My story is not unique. I am one of the thousands and even millions. Something that has changed our lives happened cold autumn evening. The first hundreds of people came out into the central square in the capital of my country.
I rose from the chair and went to the window. It was raining. The drops fell as if the sky was crying hard. I did not see the stars that evening, but they kindled in my heart. They began to shine bright in the hearts of millions of people.
Where do I live? I live in Ukraine. It was more than a year ago. We called this the Revolution of dignity, but now it became a war.
Who am I? My name is not important. I am a soldier. That is all what you need to know. I made a choice to fight for my country. At night, I gathered the most necessary things and bought a ticket. Now I am in the train. I am moving toward something absolutely unknown. I am going to the place where is no time for fear or regret. Where is no time for emotions. But now I can be sincere. Now I still have the right to thoughts about the past and the future. In the place where I will be tomorrow I will think only of the moments. Because each of them could be the last…
I remember when I was younger, I loved my country. I loved the people in the south, who were talking about the sun and huge watermelons that they have grown in their fields. I loved the people on the north, who were talking about deep forests and charming lakes. I loved the people in the west, who were talking about high mountains and fast rivers. I loved people in the east, who were talking about their reach coal reserves and hard-working miners.
They were proud, brave and happy. They still are. Everything became different. What is the first sign of war? People do not talk about things that make them happy anymore. People talk about the war.
A beautiful girl is sitting opposite me. I noticed her blue eyes and the faint blush on her cheeks from the first minute in the train. I want to talk to her, but I will not do that. I do not want to feel bound to anybody. I am trying to concentrate on my thoughts. I look out of the window.
I leave my hometown. The Carpathians Mountains left behind. I looked at their height and thought how long they stay unbreakable. How many things they saw! They saw wars. They saw the happiness of victory. They are beautiful. I will miss them.
Night fell. I left behind my favorite cities. I look at their lights and remember how many warm, calm days were there. Great cathedrals, cozy parks and small cafes, where always sounds music. How will I live without this music? I have to come back.
I saw different rivers, but I have never seen Dnypro. This river is special for our nation. Now I understand why. Deep, strong, wide… Waves with time blur coast. As we with time understand that we have to confront and it does not matter how much time and efforts we need for it. My fearless Ukraine inspires me to be brave and fight for her.
Suddenly pictures outside have changed. Gray cities, ruined houses, empty streets, sometimes – people with wide-open eyes… Train stops frequently. Checks.
I have a couple of hours. I close my eyes. In the first seconds, I see darkness. However, after that I see color dreams. The dreams in which we all have a future. And I have it, too.
What if one day we will not open our eyes and will not see this terribly beautiful world? Nevertheless, we still hope that one day we will open our eyes in fully new world. Without crying mothers, without ruined families, without destroyed cities, without broken hearts…
Belief in light in the dark days is the truest bravery. We are strong and alive until we do not lose hope. And we will not do that. Never.
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