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When I was around seven or eight years old, I lived in Smyrna, a place on the west coast of Turkey. Smyrna was a popular destination for a lot of Greeks and people from different cultures as it was located right next to the port. We were quite wealthy at that time. I lived there with my parents, grandparents, two brothers, and a sister.

One day, the Greeks decided to invade Turkey from the west coast but they failed. The Turks got so mad that they attacked Smyrna and led all the Greeks to the sea so they could travel to Greece. This was frightening for me when the Turks invaded our home. We had to leave in such a hurry that we could only take the essentials, and my parents probably took a few heirlooms to keep us safe. We left without thinking, we just had to go to the port and get a boat to take us to Greece.

When we got to the port we were trying to get a boat and luckily we went to Greece. Riots and fires ravaged the city, and my family was forced to flee for our lives. I remember the fear and confusion we all felt as we tried to escape the chaos and find safety. Even though the refugees were Greek, to the people who lived in Greece, we were foreigners and different.

We all felt different and strange, even though we had the same DNA. To accommodate the refugees, they built huts and whole villages in Greece, which was already a poor place. My family was once wealthy, but we had to start from scratch and couldn't take any money with us. After years of struggle, the refugees were finally able to buy their food, fridges, clothes, and everything else they needed. Although things were starting to feel like home, my younger brothers, who were only two and four years old, would need more time to adjust after such a traumatic experience. It must have been incredibly scary and difficult for them. We all had to learn to cope with our new life and adjust to the people who were different from us.

As time went on, I gradually grew to accept this new place as my home. Although the memories of what happened to me here were once terrifying, they no longer hold the same power over me. Looking back on those days, I realize how fortunate I am to have had a family that supported me and kept me safe through those difficult times. Even though Smyrna has been destroyed and everyone has left, I will always cherish the memories of what I went through here. They hold a special place in my heart and have helped me to become the person I am today. I have moved on and accepted my life here, and I am grateful for the new beginning that this place has given me.

Note: This is based on a true story my ancestors were from Smyrna and had to leave their home. All of the information is from what my grandfather told me about his mother’s journey. If you know this story and I got something wrong I am very sorry. This is from the perspective of my great-grandmother.

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It was a dark and stormy night, and the sound of the waves crashing against the small rubber boat was terrifying for Anna. She had left her country, Ukraine, behind and was now kilometers away from it. The few children that had managed to make this treacherous journey were crying in their mother's arms. Anna was completely alone; she had left with only a small bag and a broken heart. Her father had been killed in the war and her mother was forced to stay behind in Ukraine with Anna's seven-year-old brother.

But then, in the darkness of the night, the light of an old lighthouse appeared on the horizon. For the first time in a long while, a glimmer of hope appeared in Anna's eyes. As the old vessel made its way towards the harbor of a small village, houses began to appear along the shore. Anna was scared that the people in this village would not be welcoming to Ukrainian refugees like herself. However, as the boat drew closer, a crowd of people started to gather near the port. It was just a matter of time before the whole village was standing near the shallow waters, ready to welcome the unexpected guests.

Initially, the volunteers provided assistance to all the women and children in the group. They were given warm blankets and hot food and beverages to help them feel comfortable. As Anna waited for her turn, she noticed a boy among the crowd who appeared to be around her age. Anna was excited to meet him and talk to him. She used to enjoy chatting with other teenagers for hours back in her old country, but she was aware that the lack of communication could be a problem now.

Upon arrival, the refugees headed to the village's gymnasium, which was entirely constructed from stone. Knowing she would face chilly nights, Anna discovered that the hard ground was covered in mattresses. The morning light had just started peeking through the windows of a small gymnasium. The air inside was humid because it had rained during the night. The narrator was curious to know the name of the small village that had welcomed them with open hearts. She stumbled through the village market and walked along the black sand beach. Finally, she went to pray at a small wooden church. During her prayer, she asked for a better life for her family and for Ukraine. She also prayed that the cold war would end, so that the country she loved so much could experience peace again.

On her way back from church, Anna bumped into the boy again. But this time, they both exchanged smiles. As Anna stepped inside the gymnasium for the second time that day, she finally found the answer to the question that had been on her mind for a while. A big billboard hanging from the ceiling displayed the name of the village and the country they were in - Turkey. Anna felt thrilled to have discovered this mysterious country and was eager to learn more about its fascinating culture, language, and other aspects.

Anna longed to call her mother, but she knew it was too risky. As she walked towards her bed, she noticed a girl sitting in a corner of the room, looking lonely. Anna decided to approach her. Initially, the girl was hesitant, but they soon discovered they shared a passion for the arts. The girl's name was Lily, and she had an aunt living in Ankara. Although Anna was happy for her new friend, she couldn't help feeling envious. She would have been grateful for the opportunity to experience something as exciting as Lily's. The following morning, Anna was awoken by her friend with some good news. Lily had just spoken to her aunt, who had offered to provide Anna with an extra bedroom. The two friends were overjoyed and jumping up and down with excitement.

In the afternoon, they both headed towards the small port that had brought anxious refugees to a safe haven. As they left the old harbor, a sad, miserable tear fell from Anna's red cheek. She had to say goodbye to the village that had welcomed them with open arms, the black sand beaches that had refreshed her feet, the sound of the joyful birds, and most of all, to all the other refugees. She wished them good luck on their journey. "It was already dark, and the boat had become completely silent. We could hear the calming sound of the waves. Anna and Lily went towards the bow to admire the shining stars. As it started to get colder, they returned inside and attempted to get some sleep."

Anna was awakened by the loud honking noise of the boat. After getting dressed, she decided to wake up her friend and bid farewell to the sailor before heading ashore. They hailed a taxi and made their way to Lily's aunt's house, which was tall and narrow, with a beautiful wooden door and huge windows. Gaya, the aunt who was 30 years old, greeted them warmly with a big smile and showed Anna her room, which was small but cozy. The bed was a bit stiff, but it was still more comfortable than the old gymnasium mattresses they were used to. It was dinnertime, and although the kitchen was spacious, the furniture was old. They had warm chicken soup before heading back to their rooms. Anna was so exhausted that she fell asleep immediately.

The next few days were spent visiting potential schools, but none had Ukrainian speakers which could hinder learning. After searching for a few days, they finally found the perfect school - a Ukrainian school. The playground was huge, all the devices were new, and the bathrooms were clean. Most importantly, everyone spoke Ukrainian, which was a big plus for them. Anna was reassured by the friendly and approachable teachers. This was a welcome change from her old school, where there was a teacher who would shout at every student for talking.

It has been exactly one month since Lily and Anna started attending this school. They absolutely adore it and have even managed to become members of the school's art club, winning a few competitions along the way. Both of them are extremely pleased with their new life, which is filled with happiness and love. Anna is very grateful for the wonderful opportunity that has been presented to her.

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My name is Alex. I am eleven years old and I have mixed heritage, Greek and Indonesian. I currently live in Singapore. People often get surprised when they hear me speaking English fluently. It bothers me sometimes, considering the fact that Singapore has many English international schools. I have an older sister named Athina who teaches me how to deal with things like this. To be honest, sometimes I feel like she raises me more than my dad, who works a lot and I barely get to see him. But that doesn't mean I never see him either.

It's currently summer vacation, and our usual plan of visiting my Greek grandparents from my dad's side in Greece has been put on hold due to the numerous wildfires in the area. However, I am still looking forward to seeing my Indonesian grandparents from my mother's side, who are grieving and devastated due to my mother’s passing. Although my dad won't be joining us due to his work commitments, I am excited to go with Athina. I asked my dad if we could travel by plane, and he agreed, but not for flying in business class.

