Ukraine – penned in moon dust

Where is Everyone? #Ukraine #Odessa #The Passage #timeportal

May 17, 2022July 12, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in Fiction, Ukraine

The clothes we had put in the closet were dated and we both chuckled. Ukraine had become quite modernized but in 1991 there was little fashion. My skirt was grey and my blouse was yellowed from many washings. I was glad I had packed an old blond wig. The blond with my blue eyes gave me a first glance pass as Ukrainian. I looked at Don. All I could think of was to use some hair dye I had earlier mixed in a bottle.

” It will at least take away the grey.” I said as I pulled a workers cap on his head.

“Now what?” I had a blank look.

“We need to find food and answers. Food should be easy.” He pointed toward the door.

I had forgotten that we weren’t in a war zone and there would be food. We sat down at a café in the Passage and had a luxurious coffee and pastry. We ordered several more for “later.” We also stopped at a fruit stand and filled a bag with apples. My mouth watered.

“Let’s get this food to our friends.” I said casually.

We were careful as we went up the stairs to watch for anything out of the ordinary. As I turned the hallway, I thought I saw a shadow. We stopped.

“F – S- B?” I signed the letters to my husband.

He shrugged his shoulders. We listened intently – nothing.

As silently as we could we went to our room.

“Do not eat these too quickly.” I instructed the children as I gave them the pastries, fruit and some juice.

“We will eat slowly. Won’t we children?” Marina said.

“We are sorry to keep you locked away, but we need to keep you safe.” I waved toward the closet.

Each of our friends stretched their arms, legs and backs and willingly climbed back into the hideaway.

“I think we need to look for the professor.” I said to Don. “I’m worried about him.”

“He may not be in this time period.” My husband looked like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

“Hmmm. Wouldn’t they leave us a clue?”

“Only if they could.”

We carefully went down the hallway of the Passage that was set aside for guests from the past or the future. There was no evidence of anyone being there.

“Who can we ask?”

I had an idea. I grabbed my husband’s hand and ran down the old hallway. There was one more room with a hideaway.

We listened carefully at the door. No sound.

The door was unlocked. I gave him the thumbs up.

He walked around the room looking for any clues.

Just then we heard a load noise in the hallway. We froze and looked at each other…

This is a continuation of a story that I began writing in Odessa, Ukraine in 2007 at The Passage Hotel. The time period was moved to 2022 as a tribute to the heroism of the men and women who are living in Ukraine (especially Odessa) right now.

This link will take you to beginning of the story The Passage – authors

This links you to the beginning of part 2 – Passage to the Portal (During War)

The Passage to the Portal #Ukraine #fiction #part2

May 7, 2022May 17, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in Fiction, Ukraine

We stood in front of the clock in the Passage Hotel. The hands seemed as if they didn’t want to move forward. I looked at my husband with open hands and pointed to the rifle.

“You are good, but you can’t shoot two guns at once.” I pointed at the Kalashnikov.

“Trigger finger, eh?” He held the strap against his shoulder tightly. “Mae, you can barely stand.”

“We are potentially entering a portal with a KGB operative. I need to man up.” I knew not to grab for the gun so I just pleaded with my eyes.

The hour hand finally clicked to the 3.

“Let’s go then.” Don handed me the rifle.

He showed me how to place my feet on the design on the carpet. We both clutched our guns in a fighting stance. His other hand was on my back so he could push me forward if necessary.

We walked into 1991 uncertain of what we would face and who would greet us.

“It’s so quiet.” I whispered.

We went down the hallway to the blue room. My husband put his ear against the door to check for any sounds. He shook his head.

“Let’s check our room.” He mouthed as he pointed across the hall.

Again, there were no sounds.

Now What? I looked at my husband with confusion. One misstep could be our last.

He turned the door knob and opened the door.

While he swept the room for signs of intruders, I noticed something out of place.

The lamp was on the wrong table. Then the question was: Would Valeria have done that to warn us?

Don picked up the lamp; there was a lipstick marking underneath. The V in the heart pointed to our secret room.

I rushed over.

“Careful.”

As I clicked the release, I heard the voice of a child.

Don locked the door, wedged a chair under the door and stood with his gun raised at the door. He motioned me inside the secret room.

“What genius,” I thought.

