My Sister's Ex, or Letters to a Monster

She is a girl from the past—a girl who changed my fate, though she doesn’t even know it. Six years ago, I firmly decided that we’d never see each other again. I did everything I could for her. We’re no longer connected by anything.

One day she sends me a letter with a photo enclosed, and I give in to the desire to see her in person. Even though my life is nothing but crap, I don’t want to let this girl go…

Gromov is the ex-boyfriend of my older sister, the one I was in love with. Their unremarkable story ended in tragedy: Zhenya died, and I was badly hurt. Demid found the money for my treatment—and that was all. One day I put a photograph into a letter and wrote the address where I would appear…