Boris looked out of the small barred window. The summer dawn was breaking under a bright pink and golden sky filled with soft clouds.
He rubbed his eyes and stretched. He needed to get some sleep but it was not often they were allowed to stay up and watch television through the night.
It had been worth it to watch the events unfold in Moscow. The Luzhniki Stadium was full, the crowd excited. The President had spoken. The Russian team, out of form and ill-fancied, had produced a stunning victory against Saudi Arabia.
The small town of Palana may have been almost 4000 miles away in Siberia, and nine hours ahead of the capital, but Moscow was still his capital, Russia was still his country and this was still his World Cup.
The eyes of the world were on Russia. Would any of them see past the glitz and glamour and notice the fate of him, and those like him?
Would this be the moment that the rest of the world could persuade Russia to look again at its record on human rights?
The television went blank, the iron gate opened. The security guards ordered them back to their cells.
As the door clanged shut, Boris, still wearing his Russian football top, lay down on his metal cot, closed his eyes and dreamt of a new beginning.
This is a response to the Thursday Photo Prompt – Beginnings curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.
Topical story Iain.
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Thank you
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I like it. A small treat can go a long way.
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It will certainly help him get through a few more days!
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A sober reminder that there are other lives living alongside us who are not free…
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And who seem to have been forgotten now that the spectacle of the World Cup has started. Thank you for reading and commenting.
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It’s a pleasure!
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Such a wonderful story and unfortunately, a reality for so many even today. 😦
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Thank you.
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I clicked the post open because of the title as I’m myself going to embark on a new beginning, shortly.
The story was a wonderful read. Loved the Fifa touch. 🙂
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Thank you so much 🙂 Good luck with your own new beginning.
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Very topical, and a sobering reminder of the grime hidden beneath the glitter.
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Exactly that – as much as I will enjoy watching the World Cup, all the controversy and corruption seems to have been forgotten already!
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A brilliant post.
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Thank you 🙂
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💜🌹
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I wonder how long before Americans are doing that too.
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Or are they already? Thanks Marilyn
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Too much of a reality for The Forgotten – and we have forgotten them, in Russia, and in the gulags of North Korea.
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I’m afraid we seem to have conveniently forgotten them…
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thanks for the reblog 🙂
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So poignant; oh to have your character speaking on the sports programmes instead of the regulars discussing football as if it was the most important thing in the world!
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Exactly, as much as I do enjoy watching the sport, there are bigger issues that need to be remembered!
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This is awesome, Iain. A great story idea.
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Thank you Robbie 🙂
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So well done how you set up the reader to see and enjoy one thing, and for Boris to to re-direct their attention. Now maybe if you send your story to all the journalists currently covering the world cup, it might get them talking and looking elsewhere.
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Not much coverage of human rights so far…!
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