{"id":2702,"date":"2025-05-20T21:32:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:32:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2702"},"modified":"2025-05-20T21:32:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:32:57","slug":"2702","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2702","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>crawled forward like a tiny dot in an endless winter landscape. Inside the cabin, the rhythmic squeak of the windshield wipers, the crunching snow under the tires, and the occasional whimper of a baby in the back seat could be heard.Igor gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. His eyes were fixed on the barely visible road through the curtain of snow. He had been silent for ten minutes. Beside him sat Tatyana, equally quiet. Her shoulders drooped, lips pressed into a thin line, eyes glassy. She didn\u2019t just look tired\u2014she looked completely drained. The family had moved to the countryside hoping for a fresh start, a place where Tatyana could recover her health\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Maybe we should turn on the radio?\u201d Igor finally broke the silence, not taking his eyes off the road.<\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed ap_container\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6522130889235853\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_6_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_6\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-6522130889235853&amp;output=html&amp;h=325&amp;adk=4251388593&amp;adf=4204102570&amp;pi=t.aa~a.1381849204~i.10~rp.4&amp;w=390&amp;abgtt=6&amp;lmt=1747776627&amp;num_ads=1&amp;rafmt=1&amp;armr=3&amp;sem=mc&amp;pwprc=2485328719&amp;ad_type=text_image&amp;format=390x325&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fyerenews.com%2Fnews%2F12078%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6vdCof3efdGHJtazK5tI5oNDWTthEStbpo-bAzpQojAQblbEBVK-F88ncDvA_aem_GVhyv3zBQWpQxuvRwGAWSg&amp;fwr=1&amp;pra=3&amp;rh=275&amp;rw=330&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;sfro=1&amp;wgl=1&amp;fa=27&amp;dt=1747776627506&amp;bpp=2&amp;bdt=1288&amp;idt=-M&amp;shv=r20250519&amp;mjsv=m202505150101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D0c70f05137904d38%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MZtwdEp0AZfwEJ9MvPt8ISw-yYW5A&amp;gpic=UID%3D000010c9a2b8f89c%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MafVKDeL9qLOsV9KRIdvdNtXrVUsg&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D317ce1f35ae8d8ea%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DAA-AfjaqQvG1c7dxbXPvSUsZ5pyr&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325&amp;nras=3&amp;correlator=4467632711473&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=120&amp;u_his=1&amp;u_h=844&amp;u_w=390&amp;u_ah=844&amp;u_aw=390&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=3&amp;adx=0&amp;ady=2905&amp;biw=390&amp;bih=655&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=0&amp;eid=95353387%2C95360610%2C95360815%2C31092491%2C95360958%2C95360295&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsmw80gR05HWtdxvEuyMAMXGdNOKXVn1CuymEfqtWtSm_zgGU2CUYCeSWXNHgbyrxQWillehj3Qbi_6pt9KsSLG0oA&amp;pvsid=8642725152994523&amp;tmod=1303106610&amp;uas=1&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1408&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C390%2C0%2C390%2C655%2C390%2C655&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&amp;abl=NS&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaBTYuNy4y&amp;ifi=7&amp;uci=a!7&amp;btvi=4&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=76\" name=\"aswift_6\" width=\"390\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!7\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CMm3qKj_so0DFcjMOwIdOpscSw\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>\u201cWhat for?\u201d she replied flatly, not turning her head. \u201cTo drown out the baby\u2019s crying?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Igor exhaled loudly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHere we go again\u2026\u201d he muttered under his breath, then said a bit louder, \u201cI\u2019m driving, I\u2019m trying. In this weather, and in your car that always breaks down\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy car?\u201d Tatyana repeated bitterly. \u201cBecause you spent your money on cigarettes?\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed ap_container\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6522130889235853\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_7_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_7\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-6522130889235853&amp;output=html&amp;h=325&amp;adk=4251388593&amp;adf=75393718&amp;pi=t.aa~a.1381849204~i.18~rp.4&amp;w=390&amp;abgtt=6&amp;lmt=1747776627&amp;num_ads=1&amp;rafmt=1&amp;armr=3&amp;sem=mc&amp;pwprc=2485328719&amp;ad_type=text_image&amp;format=390x325&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fyerenews.com%2Fnews%2F12078%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6vdCof3efdGHJtazK5tI5oNDWTthEStbpo-bAzpQojAQblbEBVK-F88ncDvA_aem_GVhyv3zBQWpQxuvRwGAWSg&amp;fwr=1&amp;pra=3&amp;rh=275&amp;rw=330&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;sfro=1&amp;wgl=1&amp;fa=27&amp;dt=1747776627506&amp;bpp=2&amp;bdt=1289&amp;idt=-M&amp;shv=r20250519&amp;mjsv=m202505150101