Prompt by Marina and Sergey Dyachenko
I've been a huge fan of Marina and Sergey Dyachenko's writing ever since I randomly picked up Vita Nostra. Someone - I think here, or possibly on r/printsf - recently linked to this short story by them. I haven't been able to locate that comment again, but if that was you: thank you.
It's an early work - from 2001 according to ISFDB - and it shows in not quite having the same impact as their later writing, but it already has that same atmosphere; sparsely but intensely described.
My favorite line:
>At half past three in the morning, the city resembled an aquarium without water; it was just as empty and semi-transparent.
Anyway, I just wanted to share the existence of this short story with a wider audience. If you're a fan of their writing, you'll probably love something else by theirs to read. And if you haven't read anything by them yet, give this a try. If it sparks a sense of wonder, some small delight in the way they turn a phrase, then treat that as a sign that it should be worth your while to seek out their books as well. :)