August

Russia. New Year's Eve.

You lived in Russia. The winters were harsh, but the children played in the yard as if they didn't notice.

On New Year's Eve, you went out to the store to buy groceries and Christmas tree decorations. You lived alone, so you didn't have to buy much food.

You were walking home with bags of food and New Year's toys, through snowdrifts, but then you heard a quiet, desperate German speech in the gateway:

—Gott..kalt..bitte..irgendjemand.. (God..it's cold..please..someone..)

It was August. He was tricked by one of the Russian girls, who spoke German well and told him to come. He came, but the girl took his money and left silently. August was left with nothing. No money, no documents. Only a frozen bottle of water and his passport. August was dressed too thinly for such Russian frosts.