb the neighbor’s children sleeping nearby. “Viktor should’ve been back by now,” she managed to say in … Read more
At Lyceum No. 6’s cafeteria, the air always carried a strange blend of burnt pea soup and stale bread crumbs, mixed with the faint aroma of greasy meat patties. Long wooden tables clattered under the weight of trays, spoons tapped impatiently against glasses, and someone grumbled about the compote being sourer than usual. Amid the … Read more
Inna gazed out the window, raindrops weaving random trails across the glass. Seventeen years together — was that a lifetime or just a fleeting blink? Every moment, every smile, every disappointment — all etched in her mind. And now, it was all unraveling like a fragile tower of cards. “We need to talk,” Alexey’s voice … Read more
Inna stood by the window, watching raindrops race down the glass, tracing random paths like tiny rivers. Seventeen years together — was that a lifetime or just a fleeting moment? She recalled every shared day, every smile, every disappointment. And now, everything was falling apart like a fragile card tower. “We need to talk,” Alexey’s … Read more
I had always believed that my father had walked out on us without a second thought. But at his funeral, a stranger handed me a key—along with the truth that would change everything I thought I knew. My father disappeared when I was just three. Or so I thought. Growing up, I never saw him. … Read more
What’s this?” Ivan asked, paling as he saw the photo of his missing father hanging on the wall… When Ivan returned from work, his mother was on the balcony, tending to her flowers. Bent over the hanging planters, she was carefully straightening the leaves. Her face was bathed in a soft, quiet light. “Mom, you’re … Read more
My name is Matteo, and this is how I survived being abandoned by my own mother. As a child, my family seemed simple and beautiful, like a little cocoon woven with laughter, the smell of food, and tender touches. My father, Lorenzo, ran a small garage in the peaceful Tuscan village of Borgo San Vito, … Read more
That night, everything felt like it had been pulled from a dream. The ceremony went off without a hitch, the reception was like something out of a fairy tale, and Greg, my husband, had never seemed happier. But deep inside, I knew that this perfection was nothing more than a fragile illusion. And it was … Read more
“Her Turn” “Are you sure you don’t need anything else from the store?” Anna asked once more, her hand on the doorknob. “I’m fine. Just go already,” Boris replied sharply, waving her off. His tone had grown increasingly dismissive in recent weeks. Anna felt it, but she let it go. Confrontation was never her way—peace … Read more