Everybody Has 1 Power

Chapter 6 | Anya's Tale

War included, bomb mention and some Russian writing but is translated into English.

"Аня"' (Anya) My mum says as another bomb goes off outside of our house. It's day 979 of the war against Ukraine and I've had to live here during the war. It hurts to hear the screams and bomb warnings outside of our house. It scares me and my brother. I try to act like it doesn't scare me, but it does. My mom speaks up again, ''Нам больше не придется здесь жить. Надеюсь, мы доберемся до Америки.'' (We won't have to live here anymore, we're going to America) I nod and mumble in Russian, ''Хорошо.'' (okay). I don't agree with the man who caused this, it's wrong. Just because we want their land. Children in Ukraine and Russia can't go to school because of how many air raids there are. We don't have any power, and Ukraine doesn't. It scares me a little bit if someone in my family gets injured. I think that it's wrong that any of the people involved in a war are getting injured, especially the children. They have life to live and here they are, getting threats and not being able to learn. We hear on the radio everyday that the US are sending over help, but it doesn't seem to be helping and it seems to be getting worse. Mum tries to hide it from me and my brother but it doesn't work very well. I hear it very clearly. In the day, I read books and write because we don't have any power. I have to use the very little light source we have from the small window in the kitchen. We must keep the rest of it closed because if a bomb comes through, we're dead. We have to go to sleep at a certain time. My parents think I don't know why but I do. It's because there's more bombs at nighttime. I can hear them from my room. My brother is 5 and he has to hear the screams and the bombs. My mom says to me, ''Аня, собирай сумку. Нам пора идти.'' (Anya, pack a bag. We've got to go) I nod and stand up. I grab my rucksack from my room and put my clothes, books and my fountain pens in there. My little brother was filling his rucksack too. He looked so innocent. He shouldn't have to go through this at the age of 5. He seems too young. The war started when I was 14, and I was terrified. I've gotten used to it now. That sounds bad, but when you have to listen to it everyday, your used to it. I jump at every door closing, every footstep because I'm so scared of the bombs. I'm scared for the journey to America. What if we get hit by a bomb on the way there? I know there's a small chance but it could happen. You never know. I think I'm just being paranoid. I used to have nightmares about war when I was younger but I never expected to live in that nightmare, but I guess it's something that happens and always has happened. I still don't think it's right and it should never happen. Especially the fighting part. When I finished packing my bag, which didn't take long, I helped my brother pack his bag. He seemed scared and confused, probably confused of going to a brand new place. He probably doesn't even know what's going on. He speaks Russian but I'm guessing Mum didn't tell him where we're going.