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D0c70f05137904d38%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MZtwdEp0AZfwEJ9MvPt8ISw-yYW5A&amp;gpic=UID%3D000010c9a2b8f89c%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MafVKDeL9qLOsV9KRIdvdNtXrVUsg&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D317ce1f35ae8d8ea%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DAA-AfjaqQvG1c7dxbXPvSUsZ5pyr&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325&amp;nras=4&amp;correlator=4467632711473&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=120&amp;u_his=1&amp;u_h=844&amp;u_w=390&amp;u_ah=844&amp;u_aw=390&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=3&amp;adx=0&amp;ady=3607&amp;biw=390&amp;bih=655&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=0&amp;eid=95353387%2C95360610%2C95360815%2C31092491%2C95360958%2C95360295&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsmw80gR05HWtdxvEuyMAMXGdNOKXVn1CuymEfqtWtSm_zgGU2CUYCeSWXNHgbyrxQWillehj3Qbi_6pt9KsSLG0oA&amp;pvsid=8642725152994523&amp;tmod=1303106610&amp;uas=1&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1408&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C390%2C0%2C390%2C655%2C390%2C655&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&amp;abl=NS&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaBTYuNy4y&amp;ifi=8&amp;uci=a!8&amp;btvi=5&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=78\" name=\"aswift_7\" width=\"390\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!8\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CIGWqaj_so0DFdT0OwId9qIYzQ\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>The baby stirred and started crying again. Igor jerked the wheel slightly, feeling irritation flare inside him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"google-auto-placed ap_container\"><ins class=\"adsbygoogle adsbygoogle-noablate\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-6522130889235853\" data-adsbygoogle-status=\"done\" data-ad-status=\"unfilled\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"aswift_8_host\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" id=\"aswift_8\" tabindex=\"0\" title=\"Advertisement\" src=\"https:\/\/googleads.g.doubleclick.net\/pagead\/ads?gdpr=0&amp;client=ca-pub-6522130889235853&amp;output=html&amp;h=325&amp;adk=4251388593&amp;adf=4116295434&amp;pi=t.aa~a.1381849204~i.20~rp.4&amp;w=390&amp;abgtt=6&amp;lmt=1747776627&amp;num_ads=1&amp;rafmt=1&amp;armr=3&amp;sem=mc&amp;pwprc=2485328719&amp;ad_type=text_image&amp;format=390x325&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fyerenews.com%2Fnews%2F12078%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR6vdCof3efdGHJtazK5tI5oNDWTthEStbpo-bAzpQojAQblbEBVK-F88ncDvA_aem_GVhyv3zBQWpQxuvRwGAWSg&amp;fwr=1&amp;pra=3&amp;rh=275&amp;rw=330&amp;rpe=1&amp;resp_fmts=3&amp;sfro=1&amp;wgl=1&amp;fa=27&amp;dt=1747776627506&amp;bpp=1&amp;bdt=1288&amp;idt=-M&amp;shv=r20250519&amp;mjsv=m202505150101&amp;ptt=9&amp;saldr=aa&amp;abxe=1&amp;cookie=ID%3D0c70f05137904d38%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MZtwdEp0AZfwEJ9MvPt8ISw-yYW5A&amp;gpic=UID%3D000010c9a2b8f89c%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DALNI_MafVKDeL9qLOsV9KRIdvdNtXrVUsg&amp;eo_id_str=ID%3D317ce1f35ae8d8ea%3AT%3D1747776619%3ART%3D1747776619%3AS%3DAA-AfjaqQvG1c7dxbXPvSUsZ5pyr&amp;prev_fmts=0x0%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325%2C390x325&amp;nras=5&amp;correlator=4467632711473&amp;frm=20&amp;pv=1&amp;u_tz=120&amp;u_his=1&amp;u_h=844&amp;u_w=390&amp;u_ah=844&amp;u_aw=390&amp;u_cd=24&amp;u_sd=3&amp;adx=0&amp;ady=4032&amp;biw=390&amp;bih=655&amp;scr_x=0&amp;scr_y=0&amp;eid=95353387%2C95360610%2C95360815%2C31092491%2C95360958%2C95360295&amp;oid=2&amp;psts=AOrYGsmw80gR05HWtdxvEuyMAMXGdNOKXVn1CuymEfqtWtSm_zgGU2CUYCeSWXNHgbyrxQWillehj3Qbi_6pt9KsSLG0oA&amp;pvsid=8642725152994523&amp;tmod=1303106610&amp;uas=1&amp;nvt=1&amp;ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&amp;fc=1408&amp;brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C390%2C0%2C390%2C655%2C390%2C655&amp;vis=1&amp;rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&amp;abl=NS&amp;fu=128&amp;bc=31&amp;bz=1&amp;pgls=CAEaBTYuNy4y&amp;ifi=9&amp;uci=a!9&amp;btvi=6&amp;fsb=1&amp;dtd=79\" name=\"aswift_8\" width=\"390\" height=\"0\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-forms allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" data-google-container-id=\"a!9\" aria-label=\"Advertisement\" data-load-complete=\"true\" data-google-query-id=\"CPfUqaj_so0DFdvoOwIdqxIrIA\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><\/ins><\/div>\n<p>\u201cGreat. We move to the village, start fresh\u2014and right away you\u2019re back at it. Can we just drive in peace?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnough. Just\u2026 be quiet,\u201d Tatyana whispered, resting her forehead against the window. She closed her eyes, and a tear slid down her cheek.<\/p>\n<p>The car skidded a little on a turn, but Igor regained control. Through the ice-crusted trees, an old house came into view\u2014blue, crooked, as if forgotten by time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s our destination,\u201d he said, stopping at the edge of a field. \u201cWe made it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was no road beyond this point\u2014only snowdrifts and rough terrain.<\/p>\n<p>Tatyana slowly got out, clutching the baby wrapped in a blanket. Her steps were hesitant, like someone who no longer trusted the ground beneath her.