We arrived at our holiday home, which was conveniently close to Grandma and Grandpa's place. I suggested that we visit them and celebrate Athina's birthday at a beachside restaurant. She loved the idea and was excited to go. Unknowing to her, I had a surprise planned. We visited our grandparents, gave them some welcome presents, and chatted about where my sister is going for university. It felt like hours. Eventually, we went to a lovely Japanese restaurant where my plan unfolded. Then, I gave Athina a present that included perfume, candles, makeup, dresses, and Korean skincare products. Surprisingly, she preferred my gift over our dad's present, which was a MacBook Pro. I think it was because she appreciated the thought behind my present. Suddenly, Athina looked scared, and when I turned around, I saw a tsunami approaching, roughly 250 meters high. I was terrified and thought I was going to die. The wave hit us, and I found myself drowning in the flood. The currents were strong, and I saw my sister reaching out to me from a tree. I also saw my grandparents trapped in a building. The tsunami had passed, and it was now dark. Some trees had even washed into the sea. We were alone, scared, and needed to be rescued. I shared a chocolate bar with my sister, and then we fell asleep to the sounds of people yelling and waves crashing.

My sis woke me up very early, I was flying, well I was in a helicopter, WE WERE SAVED! We arrived at a facility just outside of Singapore. As soon as we arrived we watched the devastating news. The tsunami killed about 700,000 people, but it didn’t hit Bali only. Later Dad arrived, he was so frantic searching for us, I yelled, he ran to hug us tight, then we went home and he announced that grandpa died after we heard that word, died, we cried and grandma was going to live with us so we were going to cheer her up. She got used to it and we lived happily in Singapore.

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One day, my mom, my brother, my dad, and my dog are forced to leave Belgium because of a multinational war. I am forced to pack my luggage inside. There are some clothes, a sleeping bag, medicine, food and water and all my technology including the chargers. The next day we all got in our car with the dog we earned for a long seven-hour road trip to Prague.

Everywhere we go while driving there are bombs left right and center. When we arrived in Prague we rushed to the airport and got a plane [ the plane was a 747 to South Africa. A few hours later we Crash Land in Bruco Somalia. Luckily my mom, dog, brother, and dad also survive. We then take a bus down Eyl which is also in Somalia. We got on the boat to Hambantota Sri Lanka.

Next, we took another boat to Daru, Papua New Guinea. We stayed in the hotel for the night. The next day my mom is being robbed by roughly 10 people. Luckily the dog bites The Robbers. Me, my dog, my mom, my dad, and my brother steal a speedboat. Inside of the speed boat, there are two AK-47s. My mom is sitting behind one of the chairs for safety. I am driving the boat away. The Robbers are behind us in another boat. The robbers were shooting at us as well with AK-47s.

My brother and my dad ended up killing all 10 of those people. We drove away and started a new life in Cooktown Australia . with new friends such as Theo; Jonny and Tim. We lived happily ever after.

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I am playing outside with my friends on our street. We are enjoying ourselves with a game of tag and doing each other's hair. However, something suddenly changes. When I look at my friends, I notice a look of fear on their faces. I turn around to see what's happening and my happy expression turns into a frown. I realize that we are being chased by scary and dangerous terrorists. My friends run away, leaving me alone with the terrorists in pursuit. I try to run away as quickly as possible, but they follow me. I entered my house panting and struggling to catch my breath. I rushed to call my parents, but suddenly there was a knock at our door. I begged my parents not to answer, but they insisted. They opened the door, and to my surprise, they seemed calm, but I knew they were afraid. They asked what the men wanted, but they pushed my parents and went in. They crashed our house and stole some food and things, but this wasn’t the first time this had happened. This was the third time this month, that these terrorists crashed our house. Everyone was frightened, but they tried not to display their fear.

My parents went into their room and locked the door. I tried to listen to what they were saying, but they spoke too quietly for me to hear. Suddenly, they came out of the room without making any noise and went back to work. "My mom cooked dinner and my dad was busy with his computer. When dinner was served, everyone ate silently. Then, my mom spoke up slowly and said something that made me emotional. Tears streamed down my face. We had to leave and were headed to China. "I had lost my appetite and decided to head back to my room. As I knew we were leaving the next day, I began to pack my belongings. A mixture of excitement and nervousness filled me up. After finishing the packing, I went to bed. While lying down, I started to ponder why we were leaving; maybe it was because of the terrorists. As I was thinking about it, I eventually fell asleep.

In the morning, I woke up at 7:00 and got ready. After finishing breakfast, the taxi arrived and we loaded everything before getting in. We were on our way to the airport when I asked my dad why we were going, but before he could answer, the driver interrupted and told us that we had arrived. We got out of the taxi and walked to the airport. We spent 3 hours to reach our gate and then waited for 40 minutes. When the plane arrived, boarding was easy as only a handful of people were traveling to China. We found our seats and waited for takeoff. I was thrilled as I enjoy takeoffs and landings.

Finally, the plane took off and it was high in the sky. Then again the question came to my mind so I asked my mom why we were leaving, my mom explained that my great-grandpa was a criminal so the government was going to put us in jail or something worse which made a chill go down my spine, but I remember that they would not be able to find us anymore. I was surprised and scared at the same time. After eight hours on a plane we finally landed and I was super excited.

After collecting our luggage, we hailed a taxi and headed towards our new home in Shanghai. Although it was a small apartment, it was sufficient for the three of us. Once we settled in, I started attending school, but it was a challenging experience. I had trouble making friends, and the food in the cafeteria was unfamiliar, so I skipped lunch. I struggled with communication as no one understood me, and I couldn't understand anyone either. Furthermore, I received homework in English, which I couldn't comprehend since I only spoke Tamil. It left me feeling lonely and like an outsider. I hoped things would improve. After school, I went to a nearby grocery store, but there weren't any Indian ingredients available. I had to pick some vegetables instead, but it was challenging as the shopkeeper only spoke Chinese. Nonetheless, I managed to purchase what I needed. Life was tough.

After one year and five months, I became proficient in speaking English and made several friends from different parts of the world. My academic performance was good, and I also learned to speak a bit of Chinese. Although it was challenging in the beginning, I gradually started accepting China as my home.

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Being American may not be the idyllic dream many imagine it to be. I, Jack, was born a decade before the start of WW2, the most terrifying and gut-wrenching conflict of my life. The thought of those years still haunts me, bringing back memories of pain and loss that I carry with me to this day. As I made my way home one day, I was shocked to see that my house had been bombed. The once familiar structure of my childhood home was now a chaotic heap of rubble and debris. Walls were cracked and caved in, windows shattered, and the roof collapsed. The scene looked like it had been plucked straight out of a war-torn country.

As I approached my street, I could see the remnants of what was once my home. The roof had caved in, the walls were reduced to rubble and shattered windows lay scattered around the yard. My heart sank as I took in the destruction. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and fire, mixed with the musty scent of old wood and metal. The stench of destruction and devastation lingered in the air. The acrid stench of burning wood and smoke filled my nose as I approached the destruction. It mingled with the scent of fear, both my own and that of my neighbours who gathered around, surveying the devastation. A sour, acrid smell hung heavy in the air. It was a mix of smoke, burning wood, and something else...something metallic and unsettling.The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and fire, mixed with the musty scent of old wood and metal. The stench of destruction and devastation lingered in the air.