Valeria had put Dmitre’s family in the secret room that was part of our room. Our room was always unlocked so it seemed unlikely that you would hide someone in an unlocked room.

The children rushed into my arms.

Malika’s eyes were moist even Luda looked grateful.

“How long?” I whispered.

“Many days or is it weeks? We have not seen Valeria for 2 days.”

“And no food,” Sasha chimed in.

“We need to take care of that.” My husband peered in and handed me the gun. “What have you heard and what noises?”

“There was a bad man here. We do not know where he is now, but he hurt the professor.”

“You have been hiding – here.” The women nodded.

“Not at first.” Luda added. She pointed across the hall.

“Vlad and Valeria were here?”

“Yes, they moved us.”

“For now, let us put you back in the room. We will be back.” Hopefully, my husband said under his breath.

The first thing we did was check the blue room. It had been disturbed then tidied up by Valeria.

“What about the supply closet?” I knew there were medical supplies and food there.

“I don’t want to lead someone to so valuable a location. Let’s change clothes then go downstairs. The man knows what we look like in these clothes.”

While we changed, I wondered where Vlad and Valeria were. And another question – where was everyone else?

If you have just read this story there is a beginning broken into parts. You can find the links here.

This will link you to the next part of this story. “Where is everyone?”

The Passage is a hotel in Odessa, Ukraine. It was built in the 1890s. The Passage still stands and has housed many soldiers over many wars and incursions. There was also an underground passage used by resistance. This story was originally written in 2007 in Ukraine. The intention of this story is to applaud the bravery of the Ukrainian men and women who are holding on to each piece of their country.

Vladimir #atozchallenge #ukraine #fiction

April 25, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Ukraine

“Are you okay?” My husband shook my body. ‘Honey, are you okay?” He said louder. “Wake up!!!”

When I didn’t respond, he picked me up. For a moment he had no idea what to do. Sirens were going off and bombs were falling. “What do I do? He screamed.

He saw a dim light that was over the door of the church. He ran there praying that the bombs would fall somewhere else.

“Are there any medical people?” He said with a panic that none of our team had ever seen.

Olga grabbed his hand and without a word directed him to a quiet area where there was a cot.

“We need to set her down in quiet and not too much light.” Our friend who had medical training told me. “Her vitals are strong. I think she has a concussion and hopefully will revive.”

Unfortunately, hospitals were one of the most dangerous places to go.

“We will watch her round clock.”

Everyone took turns watching me. My husband was always there; sometimes he collapsed in absolute fatigue.

“When I spoke to your wife, she squeezed my hand. I was able to determine she has bad headache. I told her rest. I put cold cloth on head. She will recover.” Olga said with that Ukrainian confidence we both appreciated.

“I’m relieved that she will get better. But I worry.” My husband looked at me then held my hand. “Has Vlad been around?”

“He took rotation in Mariople. Should be back tomorrow.”

“As soon as he returns, I need to speak with him. It is important.”

“Yes, everything these days is.” Olga sighed.

I opened my eyes and realized the light was too bright but I could speak a little.

Since I was improving, my husband took some time to communicate with Dmitre. Dmitre knew we were out of contact with his family.

“Things hold. Zelensky continues to know when to hide when there is an assassination attempt. There have been hundreds.”

“What about you?”

“Only dozens.” Dmitre chuckled. “We need Mariople and Odessa to stay strong. the ships outside of Odessa cannot make anchor. Pray the storms continue.”

“ I will tell the team your news. We pray constantly these days,”

“The East depends on it…” My husband knew he meant all of Ukraine.

Vlad finally returned from Mariople.

“That does not sound too good.” Vlad’s frowns crinkled over weather worn wrinkles.

“Valeria sounded like you would know…”

“The fact that the Portal allowed you to speak through it means there is something not right.” He clenched his bruised and bandaged hands. “I need to remember the formula that the professor taught me. The professor assured me it was easy.”

“What is it then?” My husband was overwhelmed with worry.

“I don’t remember.” Vlad looked blankly into my husband’s eyes.

Thank you to the A to Z community and each blogger that joins in April.

