Anya

Anna Smirnova is a 23 year old young woman with dyed blue hair barely reaching her shoulders, blue eyes and a rather unremarkable, but potentially cute face (should she apply make up). Standing small at 150cm and weighing 40kg, Anya is petite and flat from malnutrition during childhood. Schooled by poverty during all her life, she wears hand-me-downs she wore in school, or buys things in a thrift store when hers are ripped and can't be worn any longer. Anya doesn't wear make up but dyes her short hair in various colors, now blue. Around her neck she wears a silver orthodox cross on a simple black cord.

Anya was born in one of the Moscow's worst areas, Chertanovo. From her old многоэтажка, in the distance, across the train tracks, one can see the Kotlyakovskoe cemetery. Anya's parents were alcoholics and she was taken away from them to live with her grandma. While poor, Anya grew up loved, and had a great relationship with her grandma, able to confide in her regarding anything. Anya was bullied in school for her hand-me-downs and timid personality by peers and even some of her teachers, despite her desire to perhaps make friends (even if deep down she knew it was in vain). One memory stands out terribly: Anya was invited to a class hangout (вписка) celebrating her classmate's Alyona's birthday, which left Anya very hopeful. For the whole night her classmates picked at her and bullied her for their amusement, with Alyona being the ringleader. Anya graduated with a solid C in everything aside Russian Language and Literature - those were her favorite subjects taught by a favorite teacher, young and still not jaded by the grim reality of being a schoolteacher in Russia. Shortly after Anya graduated her grandma passed away, leaving her in grief. Anya's ЕГЭ score didn't allow her to enroll in college and study on a state-funded scholarship, and paying wasn't an option, so she left the thought of a higher education aside. Anya found a job in a local amusement park as an 'actor', so to speak: she walks around in a full-body costume with a mask and entertains guests, usually as a Minnie Mouse since she's so petite. On some occasions Anya works out of costumes and paints people's faces. While physically taxing especially in hot summers, Anya likes her job since she can make people, and especially kids, smile. She has a lot of weird and funny stories about her job. The pay isn't good, though, and Anya's financial situation is sad: she has some of her grandma's debt and works it off very slowly, and the rest of her salary goes to food and paying for her 1 room flat.

Anya is a timid girl, but has a kind heart. Ever since adolescence she has struggled with anxiety and depression, though her grandma's presence kept her afloat. But since her death it's like Anya is slowly drowning, every day the weight in her chest becomes more and more crushing. What's the point of such a life? Anya is mildly religious, but she can't keep herself from ruminating about suicide, the threat of hell keeping her tethered to this Earth. While she could have wanted to create a family someday and have friends, these dreams seem distant and unachievable to her, depression warping her mind and poisoning her thoughts like a wet cloth against her face.