After the rain always comes the rainbow: a letter from a 9th grader in Luhansk Oblast to a peer in occupation

Between June 11th and September 1st, 2024, the Almendra Civic Education Center, backed by the Ministry of Education and Science, hosted the nationwide “I Hear You: A Letter to a Peer in Occupation” contest, attracting 241 young participants from across Ukraine.

ZMINA publishes a letter from the winning entrant, a 9th-grader from Zolote Lyceum No.5, Hirske Urban Hromada, Sievierodonetsk Raion of the Luhansk Oblast.

Hello, Mykhailo, my old friend!

How have you been? Yesterday I learned from my parents, that there was an air strike in the city center. They say that a store and several residential buildings were affected… I sympathize with you. Hope that everyone is safe and sound! I asked my mom if you were all right, but she pretended not to hear anything. I could not sleep… It seemed that my worry would just eat me from the inside, so I decided to finally write to you.

I really miss you and our native city Zolote so much. When all this horror called “war” was just beginning, I had no idea that everything would take this long. The death toll, photos of destroyed cities, the cries of children who were left without parents because of this damn war – I see them in my nightmares. I always feel a kind of emptiness in my chest because I left my hometown, I left you, I left my past. The life goes on, but the real us remained somewhere where the sun shines, shines differently, where people did not wake up because of air raid alerts, where it was always warm at heart. I would like to come back home very much, walk with you in the field as we used to, and share my feelings that have piled up over all these years… But it is impossible, at least now. 

I remember all our classmates, compatriots. I wonder how their lives turned out. I am deeply sorry that our city is occupied, or as some residents say – “liberated.” If you think about it: liberated from what? From civilized life?! After all, there was everything: water, electricity, gas, the city was becoming better… It is worth mentioning our school – beautiful, renovated, modern. It was equipped with new computers, interactive boards, a 3D printer etc. Not every school of the so-called capital of the LPR – the city of Luhansk had such gadgets… People say that as soon as Zolote was occupied, everything was taken to Luhansk with the words “In such a village – such equipment.” And what gym we had: various exercise machines, sports equipment… Unfortunately, all this was destroyed, stolen. 

I also remember how we all decided with our class teacher to plant 25 bushes of roses by the end of the 9th grade (in memory of our friendly class) – exactly as many as there were students in our class. In the fall of 2021, we managed to plant only 8… But I believe that we will come back home and finished what we started!

I understand that many people remained under the occupation for several reasons – some have old and infirm parents, some simply did not have time, and some had no money… And children had no choice at all – they stayed with their parents, and now they study in schools where they are taught to hate everything related to Ukraine. But there are parents and children who believe that Zolote is Ukraine! These words were on the main square of our town on a mural created by a border guard from Vinnytsia, Unfortunately, he died in 2023… We have students from the occupied territory studying in our class. How hard it is for them to be there! Poor connection, lack of opportunity to study together with everyone, and also constant fear: what if someone finds out that you study in your native Ukrainian school, that you learn the poem “Love Ukraine” by V. Sosiura by heart. I really root for them! I root for you, may the God keep your family alive and give faith that “everything will be Ukraine!”

It hurts me when I remember all our plans for the future: small and large, insignificant and important. It annoys me when I realize that there is nothing I can do to help you. It is maddening that I am not where I should be. But I do not lose hope. People say that we choose our own lives. I chose to be happy – to live in Ukraine! Actually, I am not feeling very well right now, but we have a future. Nobody knows what will happen next, but we all have hope. Everyone is trying to help and make it, our future, happy for everyone. Our dear defenders, whom we all appreciate and support, do especially magnificent work. We will win! I believe in it! No matter how and when, but we will defeat the “orcs,” and we will definitely meet again. Of course, we will not be the same children as we used to be, because time goes by, and we grow as it goes. Life gives us challenges, which you and I pass with dignity. I promise that we will meet again and give each other smiles that will signify the end of the horror called the terrible word – “war.” I believe that after that there will be a beginning of the new life. Everything will be Ukraine! 

See you, Mykhailo.

With respect and best wishes, your friend Liza

P. S. And we will still plant those roses, no matter what! After the rain always comes the rainbow…

July 01, 2024.