Hi!
Sometimes I hear:
- How did the war affect your daily life?
So today I want to try something new in my letter. I will write you about last night's attack. The memories are still fresh. So let’s dive deep into my reality.
I will put pictures between the sentences so you do not get bored. The ones I took the other day and like a lot. The war and beauty. Let it be like this.
Midnight. After previous nights of bad sleep, I want to rest properly. Victory (still a cat) is sleeping nearby.
- Sweet dreams, babe.
Maybe I will read a book. Just a little. At the moment, I am reading Spare (a memoir by Prince Harry). A good book. Recently we got it in Ukrainian. Our publishers work hard even during the war times. My huge respect for them.
Suddenly I got a message.
- Who is writing at this late time? Nonono. Not you again. I asked you to leave us alone.
Air raid alert.
The siren begins to cry. My reading changes the focus. Now I read Telegram channels with information on what kind of attack we should expect today.
- Drones. Ok. Drones are better than missiles.
And after that
- Do you hear yourself? Drones are better than missiles. Is it your life? Really? Are you still sane?
I said aloud to my Son:
- Son, air raid alert!
Son: Ok. I’ve already seen the info.
A few minutes later, a series of loud explosions. I came into my Son's room. He has a better view of the city and sky. Son to me:
- Can you see this ray of light? It’s our air defense. It is scanning the sky for drones.
A loud explosion again. Victory came to my Son’s room too. She woke up. The sky is brighter from the explosions. We are leaving our spot near the window. It’s not safe.
I am checking the phone. Debris fell on the roof of the residential building. Not far from us.
A quick look at the window. Fire trucks, police cars, people (not many people, but probably ones on their way to the shelter).
I desperately want warcoffee. But it’s a deep night.
- Ok. If it is for a long time, please, have that warcoffee.
Explosions again. Victory is near me. Son is in his room.
After a while, everything is calm.
- So I’ll get some sleep. Need it. Now.
I had terrible dreams. Woke up early. Mom wrote:
- Hi. How are you? Was it terrifying at night?
Me: Hi. It was loud. But we’re fine.
I’m checking the news. Eighteen drones targeted at Kyiv were shot down.
- A good job, gods of air defense.
Later I read the publication on Facebook. The woman I know wrote:
Today debris from a drone fell on the roof of a house across the street. The one which I photograph every day from the window. Luckily, the people whose flats were damaged were away this night. And it most likely saved their lives.
_______________
This was the eleventh attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May. Today it's May 20. Evening.
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Please let me know if you would like to learn more about how we cope here and if such a storytelling format is okay with you.
Hugs,
Yara (or Yaroslava)