It started with a drunken dare on a stormy Friday night. My best friend Rachel and I were scrolling through an online auction site, giggling at the weirdest things people were selling: a haunted toaster, a potato that “looked like Elvis,” and then — a porcelain clown figurine named “Jasper.” The description read: “DO NOT … Read more
Five years ago, on a sunlit promenade in California, a small girl with a big smile tucked a violin under her chin and began to play. Her fingers moved with surprising grace, her eyes sparkled with joy, and her music—raw, tender, electric—stopped passersby in their tracks. That girl was Karolina Protsenko. She was just ten … Read more
The airport was alive with its usual rhythm—rolling suitcases, boarding announcements, rushed goodbyes, and distracted travelers glued to their screens. But near Gate 12B of the international terminal, something remarkable was about to happen. A small upright piano, usually ignored by passersby, had become the center of attention. A woman with kind eyes and soft, … Read more
It began on a cobblestone square in Florence, just as the golden hour painted the sky in hues of amber and rose. A small crowd had gathered around two familiar figures—one young and radiant, her violin glinting in the sun, the other poised with quiet intensity, his saxophone resting against his chest. Karolina Protsenko and … Read more
The sun was beginning to dip behind the buildings of Santa Monica, casting a golden glow across the street. Crowds flowed like rivers, some tourists, some locals, all chasing the last light of the day. But then, everything stopped—because Karolina Protsenko had lifted her violin. She stood poised, her glittering bow in hand, facing a … Read more
It was a crisp December afternoon on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade. Shoppers bustled past, cradling warm drinks and last-minute gifts, their ears filled with the familiar clang of bells and laughter. But today, a different kind of magic began to stir. Karolina Protsenko, the young violin virtuoso known for her passionate street performances, stood … Read more
The antique grandfather clock in the hallway chimed midnight as Anna stepped into the bedroom. She felt numb. Her white heels echoed against the marble floor of Ivan Sergeyevich’s grand villa. The lace on her dress brushed against the heavy wooden door as she entered, trembling slightly. Ivan stood near the fireplace, his back to … Read more
In June, I filed for divorce. My husband slammed the door and left for someone younger and prettier. The details no longer mattered. Victor, my ex, seemed the epitome of charm before the wedding: bouquets of flowers, tender words, romance. But after the wedding, the trial version of the “perfect husband” ended, and the full … Read more
Matvey braked abruptly, as if something had suddenly alerted him. How many times had he planned to come here? Neither in life nor after her death had he found the time. Always busy, important, now it felt unbearable. Remembering what had once been made him nauseous. It had taken a real electric shock: something capable … Read more
The annual Harvest Festival in the heart of Maplewood was in full swing. The scent of caramel apples and fresh hay filled the air, and lanterns twinkled like stars around the bustling town square. People gathered near the wooden dance floor, eager for the live band to start. Jerry Lewis, a quiet and reserved man … Read more