<\/p>\n<p>She took a few steps\u2014and stumbled. The snow was deeper than it looked. She gasped, falling to her knees, cradling the baby.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you doing\u2026\u201d Igor rushed over, taking the baby from her arms. \u201cCareful! What\u2019s wrong with you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t shout\u2026\u201d Tatyana whispered. \u201cJust don\u2019t shake him\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know how to hold a baby,\u201d he snapped, helping her up. She said nothing, her eyes red as she leaned on him and walked on.<\/p>\n<p>The house greeted them with silence. The creak of steps, the click of the lock, a cold gust of wind\u2014and snow, which had to be cleared away with bare hands. The key barely fit into the rusted lock.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome on, don\u2019t fail me now\u2026\u201d Igor muttered, jiggling the door. \u201cDon\u2019t give up, you old wreck\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Finally, the lock gave way. They stepped into darkness.<\/p>\n<p>The smell of mold, dust, and damp hit them immediately. In the light from the phone, scattered sacks, bits of rope, and grain could be seen. Everything was coated in a gray film of abandonment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh God\u2026\u201d Tatyana whispered. \u201cWe\u2019re going to live here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor now,\u201d Igor replied shortly. \u201cWe\u2019ll clean it up, settle in\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He found a broom, a bucket, and began cleaning furiously. The rustle of sweeping, creaking floorboards, and banging filled the air\u2014like the sounds of a sinking ship. But he kept working.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll make this the nursery,\u201d he said, still cleaning. \u201cThese old radiators still work. The walls are solid. Double-paned windows.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd the ceiling?\u201d Tatyana asked skeptically. \u201cThat mold in the corner?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll scrub it, dry it out, insulate. Just hang in there, Tanya. For him. For his sake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She didn\u2019t answer. She just sat on the couch, still wrapped in her coat.<\/p>\n<p>The room was slightly warmer. The peeling walls were adorned with a single picture: the Nutcracker with a sword, surrounded by mice. The image sparked a thought, but Igor brushed it aside.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHere\u2019s your protector, Dima,\u201d he chuckled, hammering a nail into the wall. \u201cThe Nutcracker on duty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Night fell suddenly, as if someone had flipped a switch. Everything turned gray and silent. Then a faint sound outside the wall made Tatyana flinch.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIgor\u2026 Did you hear that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProbably mice,\u201d he shrugged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, something\u2019s whining. Outside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He listened. A thin, drawn-out sound, fading in and out, came from the blizzard.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll check,\u201d he said and stepped out.<\/p>\n<p>On the porch, in a snowdrift, sat a dog. Dirty brown, with a dark muzzle and eyes full of silent pain. She was trembling, paws tucked under, tail between her legs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat are you doing out here?\u201d Igor knelt. \u201cYou\u2019ll freeze, silly thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dog lifted her head. Her gaze was steady, as if she had come here with purpose and wouldn\u2019t go anywhere else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCome on,\u201d Igor said softly, motioning her inside.<\/p>\n<p>Lada ran into the house and headed straight to the nursery. She stopped by the crib, frozen in place.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat the hell?!\u201d Tatyana shouted in alarm. \u201cGet her out! She\u2019s going to the baby!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCalm down,\u201d Igor tried to reassure her. \u201cShe\u2019s harmless. Look\u2014she\u2019s barely breathing. She\u2019s just cold.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m scared. I don\u2019t want her near him,\u201d Tatyana said firmly.<\/p>\n<p>Igor hesitated, then nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf anything happens\u2014I\u2019ll get rid of her. Okay? Just give her a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She turned away silently. But she didn\u2019t sleep well that night, holding her son close while the dog lay at the foot of the bed\u2014like a statue, unmoving, unblinking.<\/p>\n<p>Morning broke bright and dazzling. Sunlight played on the frosted windows, casting strange patterns on the ceiling. A rooster crowed outside\u2014loud and insistent, tearing through the silence of the new day. The room smelled of damp wood and something else\u2014strange, unplaceable.