Anna Petrovska 14, male from Donetsk

My name is Anya. I am 14 years old. I am from Donetsk, I am from Bucha, I am from Kamianets-Podilskyi.

I lived in the Donetsk region—my parents lived there all their lives, my grandparents, uncles, and aunts lived there too. But in 2014, the war began, and we had to leave our home. We packed our things, got into the car, and drove away, knowing where to: my parents, my cat Asya, and me.

We started life anew in the Kyiv region. The first couple of years, I really wanted to go back home. Then I got used to it, and “home” became here. I went to school, did dancing, and had friends.

Then came the morning of February 24, 2022. The war caught up with us again. And once more, my dad, mom, little brother, and I left everything behind and went into an uncertain future—this time with our pets: the eublefar lizard Alf and our very old cat Asya.

Once again, we started over—this time in the Khmelnytskyi region. And the last two years have been so hard. During that time, while under occupation, my grandparents passed away, and we couldn’t even attend their funerals. My cat Asya, who had been with me since I was born, also died. I had no friends. And I really wanted to go home.

P.S. “Everything passes. This too will pass.”

Now, our family has been renting a house in Kamianets-Podilskyi. We’ve been here for three years. I’ve made friends (though a few enemies too 😊). Here, I feel like I’ve found myself. I go to art school—I love to draw and sculpt. I love to read. I love the rain. I love the silence.

I want… I hope… that everything will be fine.