Ghastly Visage
Mila states, "Pale eyes peered out of sunken sockets, and a skeletal hand reached out to me." The imagery describes the appearance of the girl who claims to be Nadiya Mykolaivna Lomachenko. This description paints a ghastly picture creating a haunting appearance that invokes a sense of horror. It illustrates the initial shock and fear that Mila experiences upon seeing the girl. The contrast between the familiar name "Lomachenko" and the grotesque appearance of the girl confuses her. This description is significant as it sets the tone for the unsettling events that follow in the story. It prompts questions about the circumstances surrounding her appearance at their doorstep.
Gentle Waltz
The following imagery illustrates the connection between Mila and Nadiya through the piano playing. Mila asserts, “She let me take her hand and lead her into the studio. Anna Mikhailovna was putting sheet music back into her leather file…I waited until Nadiya had settled beside me on the bench. Then I started to play…a gentle waltz in C major, meant to soothe the listener after the frantic minor chords of 'Baba Yaga.'" This scene follows the surprise and disbelief of finding out about relatives in America. The surprise of discovering family in America is portrayed through Mila nearly falling off her seat in astonishment. Hence, the act of playing the piano brings a tranquil moment amidst intense emotions.
Shattered Innocence
Mila narrates, “She handed me a different set of clothes—a gray dress with a worn hem, underwear, and stockings…Minutes later, she led me up a flight of stairs and down a dark hallway. I wrinkled my nose: The air smelled of human bodies mixed with the sharp tang of urine. Irina Ivanovna banged open a set of double doors into a barracks.” This imagery expresses a harrowing picture of Mila's experience in a harsh environment. Moreover, the matron shows a lack of compassion in this place where survival is a stark reality. The setting in the barracks evokes the imagery of death and suffering. This scene also captures Mila's struggle with the weight of despair and abandonment. She contemplates her father's inability to rescue her from this brutal reality.
New York City
The following imagery captures the cultural disconnection experienced by Mila upon arriving in a foreign land. She says, “The buildings were impossibly tall, the sidewalks more crowded than any I’d ever seen, the babble of languages deafening. The packed subway car rattled as it whisked us through a dark tunnel and over an elevated track. I clung to Helen, afraid of being separated and lost in the scrum of strangers.” The overwhelming feelings of being an outsider are vividly depicted through Nadiya's perception of the alien surroundings. The subway ride further emphasizes her fear and reliance on Helen. Meanwhile, she grapples with an internal conflict, as the family believes that she is Nadiya. This juxtaposition of warmth and deception encapsulates the theme of displacement and identity.
