The search
The story of a family that did not have time to leave
It was an ordinary family: a Husband, Wife, and Daughter. Their life was also ordinary: in the mornings, the Husband and Wife would take their Daughter to daycare and go to their respective jobs. In the evenings, they would stroll along the waterfront, go to the theater or museum on weekends, and have guests over once a month. They loved their simple life and their cozy southern town where, it seemed, nothing could ever happen. Especially not a war.
The Husband wanted to leave, and the Wife wanted to stay: "Let's stay for a day or two, see what happens, maybe everything will end." But in a few days, russian military personnel appeared on the streets, and the exit was closed. They were looking for empty apartments, moving in, and taking away appliances and furniture. And then people started to disappear. Someone went to the store - and didn't come back, someone was called in by the occupying administration three days ago and still hasn't returned. One day, the Husband didn't come home for dinner after work.
The Wife searched for three days. She went to friends and colleagues and asked around. Until she met an acquaintance who said she had seen him being taken to the administration building. The Wife went there. "What's his name? When did he disappear? Okay, let's go," smiled the officer at the reception. And she followed him. Through the hallway, then down the stairs - to the basement. "Oh my God, how could I have come here!" she remembers the thought spinning in her head, as she saw the worn-out sofa in the room, a chair, and nothing else. "What was I thinking? Who will take care of my child?" The Wife clung to that thought in her anger at herself, focusing on it so as not to feel anything else.
When it was all over, he opened the door and offered her his arm to take her down the stairs to the entrance. "So, will you come back for your Husband?" he asked. She stumbled out onto the street and then ran. When her legs finally gave out from exhaustion, she stopped, sat down to rest, and realized that she didn't recognize the city. She sat there, breathing, recalling, and then she walked. As she walked, she felt relieved that her clothes were intact - no one would suspect anything.
Now, in a safe place, her memories were becoming blurry, like a dream, with details fading with every passing hour. She remembered when her Husband returned after a few days and told her about the interrogations and torture. She told him what had happened to her. All that remained for her were shame and fear. Fear that her Husband wouldn't forgive her, that her Daughter would find out - and how would she look at her mother?
But the Wife doesn't let fear and shame paralyze her - she has a reason and someone to live for. That's why she talks to her Husband, her psychologist, and her closest friend, who also experienced the occupation. Talking makes it easier, although it's hard for them to open up.
And she started to paint. The desire to pick up a brush came suddenly, on one of the darkest days when it seemed like there was no future. "What's your brightest memory?" the psychologist asked. And suddenly, she remembered how she used to sit at the table near the window and draw as a child, and her mother would look over her shoulder and praise her for how well it turned out. Now, in her paintings, there is their simple family life with walks along the embankment and no war or pain that she carries within herself.
This story is based on the experiences of real people who have suffered sexual violence at the hands of russian and are now on the path to recovery. Their stories were heard and retold by psychologist Tetiana. The heroes themselves are not yet able to speak out. They need time and help. We hope that one day they will feel strong enough to testify to the war crimes committed by the occupiers on our land against our people.
