The Kosenko family had always been strong, supporting each other no matter how difficult things got. They lived in Kharkiv, right in the heart of the city, when the war suddenly began. It was like a lightning bolt out of the blue. The first days felt unreal: sirens, the echo of explosions, empty streets. Everything that had once been familiar and comforting suddenly became hostile and dangerous.
Gathering only the essentials, the family embarked on a long journey to escape the threat looming over their city and country. The road to Canada was tough, but they stuck together, despite all the challenges. And it was in Canada, in the peaceful and cozy town of Waterloo, that their fifth daughter, Maria, was born. Her arrival was seen as a symbol of hope, a testament that life goes on even in the darkest times.
After Kharkiv was liberated in the summer of 2022, the Kosenkos decided to return home. They dreamed of walking through their familiar streets again, seeing the places they knew, and feeling the warmth of their Homeland. But when they arrived, they were met with a different city. Kharkiv had changed beyond recognition: destruction, scorched buildings, no electricity, water, or heat. But the most painful thing was the loss of the peace and comfort that once prevailed there.
They endured power outages, freezing nights without heat, and constant bombardments. The difficult days dragged on one after another, but the Kosenkos did not break. They found the strength and courage to preserve their love for their native city, supporting each other and believing they could rebuild their lives in their homeland.
But in 2024, the enemy broke through the defenses, and battles were being fought just 30 kilometers from Kharkiv. Now, every day, the sounds of artillery echoed over the city, and air raid alarms rarely ceased, even the air felt heavy with tension. The family once again decided to move to Canada, to the familiar Waterloo region. They settled in the same town and neighborhood, and from the first day, they felt an extraordinary sense: it seemed as if nothing had changed, as if they had never left. It felt like the two years of horrors had been just a terrible dream from which they had finally awakened.
Now, a new life was unfolding before them, filled with hope and peace, where they could forget all the hardships they had endured and learn to enjoy each day again.
Comments