<\/p>\n<p>Tatyana woke first. She rubbed her eyes, feeling an odd lightness in her chest\u2014for the first time in a long while, the coughing had stopped. She went to check on the baby. Dima slept peacefully. Beside the crib, the dog lay stretched out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re still here\u2026\u201d Tatyana whispered. Her voice was guarded, but something flickered in her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>In the kitchen, dishes clattered. Igor was busy at the stove, in a sweater and underwear, cracking eggs. Sunlight poured through the windows, and something like life was beginning to stir in the house.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re celebrating today,\u201d he smiled without turning. \u201cBreakfast! And guess what\u2014we\u2019ve got a chicken!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tatyana raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA live one?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYeah, bought it from old Misha over the ravine. Got some fresh eggs too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She sat at the table. Lada lay carefully at her feet, and Tatyana pretended not to notice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did you name her, by the way?\u201d she asked after a pause.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLada. After my grandma. She was a kind soul.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter your grandma?\u201d Tatyana frowned. \u201cAnd when were you going to tell me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell\u2026 just now. Morning, tea, eggs\u2014family confessions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She sighed. Outside, the snow creaked\u2014someone had probably passed by the house.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes I feel like you live as if you\u2019re alone,\u201d Tatyana said softly, not looking up. \u201cYou make decisions on your own. The chicken, the dog\u2026 even naming her without me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTanya\u2026\u201d Igor sat beside her. \u201cYou know how exhausted you are. I didn\u2019t want to burden you. I tried to handle everything myself. Honestly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTried?\u201d She gave a bitter smile. \u201cAnd her lying right next to the crib? That\u2019s part of you trying? Aren\u2019t you worried?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am,\u201d he leaned in. \u201cBut I see how worn down you are. The move, the illness, the cold, the baby\u2026 And this dog. Maybe she\u2019s the only one here who really sees us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tatyana said nothing. She brushed her son\u2019s hair, then slowly got up, straightening her back with effort.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to rest. The cough\u2019s back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lada followed her gaze and trailed silently behind like a shadow.<\/p>\n<p>The day was busy: Igor insulated windows, sealed cracks, hunted down drafts. Soft music played from an old radio, creating an illusion of coziness. The house smelled of wood, dust, and something else\u2014as if it were just beginning to learn how to be a home.<\/p>\n<div class=\"google-anno-skip google-anno-sc\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"link\" aria-label=\"Best headphones deals\" data-google-vignette=\"false\" data-google-interstitial=\"false\">Best headphones deals<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Lada never left Dima\u2019s side. Wherever Igor carried the baby, she followed\u2014watchful, focused, with eyes unnervingly full of awareness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLike she\u2019s guarding him,\u201d Igor muttered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what scares me,\u201d Tatyana replied from behind a curtain. \u201cDogs don\u2019t act like that. Like she\u2019s waiting for something.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Igor stepped out for a smoke. The snow crunched underfoot, the frost biting at his skin. He pulled out a cigarette\u2014when a sound made him turn. Tatyana stood in the doorway, wrapped in a scarf.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAgain?\u201d her voice trembled. \u201cYou promised to quit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNerves,\u201d he tried to explain. \u201cI can\u2019t change overnight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re a father,\u201d she said firmly. \u201cAnd I trusted you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stubbed the cigarette out in the snow. Inside, he boiled with frustration\u2014at himself, the village, the house, the dog, who stared at him from the shadows with almost human eyes.<\/p>\n<p>That night, Tatyana woke with the sense that someone was too close. Lada sat by the crib, tense as a wire. The fur on her neck was raised.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIgor, wake up,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n<p>He groaned, opening his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook at her. She\u2019s growling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Igor approached. Lada ignored him, staring at a corner of the room. Her ears pinned back, teeth bared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLada?\u201d he called softly. \u201cHey\u2026 easy now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dog didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh God\u2026\u201d Tatyana whispered. \u201cWhat does she see?