“The number is not answering, but I can hear you”: A letter to a peer in occupation from a 10th grade student
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 across Ukraine.
ZMINA publishes this letter from a competition participant, a 10th-grade student of Lozova Lyceum No. 1 in the Kharkiv region, Sofia Bazai, who took third place.
We all were children, and we all grew up in an instant. I remember my childhood before the start of the war in Ukraine. It was a time of serenity when I could calmly dream about the future. My family and I gathered together, celebrated holidays and travelled around our native country. I especially remember the vacation of the last peaceful summer…
Mariupol. August 2021
Our August vacation was coming to an end. It was a bit sad. Tomorrow, we return home and today… Today I asked my parents to go to the sea for the last time. I love the sea. It is endless, just like my dreams. I headed to the pier. There, I let the salty wind touch my face, closed my eyes, and felt like a bird!
But today, I saw another dreamer in my “favourite” place. Just like me, she was smiling, looking into the distance.
Empathy overcame my shyness, and I walked over and sat next to her. The girl looked at me, smiled, and said as if to an old friend:
– Hi.
– Hi.
She paused, and then added:
– I am Sofiia.
– Me too!
We suddenly burst out laughing.
We talked until dusk. What can you talk about with a stranger? About anything! About school, music, plans for the future…
Sofiia was local. She saw the sea every day and also could not stop looking at it. She came here every day to dream.
She dreamt of entering our Hryhorii Skovoroda Pedagogical University in Kharkiv.
I have also been dreaming about it ever since… I was not sure before meeting her, but after getting to know her, I realized that it is cool to be a teacher!
Sofiia and I exchanged phone numbers so we would not lose such an unexpected friendship, hugged, and… parted ways.
Back then, I could not even imagine that soon our life would drastically change.
Since February 2022, Sofiia’s number was not answering… I do not know what happened to her, but I want to believe that she is alive. That is why I say a prayer every evening, and I sincerely believe in its power!
Lozova. July 2024.
My dear Ukrainian friend, I know you are currently in difficult conditions, and I want to express my support and share my thoughts.
Every day the war makes itself felt, and I think about you and all the children of Ukraine who found themselves in such a situation. You are children-heroes, children-knights, children-warriors!
I would like to give you something. Or rather, make a spiritual exchange! How?! It is quite simple.
We cannot see each other, but you can feel me with your heart.
We will take a special trip together at the same time.
Look, this is a forest. Many trees used to grow here. And in this meadow, children used to play. Let us stop here and make the first exchange.
You will give me FEAR. Your fear for yourself and your loved ones, for your life and health, fear of not being able to learn new things. Fear that nothing will be like before. Fear for the future of our country.
I will give you LIGHT! Hope for the future. Light in the soul to face the enemy, to believe in victory, to drive away the feat step by step!
Let us keep going…
Look, there is a golden steppe spread over there. It bends under the summer breeze and gives shelter to the animals. Nature holds on, just like we do, in tough times. Let us stop here…
Give me your LONELINESS. You are not alone. We will fight for freedom together. Your family and loved ones will be by your side. We will overcome all obstacles on our way to the Victory!
In return, I will give you STRENGTH! The strength to find joy even in the darkest of times. The strength to endure the long fight. The Strength to not forget about your culture, language, and traditions! The strength to dream and to learn! This is what inspires us all.
Let us make the last stop near your native sea. There are almost no people here. There used to be a lot of them. We hear the sea waves, enjoy the sunset…
Give me your DOUBTS. We believe in our people! We know that we are fighting for the independence the past generations fought for and future generations will fight for. Despite all the difficulties, we believe that our country will definitely be rebuilt. We will restore destroyed cities, return to our homes, and build a peaceful life. It will be a long and hard path, but we are ready to do it because we know that the best future awaits us in the end!
My last gift would have to be special. I will not give you COMPASSION because it will not help in the fight. I will not give you SERENITY, because it is not eternal. I will give you JUSTICE! I know that the day will come when everything will be real, honest, and sincere! The enemy will be punished for the stolen childhood, terrible losses, and memories. I believe that our children will grow up in free Ukraine which will prosper every day! They will be able to calmly go to school, seek their purpose and fulfil their dreams. This is what inspires us to fight for a better tomorrow and gives us faith that our efforts are not in vain.
My invincible sunshine, our encounter is coming to an end. I am grateful to you for our special trip and the most precious exchange of gifts. I hope you will save my gifts. But I will say goodbye to yours… I will throw it over my shoulder, as people say.
Sofiia, I know that it is difficult for you right now. The war has changed our lives forever, but we cannot let the enemy break us! Now more than ever, it is important to stick together. The joint fight for the freedom and independence of Ukraine unites us! By supporting each other, we can overcome any obstacles and restore the peaceful life in our country!
P.S. Our life paths have parted, but I believe that they will cross in the future peaceful land …
Your Sofiia
