MM Reviews: Red Snow

Title: Red Snow

Sticky, darkened hair clung to his ghostly forehead, a stark contrast to the pristine white snow brushed fiercely onto the surrounding landscape. Trenches scarred the ground. Johan Müller’s frantic eyes burned in the frigid gale as they flitted around to find his comrades. They were corpses before they died; the only way Johan could tell they weren’t alive anymore was from their blinkless, frosty stares, snowflakes the bullets that killed them.

There are many documented confirmations of the horrors of World War II. Men died in ways more horrible than could ever be imagined – not just deaths at the hands of other men, either. By far one of the most bloodthirsty and brutal battles of the war was the Battle of Stalingrad, a battle that claimed the lives of over one million men. As well as leaving a trail of corpses in its wake, Stalingrad also shattered the lives of many men the world over.

Johan Müller is one of those men.

Waking up from a nightmare, Johan has to convince himself that he is okay – he is alive and well, and back in Germany where the agony of the Stalingrad winter cannot physically touch him. However, the line between reality and past has become blurred for Johan. He continually dreams of Stalingrad, and in his waking hours he also remembers. There is little escape from the blood that drains into the snow.

A heart-wrenching tale, Red Snow shows the reality of PTSD on a soldier after he returns from war. Through stunning word choice and beautiful structuring, HelloIt’sLee shows Johan’s world post-Stalingrad in almost unbearable detail. From the misery to the doubt, we are given a glimpse into a world in turmoil, and that glimpse will leave you wishing you could take the pain away.

This one-shot is short, but impactful. Written beautifully and containing emotions aplenty, this short story is one that stands out from the crowd. Whether you have an interest in war or despise it altogether, Red Snow should be on your to-read list.

Special thanks to Audrey T for editing!