The acrid stench of burning wood and smoke filled my nose as I approached the destruction. It mingled with the scent of fear, both my own and that of my neighbours who gathered around, surveying the devastation. A sour, acrid smell hung heavy in the air. It was a mix of smoke, burning wood, and something else...something metallic and unsettling. The chaos of the bombing was still ringing in my ears, the sounds of crashing walls, exploding The sound of sirens and shouting filled the air as emergency responders arrived on the The sound of sirens and emergency vehicles filled the air, mixing with the cries of my neighbors and the distant sound of explosions. It was chaos, a symphony of destruction and fear. As I approached the ruins of my home, I could feel the crunch of broken glass and splintered wood beneath my feet. The air was still hot and thick as if the flames were still burning just moments ago.

The ground beneath my feet was littered with sharp shards of glass and splintered wood. I could feel the heat radiating from the smouldering wreckage, and my skin prickled with goosebumps at the thought of what could have happened. The ground was littered with debris and broken glass. As I walked through the mess, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease and breakdown beneath my feet.

I frantically reached for my belongings, only to realize that I had nothing left but the clothes on my back. The van, painted with vibrant colours and adorned with flags, appeared in the distance like a beacon of hope amidst the chaos surrounding me. It was my escape from this war-torn place, ready to take me away to a new beginning. With a surge of determination, I sprinted towards the van, my heart pounding with both fear and relief. I could almost taste the freedom awaiting me as I flung open the doors and climbed inside." Goodbye, America."

My first experience in Portugal was a rollercoaster of emotions. I was excited to start school and explore a new country, but as soon as I arrived, I felt lost and isolated. Communicating with others was a struggle, and making friends seemed impossible. However, amidst the chaos, a strange sense of safety enveloped me. It was both comforting and unsettling at the same time.

With determination and perseverance, I secured a job for myself in the beautiful country of Portugal. As I learned to navigate the streets and interact with the locals, my fear and uncertainty about this new place faded. The vibrant culture and welcoming people showed me that this place isn't so bad after all. Every day feels like an adventure, and I am building a life that I never thought possible in this foreign land. From the bustling markets to the cosy cafes, I have embraced every moment and am grateful for the opportunity to call Portugal my home.

“lar não é um lugar, é um sentimento e às vezes temos que deixar esse lugar para trás.”

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Chapter 1

- Running away We had to leave, I didn’t know why or how but we had to. Mom told me to pack my bag so I took my teddy bear, LEGOs, and a pile of books.

I asked Mom what was going on but she just wouldn’t answer. I could see fear and tears in her eyes as if there was something terrible happening not just to us but to the whole town. I realized that wasn ’t just an impression when I saw people running and screaming on the street and heard a loud, frightening siren. I quickly jumped in the car while Mom loaded the trunk. I thought there was a tsunami or tornado however it was something much worse. It was a bomb.

Chapter 2 - Flying Mom drove so fast, faster than she ever did. We suddenly stopped because of traffic, I noticed we were at the airport, even though I'd never been there. In the airport, I saw thousands of people shouting and pushing each other.

We finally managed to get inside the plane, the seats were dirty and had stains on them. The flight was shaky, I felt sick but I was still ok (unlike the person next to me). Mom said we were going to Canada, I knew little about Canada, I only knew it was a country very far away.

When we landed, Mom and I had to walk to the closest hotel. I immediately took a shower while she was sending messages and searching for our new home.

Chapter 3 - School It's been 1 month since we arrived, Mom enrolled me in Jeff Hirmann High School. She said I would make friends quickly - that was not the case. No one talks to me or wants to play with me, except one girl.

Chapter 4 - Amelia Amelia is nice, she chats with me and even gives me her school supplies. She doesn't judge me by the way I look like the others do. I could also see her friends telling her not to talk to me because I was different.

At home, I tried to build something with my LEGOs but I couldn't focus. I was disturbed by the fact that Mom didn't reply when I asked what happened to the rest of the family. Are they hurt? Did they die?

Chapter 5 - The maths test Yesterday at school, we had a maths test, some people made fun of me because I was the last one to hand it in. Today, we learned our scores. I had an 8/8, Amelia had a 6/8 and the rest of the class had twos and threes. Everyone started staring at me as if I was the star of the class.

Chapter 6 - The Birthday Party Today is my birthday. I' 'm turning 12! Unfortunately, no one is coming to my birthday party. I'm feeling rejected. I don’t understand why Mom looks so joyful, maybe it’s because she is proud of me. I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, my classmates and even all my family were standing there and they all sang Happy Birthday. From that moment on I did not feel rejected EVER AGAIN.

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The sun backed down onto our tiny tin hut. My little sister, Ina, was playing with her toy on the rug, which was, technically, just a rag. And honestly, I don’t even think you could call my sister's toy a ‘Toy’. “Ina, don’t you think” I stopped talking as my mind trailed off in thought “Don’t you think what?” My little sister replied, “Don’t you think we deserve better?” I’d been thinking about this for quite some time, but I just couldn’t find the right time to tell her. But this time it felt right. “What do you mean?” Ina asked me. Her big brown eyes widened “I just mean, don’t you feel that we could live a better life than here in the slum?” I tried to sound confident but I knew my little sister could sense my anxiety, she always could. “Wait, what are you saying?” Ina’s eyes widened even more. I thought they might explode. I took a deep breath. “Ina. We’re leaving.” I couldn’t believe I said that.

“WHAT?” Ina looked as if she’d seen a ghost. “But why?” I looked at her. I knew this question would come. “Ina, I want to go to school.” I looked at her trying to pull myself together. The sadness and confusion in her eyes was too much for me. “What's school?” I stared at my little sister for what felt like forever. I had forgotten she didn’t know what school was. “School is a place where you learn to read and write.” I started “It’s a fantastic place where you can learn about what things do and how they work.” Ina looked at me as if I was a ghost. “But-” I put my finger over her mouth before she could say anything. “Now that mom and dad aren’t here anymore we have to live on our own. And we aren’t doing well.” I took a deep breath. “Maybe another family will take us in!” I looked at Ina with large hopeful eyes. I prayed that she would agree. “Ok.” She looked up at me. She has the courage of a lion in her eyes. I smiled at her. “Let's leave tomorrow”

I yawned and stretched. My back was sore from sleeping on the ground. Not that I was new to it. But today I had a different feeling lingering in my stomach. Today it wasn’t hunger. It was hope. “Ina” I whispered in my little sister's ear. “We’re leaving soon”. As she slowly woke up I started to wrap our belongings in a rag (Which wasn’t hard because we didn’t have much). Suddenly, It hit me. I realized the one thing I would miss. I stood up and raced out of our hut. “Hey Aliza!” I called to a girl playing soccer on the dusty street “What's up?” She walked over to me with her half-shredded soccer ball under her arm. “There's something I forgot to tell you…” Aliza was one of the only girls in the slum who was trustworthy. She was also my best friend. “Me and Ina are…” I struggled to get the words out of my mouth. “Me and Ina are leaving .” Aliza stared at me. I could see the confusion and sadness in her eyes and it stabbed me right in the heart but Aliza is good at hiding her feelings. Or at least making them less extreme.

“Oh…” She looked at her feet. “It’s just that, I thought that there might be a family out there who wanted to adopt us and maybe we could have a better life than here in the slum” I prayed that she would take this well “I understand” She looked at me with a sympathetic smile. She reached into her tattered shorts and pulled out a bracelet braided from scrap fabrics. “Put this on so you’ll remember me” I felt as if I could burst into tears but I avoided saying anything else so I wouldn’t. I nodded and headed back inside to collect Ina for our journey.

