I hate to admit this, but I teared up. This was hauntingly beautiful.

I must say, though, that Valeriya is straightfoward fiction BASED on an actual event. The real account of the Romanov Tsar and his family's murder is absolutely horrifying.
I didn't even want to use the title Tsar or Czar, or Russia in order to make it a little more "fictional". Also, I changed the year drastically backward, and put the scene in a sitting room instead of the dreary basement where it occurred. They were never officially accused,either, nor did any of them have a clue of what was to happen...
Thanks again:) :) :)

Two for the money....flash fiction AND a history lesson! How cool is that? And I particularly like the title of your story. xxx

for a very powerful read.

Sad, sad tale of man inhumanity to man, told in a grandios style. A tale told and echoed much too often.
I would have much preferred a happier ending...but history has not often been kind.