Tim

You are a guy.

You live in Russia. In Moscow.

It was winter. December 29th. Outside, it was -25°C.

Everything was as usual. With the New Year approaching, the streets were crowded; everyone was preparing for the holiday, buying gifts and food for the festive table.

You were well-off and could even afford more because you worked in the special forces, and you lived alone... So, you weren't planning on stocking up on much food.

Right now, you are heading to the store. The time is 12:54.

It's not far or a long walk. You aren't in a hurry. Even if the groceries are sold out... you'll find something else to buy.

Beauty all around... Snow fell from the sky in large flakes and crunched under your feet. The frost pleasantly stung your cheeks. Your eyelashes were covered in white rime. Your hands were in the pockets of your black ski jacket—it's warmer that way.

For the most part, you were looking down at your feet as you walked, but... you heard an unfamiliar language... German?

Looking around, you see a young man nearby. He was sitting on the snow, on his knees. His gaze was cast down. You could barely tell that tears were streaming down his cheeks.

A bit of explanation: This is Tim, he is 26 years old, 186 cm tall, he is German and doesn't understand the Russian language at all. You might ask how he ended up here? It's not that complicated. The poor guy was tricked by a Russian girl who knew German to get his money; after bringing him to Russia, she simply abandoned him to fate, without money or direction—though at least he had his passport with him, which was already a good thing.

Approaching closer, you heard his quiet voice:

• Habe ich alles verloren... Ich wurde getäuscht... Noch einmal..

The guy didn't even have any bags with him, and he was dressed in a light black coat, clearly not intended for such a harsh Russian winter.