This on-going story for A to Z challenge 2022 was originally written in 2007 in Odessa, Ukraine. I’ve tweeked it to arrive in 2022 but the elements of a multiaccess portal and a war (the original story had multiple wars) are original. The Passage that is central to this story is a real hotel built in 1880s. She’s seen alot of history stomp through her doors and I could feel the past while I lived there. I hope you see the tenacity of the Ukrainian people through this attempt to honor their bravery. The story about the shot up car and the people is one of many stories we got from friends helping people escape Mariople.

F- Friends and Family

G- Grumbling Titka

Hiding in 1991

I – Intensity

J- My Journal

K- Keep Moving

L- Cold Air Lunch

M- Medical needs

N- What Next

O-Out of Sight

P-Portal

Q – Questions

R- The Russian

S- Shots and Sirens

T- Turned Back

U- Uri

Uri #atozchallenge #Ukraine #fiction

April 24, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, history, Ukraine

If The Portal could have spoken to the couple trying to enter, it would have said “we are in trouble and we need Vlad.”

One man had patiently watched for years as people moved quietly through the Passage. There were several passageways; few knew all of them.

One passageway was the Passage Hotel’s passage that was intentional built through the structure. It had been storehouses, military barracks, and a beautiful shopping area with cafes during times when there weren’t soldiers stomping through Odessa.

Then there was the Portal. Uri only knew about the one side from observation. He had watched enough people come across to know that it was a time portal.

The last Passage was the reason he had been stationed at this location years ago. This Passage was where resistance leaders from earlier wars hid and met and stored weapons. Some knew it existed but no one could find the access points. Was The Portal and the Passage some- how connected?

Uri knew he had to get through the time portal to find out. He thought he knew the combination; he never was able to gain access. But then the day came when bombs were falling. He was fortunate to have been in the hallway when dozens of Vlad’s men were coming though. Just like any door he knew there was an opening even if you could not see it.

He watched and as the last two men came through, he squeezed in the other direction.

Equipped with palm sized scanners, camera and audio recorders, Uri knew he had to stay out of sight. What he would not learn till later was all the Portal’s protection military and otherwise had just passed into 2022. What remained was a scientist from another century, women, children and a few old men. But he would find that out over the days to come.

He knew he had to establish himself as a guest of the hotel. He carried gold and silver with him that he knew could be turned into currency for any time period.

Uri was patient and methodical; he ascertained that there were guests in 1991 who had no idea there was a Time Portal in their hotel. He also learned that there was an entire wing that was reserved for Time Portal “passengers.”

Uri did not engage. He watched. The loud one named Luda he knew would give him information and it was probably as easy as a conversation over chai.

His primary purpose was to find the Resistance headquarters so he could destroy it.

I stood at the Portal point for another minute.

“Valeria?” I know you are there. “What do you need?”

We both heard it, “Vlad!”

“Okay.” I said to an open space in a hotel hallway.

“This time is locked. Try another entry time. Vlad knows.”

We tried to leave the hotel not looking confused.

“Something has to be wrong,” we both said at the same time.

“Hopefully, Vlad has the solution,” my husband said as a bomb dropped across the street…

Thank you to the A to Z community and each blogger that joins in April.

This on-going story for A to Z challenge 2022 was originally written in 2007 in Odessa, Ukraine. I’ve tweeked it to arrive in 2022 but the elements of a multiaccess portal and a war (the original story had multiple wars) are original. The Passage that is central to this story is a real hotel built in 1880s. She’s seen alot of history stomp through her doors and I could feel the past while I lived there. I hope you see the tenacity of the Ukrainian people through this attempt to honor their bravery. There is always a sense that someone is watching you. Uri (a spy) is doing his job well..

F- Friends and Family

G- Grumbling Titka

Hiding in 1991

I – Intensity

J- My Journal

K- Keep Moving

L- Cold Air Lunch

M- Medical needs

N- What Next

O-Out of Sight

P-Portal

Q – Questions

R- The Russian

S- Shots and Sirens

T- Turned Back

The Boy Who Refused to be Sold #Ukraine #nonfiction

April 24, 2022April 24, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Ukraine

It was years ago now and hugs are just a memory.

There were street children in a world called Odessa. Each day there was a mother who flipped a coin:

Her raspy words “drugs or my child? “

Too often the drug addiction won and another child was left as refuse on a moon- lit sidewalk.

With no reform programs for the mothers or safe housing for the children, the children learned to survive in the sewers and under piles of debris .

Young men and women would go between the shadows long after curfew looking for children to help.

