Excellent writing as usual.

Beautifully written and makes me want to find out about the Royal family. A well-told story. Great job!

I read "Nicholas and Alexandra" in high school and never forgot the story or its impact. Reading this reminded me of the horror of their deaths. I admire the way you even gave a nod to Anastasia at the end. Very clever, that.

Like that long-ago-devoured novel, I couldn't stop reading, and would love to see a full version of this fictional family's life before their tragic end. I think this is one of the best I've read, not just of yours, but overall. Wish I could vote more than once!

I have returned to vote.

I am very pleased to vote for this one Patrick
Visual writing and a good piece of history as well even with some bits jiggled about It still stay true to events

Good luck
Peggy

The events surrounding the Russian family, Rasputin, young Alex, and of course as you have just written, the tragic deaths of the family have always fascinated me. I've often wondered about those final moments. You have created a wonderful fictionalized version of the story. Very well done!

This is a very well done piece. As always, you manage to show the scene well, one can easily see the hot mansion and terrified children. It had a very realistic vibe- you have to wonder, did it actually happen this way? Excellent. :)

This is a beautiful story. Thanks to Patrick Sean Lee for sharing, and for doing so in an elegant and poignant way.

i always imagined there had to be at least one relatively sane soldier in the bunch. you've truly humanized the whole sordid mess by fictionalizing it. Sometimes it takes fiction to tell the truth.

good job.

The story captured the faint hope they still harboured in their hearts, but was soon vanquished with the first bullet fired.

What is really sad, is that we never learn from our mistakes. Such brutality is still with us, although we, in our cosy homes, are not fully aware of it.

Very well written. Well done and goodluck.