We’d been walking for some days now and we’d (Surprisingly) Survived. We’d been lucky that a nice store owner gave us water, some food, and a blanket. To get around we’d been hitchhiking and walking. A lot of walking. My trail of thought was interrupted by my little sister. “Are we there yet? I’m tired” I sighed. “We’re going to arrive at the harbor soon.” I handed her a bottle of water “Please don’t drink the whole thing. I’m thirsty too.” We continued to trek through the heat for quite a while but something was troubling me. I fiddled with the bracelet around my wrist. I’d been thinking about this almost all the way. The smuggler ships. We had to cross some water and we didn’t have a boat. Nor had we ever learned to swim. We had no choice but to take a boat operated by smugglers. I hadn’t told Ina why I was so worried all the time. “You know Ina” I looked at my little sister who was surprisingly resilient for her age. “There's something I haven’t told you” She looked at me with fatigue in her eyes. “When we get to the harbour” I cleared my throat “There's something uncomfortable coming up” She looked at me with big eyes. “Is it the smugglers?” She asked. I felt like my heart skipped a beat. How did she know? “How do you know about smugglers?” I asked her. “Some kids at the slum were talking about them,” she yawned. She seemed too tired to give a full answer. I looked out onto the horizon and there it was. The harbour!

“Ina, look!” I said to my little sister. I pointed into the distance. And there it was. The harbour. My heart began racing. This was it! We were almost at our destination. But there was one big problem ahead of us. I tried to shove it to the back of my mind and focus on the joy that the new life would, hopefully, bring us. When suddenly another thought popped into my head. Aliza. And all the other families we were leaving behind in the slum. They have helped us on tough days even when they almost had no food themselves. I realized that we were almost the only ones who had the opportunity to come this far and start a new life. As I looked around I saw a lot of people walking around in the harbour. I saw one particular boat that people were rushing onto. And I knew what kind of boat it was. It was a smuggler boat. I looked down at Ina and she looked at me.

We were both thinking the same thing. We didn’t want to go on that boat. “Maybe we should go look around the harbor to see if there are some other people with a boat who could help us?” I asked my little sister nervously. Now that I’d said that aloud it felt more impossible than it felt in my head. “Let’s stick together ok?” My little sister nodded and we walked towards the smaller boats. I looked out at the boats bobbing peacefully in the water. There was everything from large fancy yachts to small fishing boats. I was examining a particularly flamboyant yacht as we bumped into something. No, someone. “I’m so sorry sir! I wasn’t looking!”

I came up with millions of excuses in my head as I looked up at the man we had bumped into. He had brown hair, with some strands of grey, a beard, and a welcoming smile. “Not to worry.” He said in a deep voice. “What are you kids doing out here on your own anyway?” He looked down at me and I felt like I was about to tell him our whole life story when I remembered that you can’t trust everyone. Not even people who seem kind. “Why do you want to know?” I stepped back with Ina who had just been very quiet the whole time. The man chuckled. “Maybe I should introduce myself. My name is Stefan. I’m on a fishing trip here and I’m about to return to Cyprus with my family.” I looked up at him and I knew I could trust him. “I’m Naila and this is my little sister Ina” My sister waved nervously at Stefan. “We are on our way to find a new home.” The man looked at me thoughtfully. “No parents?” He asked. I shook my head. “Follow me.” He started walking in the direction of the other side of the harbour where some other fishing boats were docked. Me and Ina trailed behind and I had an oddly good feeling about this. There were a few wooden picnic tables here where many people were sitting and eating. That’s when I noticed my stomach growl. Loudly. And of course, my sister’s stomach also joined in. Just then we saw a family of a mom and a little boy who seemed to be the age of Ina. They looked at us with a confused look. “Who did you invite to lunch Stefan?” The mom asked our new friend. “I found these kids by the ‘bad’ side of the harbor. No parents.”

Eventually, Stefan and his family invited us to have lunch with them and after that, we got on their fishing boat. It was a bumpy ride at first but now I just focus on the beautiful ocean. My little sister is using my shoulder as a pillow and she is fast asleep. This is way better than the slum.

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The village is flooding. I already got water up to my knees. Alia, my little sister, already has water up to her hips. “MUM, I scream, QUICK!!!!” She is packing her backpack. Alia and I are done already, and are waiting for her with dad in the floating car he made.

My dad is fantastic. He invented so many things! This car we are in, for example. He took off the car wheels, and put them in the car trunk. Instead of the wheels, he added lots and lots of empty plastic bottles under the car to make it float, and it worked. It worked! Also, because it is too hot, he attached a fan to the motor and extended the cable to have the fan inside the car. Dad transformed our car into a boat.

We can’t stay in Pakistan. With the constant floods that happen almost every month, we almost have to live on the roof. Mum and dad are scared that we get carried away by the current, or that we drown (we don’t know how to swim)... and many other thousands of reasons, so the parents decided we had to leave. They decided we had to go to Mongolia. We’re going to live in a small village, with only a primary school and a secondary school. Most of the adults there are farmers or breeders, and aren’t very rich -which is our case too. The village is in the upland steppes, and the weather is always (or mostly always) good, and even though it is very cold in winter, it is still sunny and warm in the summer.

We finally left our village in southern Sindh. Dad put back the wheels on the car, and we have been driving since 9 hours!!!!! We crossed the Indian border since 3 hours and a half, and Alia threw up 2 times already. I’m happy I’m not car sick!! To make the time go faster, I imagine our village in Mongolia. I will have a best friend called Jenny, and we will have a cow named Alf. Suddenly, the car stops roughly. My head hits the front seat hard. “Ouch!” I feel like I broke my skull. All dizzy, I look out the window, and I see the biggest cow herd ever. There are at least 200 bulls!!!!!

After 30 min of waiting for the bulls to pass on, dad honked to scare the bulls, to get through. “MUM, THE BULL!!!!!” shouts Alia, a few seconds before 2 giant horns crash into the car. The time he gets his horns out, mum has got a big red scratch on the hip. Dad gets out the disinfectant and the longest plaster ever. I didn’t know we had these!!!!!! A few hours later, we finally got through the herd of furious bulls. We stopped on the side of the road because Alia needed to go to the bathroom. While she ran to hide behind the trees, I heard mum and dad arguing. “...we can’t go to Mongolia, " whispers mum. “With the war going on, it wouldn’t be safe.” “We have to go!” answers dad, “We’ve been waiting to go for so long!”

“It’s far too dangerous, the village could be bombed and we could get killed!! In addition, we will be near the capital, which is where the war is mostly taking place.” “But we could…” I don’t hear the end of dad’s sentence, because I run to Alia. I don’t tell her anything, because she would creep out. After a few minutes, we got back to the car. Mum looks shocked. Alia seem to have noticed, because she asks: “What is happening? Is everything OK?” Mum and dad exchange a glance. “Tell them”, whispers mum. “Umm… Well girls, we made an important decision, and ummm…” “Your dad decided to leave us” cut mum. “What do you… mean?” asked Alia. “Listen girls. There is a war going on in Mongolia, so I decided I would go to Mongolia, to see if our village is safe. If it isn’t, I will join you back here, and if it is, you will join me there.” 1 hour later, dad left us with the car. He said he would be back in a few days, and he made me promise to keep an eye on Alia and on mum.

After 2 weeks, he still didn’t come back. A day later, I found a journal that talks about the war. Apparently, it has finally stopped, but we didn’t have any news from dad. In the last paragraph, I find information that talks about honouring the dead. I read a little more before my eyes stop on 2 words. Arham Bhati. The exact same name as my dad. It says he is dead in a bombardement, trying to travel to a little village in the upland steppes. I can’t believe it. My eyes are all watery. I am crying. I haven't cried for 2-3 years. My dad is dead.

