Author's Note: Several characters in this book are native Russian speakers. To avoid repetitive clarifications throughout the text, assume the following:
If a conversation takes place between characters who are native Russian speakers, they are speaking in Russian unless otherwise stated.
If a conversation includes one or more native English speakers, it is in English unless otherwise indicated.
This approach allows for a more seamless reading experience while maintaining linguistic authenticity.
***
THERESA
Half-full. Between the two options, that’s the perspective I preferred. It’s not that bad things never happened—I was only mortal after all. But attitude was everything. And a good attitude was particularly important at that very moment as the crushing weight of a sandbag dug int
