Once in Trubchevsk is a short story by Ivan Bunin that tells the tale of a young man who returns to his hometown after many years of living in the city. The protagonist, Vasily, is struck by the changes that have taken place in Trubchevsk since he left. The once familiar streets and buildings are now foreign to him, and he struggles to find his place in this new world.
As Vasily wanders through the town, he is haunted by memories of his past and the people he used to know. He is particularly drawn to the house of his childhood sweetheart, Zinaida, who is now married and living a different life. Vasily is torn between his desire to reconnect with his past and his realization that he can never truly go back.
Once in Trubchevsk is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, memory, and the passage of time. It serves as a reminder that we can never truly return to the past, no matter how much we may long for it.