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Hi, my name is Oleksandr. I'm from Ukraine. I was born in Crimea, the city that borders Ukraine and Russia. I prefer not to mention that name. From now Russia will be called “the terrorists” I have two sisters and one brother. Their names are Anastasia, Sofia, and Roman.

I love them so much. My mom's name is Ramona. my dad's name is Mykhailo. He's part of the army because they needed him since the terrorists invaded our country.

When the war started on the 23rd of February 2022, our family got a message from the government saying that it wasn't safe to live here anymore. I was devastated because I had all my friends here. I would have to leave my house behind. I is is the city where I grew up

and where I have had the most precious moments. I had to pack all my things in one little backpack because we didn’t have time to pack a big suitcase.

I took a couple of clothes, my teddy bear, my toothbrush and a picture of me and my family. When I finished packing, Mum screamed from downstairs, “Come down now, the tanks are coming soon!” I ran downstairs. Mum said that we were going to take a bus to Kyiv. I knew where Kyiv was because I learned in school that it was the capital of Ukraine. A few minutes

later, the bus came. All my siblings rushed down the stairs and put on their backpacks.

We went to the bus, and my dog, Patron, jumped onto the bus too. I don't think that I have mentioned him so far. He’s a very cute five-year-old Dalmatian. When we got onto the bus everybody on board looked stressed and worried. I understand them after all we've gone through. Ten minutes into the bus ride the bus driver said on the loudspeaker, “ The Russians have bombed Mariupol, we will have to take a longer way.

I could hear my mother saying, “ That war criminal Vladimir Putin, when will he stop killing innocent lives! I could also hear her cursing”. At this moment, I wondered if Dad was okay and where he was now. He's the bravest person I know and I know that he never gives up. I hope this war ends soon so that I can see him again and show him how much I love him. I was starting to get tired so I leaned on Mom’s lap and I fell asleep. When I woke up my mom told me to get off the bus. She said that we were going to take another bus to get to Kyiv and that we had to walk to the next bus stop. She said that we were in the city of Kharkiv and that we had to be silent. I could see destroyed houses. We walked for a long time discretely until we saw a bus. My mom told us to get on the bus

quickly. I could see many people on the bus. Mum said that this would be a five-hour bus drive.

It was very late when the bus started rolling so I tried to stay awake but I couldn't. I woke up with a loud noise and people coming into the bus. I could vaguely see a soldier with an assault rifle pointing at the bus driver. Everybody screamed. The soldier said, “Show me all

of your passports!” We were all terrified, and we all showed the soldiers our passports. After everybody showed their passports, the soldiers took one woman out of the bus.

She had lost her passport which meant that she couldn’t continue the ride. I felt bad for her because she was probably in the same situation as us. When the bust started rolling again, my mum sighed, and my siblings were relieved. Now we just had to wait for three more hours!

In the middle of the night, we arrived in Kyiv, and the bus driver told everybody to get off the bus. I asked Mum in a sleepy voice, where will we sleep tonight? She said, “Honey, we will have to sleep on the bus until the morning, and then we’ll take a train to get out of Ukraine.” I was so tired that I couldn't even say anything but we went back onto the bus. I fell asleep.

The next morning, I felt weird. This whole trip has been a nightmare. I was so miserable about the fact that my country was getting destroyed by the evil Vladimir Putin. I hope that Dad was defeating the terrorists and that he was doing a good job. After all, he was forced to be in the army. He had no choice, he would have stayed with us if he could have. I was the

only one awake in the whole bus.

I was excited to go to Poland but at the same time sad that I had to leave my home country that I had lived in for my whole life. Just at that moment, my little sister woke up and said, “Olex, when will we go back home? She was only four years old so she didn’t understand

what was happening. I just told her, “We will be home soon, don’t worry Nastya”. Her real name was Anastasia but we all just called her Nastya.

My whole family calls me Olex even though my real name is Oleksandr. When everybody started waking up, we got off the bus. Mum said that we were going to one of her friend's houses to spend the day. She told us that Kyiv was not where all the fighting was happening so we were safe. She told us that her friend's name was Anna and that we all had to be extra

polite when we entered her apartment.

When we were walking on the streets I couldn't see any destroyed houses which made me feel safe. I knew that Mum had all of this under control. I find it amazing that Mum handles this stressful situation so well without Dad. She is amazing! We walked for a few more minutes until she said, "We're here, you can ring the doorbell Sofia dear”. Sofia rang the doorbell and a few seconds later a voice replied "Come in everybody!"

We entered the building and went up a few steps before arriving at Anna's doorstep. The name Anna Zinchenko was written on the door with bright red. From the appearance of her door, I could tell that she was going to be a lovely person. She opened the door and she said “Well hello there everybody, nice to meet you. Hi Ramona, it has been a while since I saw

you!” Come and take a seat, everybody! When I entered her apartment, I could see a table and plates, glasses, and cutlery laid on it. Anna said, “Take a seat, everybody, you must be starving after that very long ride!” To be honest, I haven’t eaten anything but a tuna sandwich on the bus on the first day of the trip. I had been so worried about the situation we were in

that I didn’t feel hungry on the trip.

On the table, I could see a yummy borscht. If you didn’t know, a borscht is a traditional

Ukrainian hot beetroot soup that satisfies meat-eaters and vegetarians. This dish comes in many shades of red depending on the kind of beet used. We first washed our hands. Then we sat down to eat. I was so eager to get the food into my mouth so I sat down as quickly as I could and asked if I could get the first serving.

Anna said that I could. Once everybody was served, Anna said that we could all start eating. She talked for a long time with Mum about grown-up things until Mum told me and my three siblings, “Sweethearts, I hope that you aren’t too sad about leaving home. We will come

back home one day when the war ends.” I could hear her muttering to Anna, “Hopefully”. I pretended that I didn’t hear anything so I said, “Okay Mum, whatever you say”.

Once we had finished eating lunch, Anna said, “I will prepare the honey babka, I hope you will like it!” I think that today was my lucky day because honey babka was my favorite dessert! It reminded me of the honey babka that my Grandma used to make, it was delicious! Once Anna took out the dessert, I ate one portion and then another one. I was full now so I asked if I was excused and I said thank you for the meal. Anna said that I could leave the table so I went to get a book from my backpack until I stumbled into a photograph of a man holding what looked like Anna just younger. Maybe this was Anna’s husband and maybe he was also a soldier for the Ukrainian army, just like my

dad. This made me think of Dad again, but I didn’t want to be sad so I stopped thinking about it and I just took my book and read it on the sofa.

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A few hours later, Mum told us that we had to leave now to catch our train to Poland. I asked where we were going to go in Poland and she said Warsaw. I had heard about Warsaw at school, but I had never been to the city. It would be interesting to visit a new country that I had never visited before! Me and my family have never been outside Ukraine but I don't know why. I guess you don’t get all the answers to your questions in life. Me and my siblings thanked Anna for the lunch and we left her apartment to the train station.

Once we got to the train station, we waited for our train to come. A woman’s voice said on the loudspeaker, ”Train to Warsaw, coming now”. When the train arrived, we got on it and waited for the train to start moving. We had to show our passports before boarding the train. When the train started moving, it was already dark so Mum said I could read a book or take

a nap.

