Freedom Lost-Never!

Alexander stood by the window and watched the exploding bombs in the distance. The bright orange and white flashes of light briefly turned the night sky into day. Darkness reestablished its dominance except for where the bombs had exploded. In those areas, the glow of freshly ignited fires illuminated the neighborhoods under siege. He refocused his attention on where his wife was offering solace to their two small children. They were exhausted, but sleep refused to come. He left the window and cuddled with his family.

Marta, his wife of ten years, watched him carefully settle in next to their children and offered him a faint smile. They both knew what the morning would bring and it wouldn’t be pleasant. Their plan was simple. Just before dawn, Alexander, Marta, and the children would finish loading the car with the last of their provisions and drive as close to Moldova as their fuel would take them. If the car ran out of gas, they would pack up as much as they could carry and walk the rest of the way. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it was better than the alternative.

The crowing of a rooster recently freed from its cage announced the beginning of a new day. The farmers had released all their animals to make it more difficult for the invading forces to capture them for food. Alexander rose and gently woke his wife and children. It was time to go.

Marta fed the children bread and jam while her husband finished packing the car. It broke her heart to leave the place where she was born and had lived her entire life. Of course, like many Europeans, she had traveled to countries in the west and even to America once, but no other country felt like home to her. Marta wanted to break down and cry, but that wasn’t an option. She needed to stay strong for her children.

Children are the same the world over. They could sense the tension emanating from their parents, but they didn’t understand why. Eight-year-old Andriy and his six-year-old sister, Iryna, were told they were going on a grand adventure. They would explore many unknown places and meet new and interesting people. Their curiosity overruled whatever fear they felt and were eager to be on their way. The children were also happy to be leaving the loud booming sounds that seemed to get closer every night.

Once the kids finished breakfast, and Alexander had packed as much into the car as possible, it was time to go. Marta stood next to her husband as they both took one last look at the cottage they called home. Tears began rolling down Marta’s cheeks. Alexander put his arm around her, pulling them closer together. He leaned over and kissed each tear-streaked cheek before saying, “This is our home. It will always be our home. We will return to it one day, I promise.” She wiped the tears away as they walked back to the car where the children were eagerly waiting to go.

It was quiet at the beginning of the journey. The road was unusually empty, except for the occasional truck or farm tractor. The kids grew bored looking at kilometer after kilometer of farmland and dropped off to sleep. As they got to the Moldavian border, everything changed. Cars, buses, trucks, even horse-drawn carts clogged the road. People with backpacks or pushing wheelbarrows loaded with personal items trudged solemnly along the side of the road. The sea of humanity mystified the children.

Iryna asked, “Where is everyone going, Daddy?”

“They are going to Moldova just like we are, sweetie.”

“Is it the bombs that’s making everyone leave?” inquired Andriy.

“Yes, son. The Russians are trying to make us become Russian, but we will always be Ukrainian. It is not right for one country to force another country to change who they are or what they believe. If you forget all the other things I’ve taught you, remember this: family and freedom are the two things worth fighting for, no matter what the cost. Can you remember that, son?”

“Yes, Papa, family and freedom. I’ll remember.”

“There is one more thing I need you to know. After you, your sister and mother are safely across the border, I will return to Ukraine and join the men fighting the Russian soldiers. I need you to help your mother look after your sister and keep her safe until I return. Can I count on you to do that, son?”

“I can do that, Papa, but I’d rather go fight the Russians with you.”

“I know you would, but we all have our jobs to do. Yours is to help your mother. Remember, we will never lose our family or our freedom—never!”