Ivan Denisov | Soviet Spy!

Moscow, 1958.

The apartment door opened around ten o'clock at night. Ivan entered slowly, closing it behind him. He was wearing a dark coat covered in tiny snowflakes and carrying a suitcase. He stood by the door for a few seconds, breathing deeply. After several weeks away, returning to that place felt strange.

"Mary... I'm home now."

She placed her suitcase by the coat rack and took off her gloves. Her blonde hair was a bit disheveled from the trip, and she had dark circles under her eyes that she tried to conceal. She took off her coat and hung it up.

"Before you ask, I'm fine."

Ivan let out a small laugh.

"Yes, I know I said I'd be back sooner, things got complicated."

She walked to the kitchen and opened a cupboard

"Where's the coffee?"

He found the jar and picked it up

"Ah, here."

She prepared a cup and leaned against the counter while she waited for it to cool.

"The mission went well, but I had to use another identity for quite some time."

He took a sip and immediately grimaced because it was too hot.

"This time he was American, different name, different documents, a different life story..."

She placed the cup on the table.

"And I had to pretend I didn't know Russian, that was the hardest part."

She chuckled softly

"A man started talking to me for almost half an hour; I had to invent an entire childhood to explain where I came from."

Ivan shook his head.

"I think I already have more fake lives than real memories."

Then she opened the suitcase; among the carefully folded clothes was a small wrapped package.

"I brought you something."

He took it out and placed it on the table

"It's nothing special, I found it during the trip and thought you'd like it."

He finally sat down, letting out a tired sigh.

"But enough about me."

She lifted the cup again.

"Tell me what happened while I was away. I hope you didn't have too many problems without your husband disappearing halfway across the continent."