I chose the nap. I only closed my eyes for a couple of seconds before hearing a loud sound. I looked out of the window and far in the distance, I could see orange fire and planes. I think that these planes were the planes that the terrorists were using. I felt a sudden thump in my chest like somebody had hit me hard there. I felt unsafe but Mum said, “Honey, I know that

this might seem scary, but remain calm, the Russians have dropped a bomb nearly twenty kilometers away”. I said, “I trust you, you are the smartest person I know”. After that, I fell asleep again. The

next morning, a voice on the loudspeaker said, “We are in Poland right now and we will be arriving in Warsaw in ten minutes, so get ready to disembark.” I slowly opened my eyes and cried out loud, “We are safe, we are out of the war zone!” The people sitting around us gave me a stern look but I didn’t care.

We were safe which was all that mattered. We got all of our things and got off the train. I hadn’t walked in twenty hours which made my bottom hurt when we got off the train. Mum said to all of us, “You have all been so brave, we are safe. We don’t have to worry anymore!” Me, Nastya, Sofia, and Roman were all celebrating. We were overjoyed! Mum said that she had rented an apartment in Warsaw. We started walking there. At that moment,

I thought about Dad. I wondered if he was safe after the several bombings in Ukraine. I said, “The Russians can’t win this war”.

Bad guys never win. If Ukraine wins this war, it is a win for democracy. I also started thinking about all of the innocent civilian lives that have been lost so far in this terrible war. Thinking about this made me very sad. Ukraine will never be Russia. I just want peace.

The End

This story shows the harsh reality of what Russia is doing right now in Ukraine. It also

exposes all of their war crimes. This story is for all of the innocent lives that have

been lost in this war and for all of the refugees from Ukraine. The whole world is

standing with Ukraine. Vladimir Putin is a war criminal and a murderer. I hope that this story inspires people to protest about Russia’s war crimes. Ukraine will always be in my heart. I hope that this war will end soon. May God bless all of the innocent lives that have been lost so far in this war. Slava Ukraini!

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Hello diary my name is George. I am almost 12 years old and my life has been turned around since I was 11. Before I explain further I let you guess by describing the worst morning of my lifetime.  Imagine waking up at 2:00 a.m. to the sound of deafening bomb alarms, hearing people all across the city, some crying, some screaming. Everyone panics as I descend to my basement, which we thought was safe. All I thought about was grabbing my barking dog, Gerald. Once in the basement, my mum quietly turned on the radio to understand what happened. The Russians had thrown down three houses in Kyiv.

Was it the start of a war?

Well now, a few months later, I can still feel the tension and desperation in the air.  If you were wondering where I currently am, you won’t believe it, but I am in my basement. My parents are deciding what we should do,  as I don't know how many bomb attacks we can survive anymore. I don’t want to leave my home, my beloved Ukraine, and mostly, I don't want to leave my life behind.

Suddenly I see a red light go on and a loud alarm playing. I become scared but not terrorized. I have been through at least 200 of these. My family joins me in the basement as my mom sighs. “ We can’t keep this up,” she says. Gerald barks. I thank my lovely German Shepherd for interrupting this conversation. I lean onto my mom and look up at the sky. “Used to be better when it was blue¨says my mom.

“ It looks orange from all of the fires”.

She adds, letting out a sob. It is not the sky I am looking at. It is the star, or as I call it ‘the guiding light”. For those who do not know, it is our family’s hope and strength. We look at it at night during bomb alarms. I watch it through the hole pierced through the ceiling of our basement.

I close my eyes, as I feel a change, I do not hear blaring alarms anymore. It is safe again, at least for a while. “ George, “  says my dad, softly. “ It is time for us to go “. “ What? You are joking, right? “I let out, feeling guilty right after. “ I wish I was joking”  adds my dad, as my mother whimpers. After some silence, my mom sadly announced: “ George, honey, we are leaving. Pack your bags and get ready downstairs in an hour. We are leaving the Country before morning light”. I gasp. I have so many questions I know they cannot answer quite yet. Through all of them,  two haunt me the most. “ Can I bring Gerald?” and most importantly; “ Where are we going?”.

I enter my room feeling so weak I cannot walk. I open my rucksack and I start packing the most random things. I pack school yearbooks, favorite pencils, canned food, and pictures. I threw on some clothes, a scarf, and some comfortable walking boots. I instantly became worried. I cannot bring my star with me. Disobeying the rules, I step outside and take a picture of the star. I print it and pack it. I realized that my grandpa’s watch I am wearing says  2 am.

I glance at it, as all the memories we had together come back as a sort of flashback. I feel lost in moments as if I had vanished from the real world. Remember the hole in the basement ceiling? My grandpa did it as a mistake when he and my dad were fixing the roof. He opened up the star for me. I decided to pack all my family pictures. I was so caught up in souvenirs I forgot the time;  I had to get ready!

It is barely 2:20 am, yet here I am, on my porch with my parents, facing the house, like when they first brought me home from the hospital. I can’t help myself; I keep saying I have got to keep strong but I start crying desperately. My parents do so too, as they remind me we should be aware not to wake anyone up. I say goodbye to my house, feeling like something just broke in me. I squabble onto an almost broken-down ice cream truck, helping Gerald get in too. It is really difficult driving through what used to be the airport in the pitch-black dark.

After half an hour or so, we got to what was once an airport. Jumping off the truck, I feel surprised by how much it has changed. “ Must be bombs” I think. Gerald whimpers. I delicately nudged him, reminding him not to make too much noise. I look the other way, seeing brand-new planes. I feel happy. I think it is mostly optimism. My frown descends after seeing a threatening sign.” No, It can’t be, I say under my breath”.

My parents notice the sign too. “ No dogs on board? “ says my dad, trying his best to read without his glasses, as they are packed far down in his rucksack. A man with a  short beard and blonde hair approaches us. He looks tired. I do not blame him, it is almost 3 am. “ I believe he is going to have to go in another plane”. Says the man, affectionately patting Gerald on the head. He has a  military outfit and a   golden pin.

He notices me observing and tells me: “ I am a  pilot ”, he says “ You are a very brave young man, what is your name?”.

George, I say, this is mom, dad, and my dog, Gerald. “ Nice to meet you George, I am Captain Shevchenko”. “ It requires a  lot of courage to do your job, I am sure all the country appreciates your contribution”.

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He says thank you. I give him Gerald telling him he hates ear scratches. He promises to care for him. “ Goodbye, Gerald. Or should I say, until we meet again? “ I rub his belly as the captain leaves. “ He is in good hands” he pronounces, leaving towards a colored plane. I start to sob, as I think about the Captain. He is strong and brave, so I should be too. He fights for the war to end, for Ukraine, for all of us. My parents hug and kiss me. Other people start to arrive. Not many though, most of the city does not leave the country at 3 am 6 months after the war.

It has been 1 hour since I left Gerald, and I miss him so much. The most recent announcement communicates boarding the plane will commence in 10 minutes. It was said 6 or 7 minutes ago, so we are close. I hear a man shout “ Families with children please start boarding a plane directed to Slovakia.”   “ We are going to Slovakia? “ I ask my parents. “Košice,” says my dad. It is close to the Ukrainian-Slovakian border. The man from before keeps shouting. I see his surname and a  number on his military uniform. The number is 12.

I then remember: my birthday is in 4 days!!. I feel like exclaiming it to my parents immediately, as I think we have more important priorities. It would make them feel bad. I notice my dad starting to walk again. I felt relieved, my legs were sore from staying in line for an hour and a half. My mom starts walking too, as she gently grabs my hand.

She gives me a  sign to keep walking forward, and I do so. We get onto the air vehicle and our seats. Sitting feels so good!  I free my mind while realizing it is very hot and stuffy here. I do not complain or say anything, as it is one of the smallest challenges a brave military pilot can face. I am not used to warm weather as it is freezing here. After 20 minutes or so, the plane started to walk. It then started to run. I felt scared as it was just my second time on a plane.

