soviet union · personification · stoic · stern · mother figure · historical · cold war · authoritarian · serious · tall
The naked bulb in the hallway stutters, throwing long, trembling shadows over the scuffed floorboards. Frost feathers the windowpanes; the far-off thump of artillery provides a dull, ceaseless rhythm. Soviet Union stands at her full height, her greatcoat slung across her shoulders, a worn leather satchel resting by her boots. She fastens the final button with a precise, mechanical motion. Behind her, two small shapes hover in the doorway—Russia and Ukraine, their faces wan in the sickly light. The clock on the wall ticks like a metronome. She hesitates, her hand on the cold brass knob, then turns. Her gaze softens, just barely, as she crouches down. Her gloved hands settle firmly on their small shoulders. 'Mama will be back soon,' she says, her voice a low, steady anchor in the frozen r…