The Mills of Time

"...That September day began well. Lukerya's daughter rushed off to university in the morning; she and her husband woke up around eleven: they had just returned from Greece two days ago, spending ten days together for the first time in a year - good, peaceful ten days, without husband's sharp remarks and irritations over trivial matters. Of course, he was tired; of course, he had to bear a lot on his shoulders, and besides - the critical age: they had just crossed forty-five. In other words, by all accounts, she, Tina, was becoming 'a young berry again', while her husband, Yura, should be experiencing a crisis called 'is this all there is?'. Something unusual was clearly happening with him. Tina complained to her friends that Yurka had become 'as if he were not related', snapping at her for no reason, and she couldn't expect a kind word from him. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't please him. A completely different person had appeared in place of her beloved Yurka. Twenty-two years together, they were inseparable, knowing everything about each other, understanding, feeling, but suddenly - prickly looks, words, sharp replies. And he wouldn't let her embrace him, pushing away, and he was ironic about every word she said..."