My first was when I was 2 months old and we went to Japan for my parents’ wedding anniversary. Suddenly, the plane started to go very fast. I saw the nose of the airplane starting to point up at the sky. “ God bless this trip” whispered my mom, as we flew up into the vast, endless sky. I felt safe from any danger. Most of all, I felt hope.

We have now been informed the flight is 2 hours and a half long. We are halfway through the trip and no missiles are close to us. I do not know what life will be like in Slovakia….  I keep thinking about that as a  thought hits me. I cannot stop thinking about Gerald. Is he ok? I remember not to panic as worrying will not fix anything. Agitating myself at times like this is not needed. I close my eyes and I lean onto my mom’s shoulder, like I used to do at night during bomb alarms in the basement.

I woke up at 4;30am.  We are landing in 35 minutes. My mom is still sleeping and so is my dad. I watch them, hoping their dreams are filled with beautiful things….  I hear shouting. I panic and my parents startle from the unpleasant awakening.

The pilot announced a Russian missile was on its way toward us and we should prepare for an emergency landing. I breathe heavily. It cannot be…. Everything was going so well and 25 minutes from safety, we had to face danger once again.

The place we are arriving at is Uzhhorod International Airport, at the Ukrainian border.  He announces we are descending and that a train arriving at 5.15 am will get us to Kosice by 8.00 am. I thank my star. I do not think about it a lot though, because it makes me nostalgic thinking about home. We arrive at a stop as I and my family breathe in and out calmly. “ Thank you for protecting my family, star,” says my mom. It is better this time, after all, 30 minutes is not much time to wait for a train.

Here I am, under an old train station waiting for the vehicle bringing us to safety. My mom turns on the mini radio she packed and listens. According to the journalists, the enemy is now attacking the south. Thank goodness the border is in the west. I look at the time on my grandpa’s watch and notice it is 5.12 am. The train should be very near to us at this point.

I look at my parents and say: “ Thank you,  you did all you could to bring me somewhere safe and protected me when I felt unsafe. I will never be able to make up for everything you did for me.” They smile, and I say some tears rolling down their cheeks. For once, they are tears of joy, not fear.

I am on the train. 1 hour left to travel and then I can say I am safe. I feel so lucky. This time, I am wide awake since  I prefer to stay vigilant. Even though it sounds appropriate or silly, I ask my parents to play the word game with me. It is a  game we have played all together since I was little, and it means a lot to me.

One person starts by saying the name of an object, like the word carrot. The person after has to say another word that starts with the last letter of the previous word. My mom smiles, and so does my dad. We start playing and time flies by. Before I realize it, 10 minutes of the journey are left.

Hi diary, or should I say “ahoj denník!”. We have officially arrived in Kosice! I feel cheerful, no bomb alarms to scare you and no missiles or fires to petrify you. It is all so calm and peaceful here. We then walk to our house, next to the train station. It is 8.30 in the morning.

I stare at a  modern house with a  freshly painted white door. “ What do you think?” asks my dad. “ Not bad,” I say “ Not bad at all.” I then have a  flashback.” When is Gerald’s plane arriving? I hope soon”. “ I am sure it is on its way towards us,” says my mom.

There is a  last surprise. It can’t be !!! I am going to school!!! I am going to school!! I am so excited to make new friends and participate in sports activities.  “ Starts tomorrow, what do you say ?” says my mom. I am so grateful I have no words. Thank you for everything is all I tell them. I see through their eyes it is enough.

I started school today and it was super fun! Unlike my last school, in Kyiv, the maths teacher was nice, and I made a  friend called Louis. He lost his left leg.  He is also from Ukraine and I felt so happy to have someone to talk to who would understand. I have to go now, diary. Dinner is ready!!

“ Tomorrow is my birthday” !!!!! I am so excited I did not follow one lesson! My mom is planning a surprise party for me with my friends at home, and she told me I would love the present. I just want to see Gerald again… I miss him so much. Anyway, I am really happy. Goodnight Diary!!

This morning, I woke up to the sweet sound of the Happy Birthday song. I ate my special vanilla birthday cake and I bled][with the candles. You usually do not tell your wishes, but mine is for peace in the world. No more children should wake up very early in the morning to the sound of deafening bomb alarms.  I got ready and I ate lunch. My party took place in the afternoon, and I was so happy to see all my friends!

We played a  lot of games and laughed a lot. Then, I opened presents. I could not wait for my parent’s special gift. I opened it to see….. A  giant Playmobil plane with a pilot!!! The card said to our brave not so little George. I was so happy. Everything was perfect except Gerald was still not here. I heard the doorbell ring. “I think it is the pizza. “ said my mom, opening the door. It was not pizza. It was captain Shevchenko and…. Gerald!!!!

I was so happy. I felt so grateful I cried. They were tears of joy.

THE END…………………….

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Prologue:

It’s a full moon night, the sky is clear, everything is calm.

Suddenly, a silent shadow enters an old building’s debris and starts searching for something or someone.

26/02/2022 (roughly)

Dear Journal,

I don’t know exactly where I'm at. I mean I’m a 12-year-old girl who’s growing in deep

fear of seeing the next day come. Who just doesn’t want to make the point of how many people will get killed today, to see soldiers, war trucks, broken buildings, houses and thousands of terrified faces all around?

This morning, I saw Mum talking to the old farmer who lives in the neighborhood nearby. I couldn’t hear all that they were talking about but I heard the words: attack, days, move, quick, careful, and dangerous.

I don’t know what they meant but I’m scared. I remember mum telling me it was getting too dangerous here, with the military camp on the other side of the two or three fields of potatoes which were the pride of my father before he….

Ya.

I think we will have to move. I don’t want to. I…. I….. I just don’t know.

29/02/2022

Dear Journal,

I know you can’t hear me but this might be the last time I talk to you. I’m terrified.

Now I understand what Mum and the old farmer were talking about. We have to wait for the old farmer to come and pick us up.

We have to move fast. If the army catches us, we can do our farewell to life…

Sorry, I don’t have a lot of time. I have to pack and take the essential things for the

journey. But just remember, that whatever happens, you’ll always be my number one friend.

See you next time….

4/03/2022

Dear Journal,

We did it!

We made it to Romania! We passed the boundaries! Today, I tried to familiarise myself with these kids from the two other families we live with. Guess what, they don’t speak English! I don't like this place.

You know the two small kids I told you about? The ones who live two houses below us? They are here! Crying and shouting every two minutes.

The worst is that in this freezing, dark, gloomy cave there is no light to be seen and it resonates so much that you wouldn't even hear if an army plane landed on it.

ya ….

Whatever. The last time I spoke to you, I didn't have a lot of time. I apologize.

Mum told me that in two days, we would move to Galati, then to Bucharest, and then finally to Sofia.

I’m quartered between fear and happiness,

between crying and laughing, between anger towards Russia’s army and love towards my friends and family.

I know it’s not the end but it feels like we achieved something, something big, something that could inspire many families in the future not to keep living in horror, but to stand up and fight for a better life!

06/01/2023

Dear Journal,

I go to school now. I made new friends,

My teacher is nice, I understand some things that she says and if I don’t she gives me a hand. We live in a small apartment, on the third floor of the 18th building from Spielberg Avenue.

It’s not very big but it seems better than a palace and more comfortable than ten thousand billion cushions piled up, compared to the gloomy cave

we were living in.

I just hope this continues forever….

Dad misses me as much as my old friends do but as long as I’m with you, I feel safe.