They carried satchels filled with sandwiches, blankets or coats.

This team learned to fit in with the homeless that frequented the night. It was the only way to avoid the mafia thugs.

“Wear your athletic shoes and be prepared for anything.” One of the team told me. “Always look for a way out. If we get separated, do not speak to anyone and wait for me to find you. You are very valuable to Mafia.”

There was still a golden glow in the sky when I met a boy of about 12 and his sister who was probably 9. She would only come part way out of the sewer pipe as I offered her a sandwich and a soft drink.

“She is scared.” The brother said.

We left them with an extra sandwich to share for later.

“They’ve only been on the street for a week or two. She won’t last.”

“you mean she will die?”

“No men will catch her and make her…”

“She’s a little girl!”

I wanted to take these children back home with me but there was no way to do that.

I met many youth that night. They were all males except that one little girl.

“My sistra is gone…” I felt the echo of so much loss.

Benjamin was the favorite of many on the street kid team. He was like a wild animal who wanted to be tame. He wanted love not a cage.

“Why can’t he talk?” I asked one of the team

“Benny is a smart boy and he learned fast from the older boys how to steal. Sadly they steal over-the counter drugs and make awful home brewed stuff. The drugs make them lethargic but the key thing is they start killing the brain cells. The Mafia is less interested in children with damaged brains. They are not so easy to sell on the market place.”

“Marketplace…” everything and everybody has a price tag to the Mafia.

“Benny is young but he learned that those drugs would keep him off the open market. Because he is smaller than the others, the drugs had a greater effect; they destroyed the speech center in his brain.”

The nurse in me wanted to heal Benny, The mom in me wanted to comfort him.

Every time I saw Benny, I brought him some special sweet and a smile. He started sitting next to me and holding my hand. I cherished that little boy. Sad that his mother got so strung out on drugs that she couldn’t see the beauty of her child.

When I left, I asked him to take care of a sweater for me. I also asked him to hand out sweets to his friends on special occasions.

This is a true story. I have taken out some of the more horrendous truths. As I have been writing a story about Ukraine, my heart was heavy for so many children who never had a voice in Ukraine and in other places…

Shots and Sirens #atozchallenge #Ukraine

April 22, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Ukraine

It was days but it felt like weeks before we saw Vlad and his boys. They all were wearing the ugly tshirts that we had bought at the beginning of our journey before we even knew about a portal.

“We are getting in…” Vlad whispered to my husband. “two or three men only. But we are getting food in and children and babushkas out.”

I put a chair behind Vlad and he immediately slumped into it. I gave him some borscht and brown bread. I had gotten pretty good at making this Ukrainian staple.

I went around to all the men giving them their food and pointing to where they could clean up and rest after dinner. None of the guys complained though there was grime and blood and bruises all over their bodies.

“Vlad what happened…” My husband rushed into the church frantic.

Vlad held up the hand that was holding the bread. “Let me explain.”

In between bites, Vlad told us of the last group he had gotten out of Mariople.

“These soldiers are heartless. We loaded up many people into small car. They each needed help to walk with canes or even wheelchair. They needed to get out of Mariople. Wheelchair and canes thrown in trunk and clothes and pillows to the roof of the car. How anyone could breathe I don’t know.”

“The car is covered in bullet holes, Vlad.”

“Getting to that.” He chewed. “They started shooting at all the cars getting out. Car in front and me pushed the petal down quick. Glass sprayed everywhere from the shattered windows, tires blown and pillow stuffing flew all around. Not one of us got one tiny scratch. The cars behind us was much worse. “

“What do we do with the car now?”

“Of course we fix it…” Vlad smiled that Ukrainian confidence that I had grown to love about the man who I figured was nigh on 100 – give or take.

I looked in my medical bag and pulled out scissors and a roll of duct tape.

My husband chuckled “You know that book titled 1001 uses for duct tape? I think we can make filling bullet holes and repairing car windows 1002 and 1003.”

Though we were all getting weary from no nights of sleep, bombs falling, and air raid sirens blaring, we were still able to smile at the little miracles in a war zone…

Thank you to the A to Z community and each blogger that joins in April.

