On this day one year ago I returned home. My train arrived in the morning of 24th May 2022 (day 90 of russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine). It was just 40 minutes late due to russian night attack. My cats, me, embroidery threads and calligraphy supply. Things I took with me, when I left my home for good. Few things, that I love, some home clothes, new suit and shirts. Things, that would help me to earn some money wherever I would end up in evacuation.
It was the strangest feeling in my life. I thought I'd never come back home. I thought, that my home would be destroyed, as millions of others. But I've got lucky. I have this priceless privilege to be at my home, surrounded by my things.
When I opened the door, it was like I went back in time to the morning of 8th of March 2022, the day of my evacuation. My coffee cup, where I left it, dishes in the sink, made-up bed in the bathtub. Clothes, which I decided not to take last minute, lays on my bed. Package from my last McDonald's meal I ordered on 23rd of February 2022. Everything was here, waiting for my return. But the most unusual thing in this for me was not to hear explosions.
On evening of this day I threw a surprise party for my friend, who just published her first book. It was a really good day, the one, I want to remember.
And it was the first time in 3 months when I finally went to sleep in my own bed.
The photo I took on that day, when I run errands to prepare a surprise party. Chestnut – symbol of Kyiv.