Wagon of Life

They lived in Kharkiv, and despite the conflict and tensions since 2014, they tried to lead a peaceful life, especially as they were expecting their first child. "Certainly, we wanted to understand the political situation and be informed. But, on the other hand, I wanted a normal life; I wanted to raise our daughter and live our lives." Even the emergency bag that Valeriia's mother had prepared since 2014 had somehow become part of the landscape without arousing any questions.

On the day of the Russian military invasion, they couldn't escape Kharkiv, so they took refuge underground in a subway station.

Her face lights up, and she no longer tries to hold back her tears, which begin to flow down her freckled cheeks. Valeriia tells me about the deepest, darkest moments of her life - the 10 days spent underground in a two-square-meter subway car, shared with Kira, her 8-year-old daughter, her husband, and her mother. She recounts nights when they slept crowded between the two seats that Kira and her grandmother shared, grateful that they were safe. "I had an inexplicable feeling of happiness then. The fact that, despite the hell outside, we were together and safe made me happy." They explained to Kira, in terms she could understand, why they couldn't go home, why they had to stay underground, and the little girl accepted and adapted.

"We tried to create some normalcy down there to ease our existence. We stood in line to receive supplies, read, talked to other people, and my husband distributed aid through the subway tunnels."

They began to receive news about the increasingly tragic situation in their city and neighboring areas, while they heard explosions and tank noises. However, no one knew exactly what was happening on the surface. So, they decided to leave the city, walking on the subway tracks to the train station, where after many hours of waiting, they managed to board a train to an unknown destination, which turned out to be the city of Lviv. There, Valeriia embraced her husband who had enlisted, while she, Kira, and her mother headed to Poland.

The big, bright eyes are once again filled with tears. "We spent three weeks locked in the house after arriving in Poland. We were shocked and stressed. I tried to pull myself together, aware that I couldn't be a resource if I was broken. So, I let Kira watch cartoons while I tried to adapt to the new reality."

On April 8, 2022, they arrived in Cluj-Napoca and decided to stay here. They rented an apartment. "I understood that I couldn't afford the luxury of succumbing to despair. I resumed my work, and despite what I feel inside, outwardly I am strong and take care of my family. I have no other choice but to be strong."

Valeriia has taken on the role of the head of the family. Her husband was injured on the front line, and after the hospitalization period, he was allowed to come to Cluj-Napoca to spend time with the family.

The shy girl who entered the room has disappeared. In her place, I now speak to the one who, despite fear, chooses to be strong. When she feels overwhelmed, she chooses to move forward. She has divided the family responsibilities and focuses on the value she can add to each day. She enrolled Kira in a local school and helped her overcome frustrations caused by the language barrier - now her daughter has excellent academic results and that is a source of energy to keep going.She managed to bring her remaining pets to Cluj-Napoca: a snake and three cats.

I also smile, thinking of the little ark navigating through the problems of each day, with the hope of a serene haven as close as possible. Valeriia's voice is warm and calm. I don't know what's in her heart. But I know she won't give up the fight to be strong, to be the wife, mother, and daughter her loved ones need.