Neighbors is the short story set in the post-war Stalinist Moscow where fear and paranoia reign. Complete strangers are cramped into a small communal apartment and forced to share a small kitchen, a cold bathroom and a scarce supply of food. They also share their dreams, hopes and their secrets. Some harbor heartbreaking efforts to survive. Some hide an unrequited love. But there are also those who invite darkness and set a nightmare into motion.
Please be advised that this is a 5,000 word short story.
Find me on Twitter and Insta. Also, you can find me here: marinascott.com
Marina Scott was born and raised behind the Iron Curtain in Vilnius, Lithuania. She graduated from a local university with a Master's degree in library science, but a short stint in a Soviet library changed her mind about being a librarian in the U.S.S.R. She immigrated to the United States in 2000 and now resides in Salt Lake City.
THE HUNGER BETWEEN US, is out November 1, 2022 with Macmillan/FSG.
As I started to read this, I was transported immediately to a time familiar from many films I may have seen along the way, about the more brutal side of life in the former USSR. About distrust and insecurity. I was held to the story wanting to reach it's conclusion, and with a twist and totally unexpected ending I have to say that this short story -I hope- is just a fraction of what this author will offer in the future.
I must say a really nice twist to this short story. I was anticipating giving it 3 stars trying to figure out why and where the author was going, but she wrapped it up quickly, tightly and with an AHA moment!