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe it\u2019s nothing,\u201d he tried to calm her. \u201cCould be a mouse. Nothing serious\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing serious?!\u201d she cried. \u201cShe\u2019s standing guard and growling! That\u2019s not normal!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Igor had no words. He placed a hand on Lada\u2019s back\u2014she flinched slightly but didn\u2019t move. Gently, he led her out and shut the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you drive us crazy,\u201d he whispered to her, \u201cyou\u2019ll be sleeping in the barn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dog looked at him and followed\u2014no longer tense.<\/p>\n<p>The days blurred together: porridge in the morning, blizzards outside, baby cries, Tatyana\u2019s cough\u2026 And always Lada. A part of the house, like the floor or the walls.<\/p>\n<p>One morning was especially grim. The snow had turned a dirty gray, as if losing its meaning. Igor stood on the porch, squeezing a rag in his hands. His eyes burned from lack of sleep, a dull ache in his chest. Something in the house felt off. Like the air had thickened, making it hard to breathe.<\/p>\n<p>In the shed, he noticed something on the ground. He went over. The chicken\u2014dead, mangled. Feathers torn out, neck broken. Large tracks in the snow. Blood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLada\u2026\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n<p>The dog stepped out from around the corner. Tail down, muzzle smeared. Dark stains on her fur. She stood still. No growl, no whimper. Just looked him straight in the eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat have you done\u2026\u201d Igor breathed.<\/p>\n<p>Tatyana followed him out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d she asked, then saw the carcass and recoiled. \u201cIs that\u2026 her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLooks like it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGod\u2026 I told you! And you defended her! Now this!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe it wasn\u2019t her\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe has blood on her face, Igor!\u201d her voice cracked. \u201cShe growls at night, stalks our baby, and now she\u2019s killed the chicken! What if next time it\u2019s Dima?!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTanya\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday. Either you get rid of her, or I will. Do you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She went back inside, slamming the door. A moment later, Igor heard the familiar click of her opening a bottle of sleeping pills.<\/p>\n<p>He approached Lada, crouched down. She didn\u2019t move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat am I supposed to do with you?\u201d he whispered. \u201cI don\u2019t know, Lada. I really don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The dog refused to get into the car. He tugged, bu\u2014<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2702\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"2702\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>crawled forward like a tiny dot in an endless winter landscape. Inside the cabin, the rhythmic squeak of the windshield wipers, the crunching snow under the tires, and the occasional whimper of a baby in the back seat could be heard.Igor gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles white. His eyes were fixed on the&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=2702\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p id=\"pvc_stats_2702\" class=\"pvc_stats total_only  \" data-element-id=\"2702\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" data-prefix=\"far\" data-icon=\"chart-bar\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" class=\"svg-inline--fa fa-chart-bar fa-w-16 fa-2x\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M396.8 352h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V108.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v230.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm-192 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V140.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v198.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zm96 0h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8V204.8c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v134.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8zM496 400H48V80c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16H16C7.16 64 0 71.16 0 80v336c0 17.67 14.33 32 32 32h464c8.84 0 16-7.16 16-16v-16c0-8.84-7.16-16-16-16zm-387.2-48h22.4c6.4 0 12.8-6.4 12.8-12.8v-70.4c0-6.4-6.4-12.8-12.8-12.8h-22.4c-6.4 0-12.8 6.4-12.8 12.8v70.4c0 6.4 6.4 12.8 12.8 12.8z\" class=\"\"><\/path><\/svg><\/i> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Loading\" src=\"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/wp-content\/plugins\/page-views-count\/ajax-loader-2x.gif\" border=0 \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"a3_pvc":{"activated":true,"total_views":738,"today_views":0},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2702"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2703,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2702\/revisions\/2703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}