F- Friends and Family

G- Grumbling Titka

Hiding in 1991

I – Intensity

J- My Journal

K- Keep Moving

L- Cold Air Lunch

M- Medical needs

N- What Next

O-Out of Sight

P-Portal

Q – Questions

R- The Russian

The Russian #Ukraine #atozchallenge #fiction

April 21, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Fiction, Ukraine

“You must come with me now.” The large man said with a deep accent.

I saw my husband consider his options then he put his hands up with resignation.

“Wise choice for you.” He ushered us toward a dark street and a car that was waiting.

I was considering if this guy was mafia, military, … none was a good option.

When we got in the car, he got behind the wheel and locked the doors.

“We have someone who needs to see you…”

My husband remained quiet and I followed his lead and squeezed his hand.

I know we drove out of Odessa, but I couldn’t tell you which direction. Then the car stopped at an old barn.

“Get out quickly we do not know what eyes are in the sky.”

I looked up at the sky and wondered if this was the last sky I would see.

It was dark inside until a single candle was lit. A man motioned us closer.

“This is important, but we must hurry.”

I could not see the man’s face clearly as his hat was pulled down and his collar up high. He had military rank that we could tell.

“I will give you this information to pass on to whoever you know that is close to Zelensky. No one can know I was the one to give this for my family’s safety in Russia.”

The man went on to give my husband as much information about locations and equipment as one man could keep in his head.

“The only way to fight this war,” he said in a whisper, ” is in the shadows.”

He then blew out the candle and was gone.

My husband wanted to call Dmitre immediately, but he knew this conversation could be a trap to find Dmitre.

We were driven back to Odessa and dropped off in another part of town.

“Passage is that way.” He pointed the direction for us.

“Let’s get to the church,” my husband grabbed my hand and we moved quickly. “I wish I could talk to Vlad.”

The church was so busy that we didn’t have time to think for hours. One of Vlad’s men had dropped off our supplies earlier that day so my husband stocked shelves while I dressed wounds and gave babies formula.

“I have to get this information out.” My husband said the next morning.

“You could go into any of the shops across the street. Have Olga’s husband Artem be your lookout.” I looked toward the street.

“Dmitre was pleased.” My husband caught me by surprise. “This is not the first Russian officer who has given vital information.”

“I wonder why?”

“Dmitre said most of the military were lied to. They do not want to see people die.”

I gave my husband a large bowl of Borscht and wheat bread. “Now is the time to rest before tonight and more refugees.”

Thank you so much for visiting.

This on-going story was originally written in 2007 in Odessa, Ukraine. I’ve tweeked it to arrive in 2022 but the elements of a multiaccess portal and a war (the original story had multiple wars) are original. The Passage that is central to this story is a real hotel built in 1880s. She’s seen alot of history stomp through her doors and I could feel the past while I lived there. I hope you see the tenacity of the Ukrainian people through this attempt to honor their bravery. Though this is fiction, what you read is based on facts being relayed from Ukrainian friends.

Links to the story in Order:

F- Friends and Family

G- Grumbling Titka

Hiding in 1991

I – Intensity

J- My Journal

K- Keep Moving

L- Cold Air Lunch

M- Medical needs

N- What Next

O-Out of Sight

P- Portal

Q – Questions

Questions ??? #Ukraine #atozchallenge

April 20, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Fiction, Ukraine

“We need to stay together!!!” My husband said in exasperation.

“We can use your help here.” I looked at him with gentle eyes. We didn’t need to fight when so much unknown fluttered through the room.

“Yes, friend you can. I must bring my men here. It is the only way we can help our people.” Vlad was very strong in his statement.

“Can we return to 1991 to get anything we might need?” He pleaded with his eyes.

“Yes, that makes sense. I need so many medical supplies and a change of worn out but warm clothing.” I grabbed his arm.

“We need to communicate with a friend.” Vlad motioned.

“Yes, let’s do that and then we will return here to get you before the hour on the clock.” He pointed to the 3 on his watch.

“I will wait.” I wavede goodbye and was overcome with emotion.

This was not coming out how I thought it would. But there is no one here who has an answer to the questions – Why, What, When and How.

They are getting by and I am here to help.

There was another siren and I covered my ears and then went back to work.

“Who will tell us what is happening?” Luda was not happy with our news.

“You will hear when someone comes back from 2022.” I said as kindly as I could. “Be grateful you are safe. So many from Mariople have been hurt and if they did not get out they are besieged.”