Summary:

A short story about a girl who has to flee her country, Ukraine because of the war that opposes them to Russia, who has to leave everything she loves behind, who has to start a new life, with horrible memories buried deep inside her….

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So many people asked me how it was to move into a new country I said I was GOOD anyway. That's wrong because I had a terrible time there for a long time and then only I adapted to their way of living. So I'm going to tell you the start and the end of my journey to a new country and all the difficulties, challenges, and fun I faced. This is the start from the morning of 28th of December 2017 to the 12th of January 2018 read!!!!!!!!!!!. From the below paragraphs from the morning.

I woke up in the morning by my father I was sweating the whole house was upside down dad was my mom were rushing here and there with things in her hands my brother was crying I was confused and asked what was going on MY dad said no time to explain get your important stuff and essentials in the suitcase fast as possible.

I was filled with confusion when he left. I went to my brother and asked what was wrong with a low tone he said

we have to the whole country and I said to tell the truth he

repeated the same thing then I got fed up and asked mom she said do what your dad said! No time for questions. With my morning clumsiness, I took all the things for me and my brother came out and said I am done sadly.

Keep it next to the big suitcase, Mom says. Now my brother had stopped crying I asked him Where are we going? He says England with a confused face. I said what is England? then thought for a long time. Then suddenly Mom screams hurry up Boys !!!! The Taxi has arrived !! we have no time left until they come! I had many questions in my mind then I rushed outside with my brother then sat inside the taxi and asked all the questions which were on my mind.

My dad said we are going to England. That's it, shut up. Then I had a heart attack and I died at the END. Just Kidding, BUT I felt a mixture of sadness, happiness, and

confusion and I fainted for REAL. Then when I woke up I was near the airport If you ask me how you know that I saw the airport sign and that place is mostly expected to end up and like in the movie police were chasing us in cars behind us but we ended up crashing into to the toll and almost to airport lounge.

Then we entered the entrance after the army officer checks

the passport then sends us in the airport the first I saw was

the bag drop off point we rushed to the counter of the name of the airlines we are travelling which is Qatar Airlines a man in his 50s was a porter-staff who helped us keep the suitcase on the weight checking area he asked for a tip but my mom refused and the porter staff angrily went help somebody else and when they the check our four large suitcases each of them were 54 kg which even my father couldn't carry I felt bad for porter staff.

Cause he didn't get a tip then we the police sirens outside we rushed to the terminal after checking the On a few tickets we came into the plane invented by the air

hostess and we sat in the economy seats a11, a12, a13 and a14. We sat and took our hand luggage and kept it in the cabinet and we relaxed after all the running. As I peeked in the window I saw cop cars coming behind the plane. We panicked in a hurry.

Luckily we took off. I was able to see the angry cop throwing his hat in anger. After that, I asked why the cops were chasing us!. my dad said do you remember what happened yesterday I came late from the New Year's Day speech practice in my office for the final rehearsal so the higher-end bosses were there and were some politicians I accidentally interrupted the whole national anthem because they gave the big speech to read but he asked for a small speech to read and he practised it for a long time. and some sort of idiot called the police saying that he disrupted the national anthem which is illegal now the police are here to arrest me for that. for being in jail it is better to flee to the UK early.

But I am sorry for shouting at you. I am sorry too, says my mom. I said " It's ok I understand but I feel bad because my grandparents expected me and my family to visit one last time before we left and my friends expected me to play badminton one last time too and my best friend we and

him were always duos in playing games and I miss him and he said he will give a bracelet which has one fist in the left and another bracelet with the fist in the right so these can join together to make a fist bump to remember each other

whenever we see the bracelet.

But I will not forget him or any of my friends. I was sad and I cried a bit while my brother was happily watching a movie with headphones only thing that could relax me was to look outside in the window seeing the clouds and the dark and dull sky after a couple of hours dinner was served and i had question will they still come to chase us down my dad

replied no way as we have crossed the Indian border.

I felt better after he said that ate dinner then tried to sleep but it was uncomfortable to sleep then I fell asleep and had sad dreams in which I was dragged away from my grandparents, friends, and classmates I cried in the dream and also in real life then I was woken up by my mother that we land in 30 minutes and my brother was still sleeping while my dad was watching a movie then we landed on Belgium which I thought it was England.

Then my brother was happily saying England, England. Which is England but he didn't change his mind saying England. And then we landed in Belgium. My mom said we were not there yet and still needed one more flight. He was angry and then he started chanting angrily I want to go ..for straight 40 minutes cause we were waiting for the flight.

After all, it was delayed then it was time to enter the flight which was smaller than the last plane we had the same procedure as the first one as I came inside the whole plane was empty and there were only 12 passengers on board in and with us it is 16 so it kind of felt like a private aeroplane and my brother was happy because he thought the plane was only for us .then the plane took off with still 16 passengers nobody came .as we landed in the UK I understood it is time to start a new life with a new beginning and start a new chapter in life by not forgetting the past.

THE REAL END

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A few snowflakes fell onto our tiny hut; Maryam was crying and Mother was caring for her. Her four-month-old brain had probably seen a ghost lurking in our shared, unlighted, bedroom, and for your information, yes, we all share one bedroom, Mother, Father, me, and Maryam. It gets a bit crowded when we have guests sleeping over, but the solution always ends up being that me and mother sleep on the floor.

A few weeks passed, and a couple came to sleep in our house for a few days, we had never seen them before, and I could see the “awkward face” on my father, as he greeted them—the face he has when he meets someone new.

Soon I decided to investigate who this couple was; and what they were doing here. That snowy night I stayed up past my bedtime and went to investigate. They were chatting with their mother and father, and then I heard them say: “It is not safe here anymore, we have to protect the kids and move.”

I went past the creeks on the floor, slowly cuddling with my blanket around my shoulders as it hit me, we were moving. The thought made my brain go all black, I had a million questions, but the most important one was, “What will happen to Maryam?” She was just a baby, what if she won’t make it?

The next day, when we went to church, I prayed that we wouldn’t have to move, that I would still stay here with my best friend Ina, that life would go on normally, and that Maryam would not be hurt on this trip. And as I was making my last prayer, Maryam started crying again. Still, the reason is unknown. A tear fell down my cheek, but it was a happy one, one full of hope and destiny, one hoping that god would have us in good hands and that life would go on normally.

The thought of moving made me have nightmares for three weeks until my mother and father decided to tell me the truth. “Pack your bags.” We had to pack the necessary stuff, only enough to carry in our shared bag, like toothbrushes, clothes, bottles, dry food, warm clothes, and a phone for emergencies.

The first few miles were horrible, the snowstorm was pushing us back and we were nearly turning into ice cubes, or rather ice sticks. Mother fell on her knees, praying to god that this natural disaster would soon clear up, but it just got worse, after four hours, Mother fainted. She had gotten severely sick.

The closest place to stay was this hut, tons of fleeing people were staying there, so we did have luck with finding medical help from the owner of the hut. I got really happy seeing Mother waking up. The owner had bad news though, she wouldn’t make it.

A single tear fell on my left cheek, then on the other, and soon my face was flooding with tears. “Mother…” I whispered. “Don’t leave me, nor Maryam” “Don’t worry dear” she answered “I am in good hands, go on without me, I will be okay” Those were the last words I heard from her, as I got a dry kiss on my forehead.

Soon we arrived at a refugee camp. We were far away from the war, and Mother's death was stuck in my head, I couldn’t believe how life would be without her. Thanks to my father, our family was holding together. As Maryam grew up, she became a rebel and a fighter just like her mother.