Barren Blossom (2024)

Today the weather was warm. I dressed warmly. At three o’clock, I made a candle at Anya’s—and then drowned it. I’ll chat with you, and then I’ll have some nuts. You were right about Anton wanting to kiss me. He and Natasha had a fight, but they made up. We didn’t have any porridge, so we ate cottage cheese with jam instead. If you were here, you’d cook, remember? Yura’s back is sore because he’s always hunched over. There was fog today. At the street near the Circle. The foggy dew. For lunch, we had pasta and cheese. I helped Oksana cut it. She called me clumsy after I ran to the barn in a dress, slipped, and—bang!—landed in the mud. The moment I pick up Dasha in my arms, Masha wants to be held too. No bingo tomorrow; we’re taking a break. Time to rest. Goodnight. Talk to you sometime; not today.