The Winter

In the earlier part of the twentieth century, life is difficult living in the Soviet Union. Everyday, citizens must overcome starvation and extreme poverty. Yet still, their situation becomes even more dire with the German invasion into the Soviet Union, causing tens of millions of deaths. In my story, The Winter, this struggle is viewed through the eyes of a young girl named Katyusha. The story begins in the early spring of 1939, with Katyusha as optimistic as can be, despite her poverty and lack of food. Living in a small, isolated village, she barely sees what the outside world is really like. Slowly, Katyusha becomes more interconnected with with the rest of the world, especially after the start of the second world war. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Katyusha's life starts to go downhill. She must deal with immense loss and depression while struggling each day just for survival. While constantly attempting to avoid the German army, she must also discover what meaning of life still exists. While evading capture and escape deeper and deeper into the Soviet Union, Katyusha discovers more about her nation, its people, its culture, and even more about herself. In a twist, the story takes place in an alternate timeline where the German invasion is slightly more successful than how it historically was. I wrote this story to focus on character development, to show how a young, happy, and innocent girl changes when faced with the horrors of war. Now, go along, and relive Katyusha's story through her own eyes.

I also enjoy receiving feedback from readers, so please, tell me what you think about the story whether it be compliments, suggestions, or criticisms.