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A photo of a 5-year-old me in Podolsk — a small city on the outskirts of Moscow.

Growing up, I always wanted to be older. There’s a favourite photo of mine — I am 5; standing in the center of an old sports center in Podolsk (a tiny criminal city on the outskirts of Moscow); wearing my father’s black shades; holding my father’s black briefcase; pretty much looking like a bad kid cosplay on 90s gangster movies (or my father).

When I look at this photo, I see a yearning to grow up, to be taken seriously, to be able to DO stuff, to belong…