Reflective Journal Entries by Alexia <3

Fact 1: The adult men in your family, including your father and older brothers were drafted in the military to help fight the enemies. It has been a year since they left home and you haven’t heard any from them, not even letters. What would you feel? Why?

I would feel incredibly worried and scared because of their absence and lack of communication after being drafted. Not only that but I would panic and cry because I would start imagining the worst that could have happened to them. They could have died, got enslaved and so much more and my mind would not be able to be put at ease no matter what others say to me.

Fact 2: You, your mother, and your siblings are left at your home. Your mother lost her high-paying job as the economy focused its resources on the war effort. Your family now depends on rations distributed in an irregular schedule. You have to save food as it is unsure when the next ration is coming. Reminiscing on your lifestyle before the war, what would you feel? Why?

I would feel worried and afraid if my life depended on those irregularly delivered food rations. I would try to eat less and less so that my mother and siblings can get their fill. And I would reminisce about my life before the war missing the stable food supply that I once had.

Fact 3: On a random day, you heard sirens blaring. Your mother told you and your siblings that you must evacuate to a sturdier shelter. Your city is being air-raided. Later, while at the shelter, you heard gunshot noises. The war has come to your place. What would you feel? Why?

I would feel scared, afraid, and extremely anxious. I would cry and hug my family wishing that we could go back in time and enjoy our life before the war started. I would keep the embrace aslong as I could because the moment I let go of them. I know that I would suffer a panic attack or something similar to that. I would try my best to comfort my remaining family knowing that I myself am not okay and is also in desperate need of confirmation that everything will be okay even if it wasnt true. I would honestly just give up at that point if I started hearing gunshot noises coming closer and closer to the shelter my family is in. I would start shaking and say my thank you’s and i love you’s to my remaining family and embrace them knowing that It could be my final moments with them.

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