“Those are my friends.” She shouted.

Anatoliy came in to our room just then.

“Young woman. This is an effort to save lives and save Ukraine; you must stop thinking of yourself. The Portal saw fit to allow you here be grateful. And those children…”

“Please be careful once you go over the Portal. I can sense a danger that would bring trouble here. Do not move back and forth. Use the Portal for an emergency.”

“What about supplies?” Vlad asked.

“Take what you can and trust for the rest. The Portal must remain protected. She could refuse to let any of you re-enter here.”

We all looked at him with concern.

“My only other choice would be to close the Portal.”

“Is that possible?”

“Yes, but there is the possibility that it would never re-open.” Anatoliy looked sternly at us.

“Then we will stay in 2022, Professor.” Vlad looked at is then back at Anatoliy.

“One thing,” my husband whispred, “you need to tell the ladies and Valeria after we are gone.”

We had to cross to 2022 in twos and threes. We were all sober as we walked different directions from The Passage hotel.

“We cannot go back to out room.” My husband had told me. There is someone watching for you Im certain.

“What about the cars?” I mouthed.

“Vlad has the keys.”

“And money since the banks do not work?”

“I got some out our day before the bombing. It will have to do.” He patted his wallet.

We had said our goodbyes to Vlad and the men. We knew they could find us when they needed news from Dmitre.

The sirens came on which gave us the opportunity to run down the street. We went first to a coffee shop we had liked and then ducked in doorways as we worked our way to the church.

We could see the church when a large man stepped into our path…

Thanks for visiting Penned in Moondust by Moondustwriter. This month for the A to Z challenge I pulled out an archived story from 2007, dusted it off and reworked the year of entry 2022. This was originally written in Odessa, Ukraine. I hope you see the bravery and courage that I hope to convey in each episode.

Links to Story in Order

F- Friends and Family

G- Grumbling Titka

Hiding in 1991

I – Intensity

J- My Journal

K- Keep Moving

L- Cold Air Lunch

M- Medical needs

N- What Next

O-Out of Sight

P-Portal

Priceless her tears #ukraine #mothers #poetry

April 19, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in Poetry, Ukraine

they fell from pools

frozen lake in winter

saved in buckets

As a mother I can’t imagine the daily turmoil that mamas with children are experiencing in Ukraine.

Portal #atozchallenge #ukraine

April 19, 2022May 10, 2022 by moondustwriter, posted in a to z challenge, Fiction, Ukraine

My friend this is an interesting thing to have on a mirror. Vlad pointed to the lipstick heart.

My husband went in the bathroom and knew it was mine.

“You are alive.” He exhaled as if he had been holding his breath.

“Where?” Vlad looked in all directions. went to our secret cabinet and the note tumbled out.

“I know…” He looked at the envelop with the money. It was empty. “Good.” He patted his pocket grateful he had more just in case. “Let’s go find her.”

“Yes, now one suggestion. Those same people looking for her know about you. We need you to look more Ukrainian.”

Vlad always wore two pair of pants he pulled one pair off. “Put these on. Change sweaters.with me. Your beard looks good mess your hair. Take off your glasses. He pulled a wool beanie over my husband’s ears. Better.” He put my husband’s hat on.

“First, we go downstairs. Get some coffee. Watch some people then go…”

Olga was so glad to see me. When I told her that I would like to stay there was no argument. She needed extra hands and a nurse was a double bonus. I was glad I had left my duffle bag with supplies at the church. It would have been too obvious to have walked out of the hotel with it.

There were so many people that came through. Each night we laid out hundreds of mattresses and blankets for sleeping. Each morning we made borscht (cabbage soup) and bread. As the refugees made their way to the border, we wanted them to have strength.

I was broken hearted when one very pregnant woman made it all the way to us by walking. After she delivered her baby, she just had no more energy to live. Another family she had travelled with, took the baby willingly.

Every day there were people sick, some wounded with bullets, more with worn out shoes.

I looked up one day and there he was. I wanted to laugh and cry as I saw that silly wool cap pulled over his ears.

We just held each other no words were needed.

Ivan had a good talk with Olga and heard many things. Her sister was in Dnipro and their church was taking food into Mariople and bringing car loads of people out.

She chuckled as she told him about a car full of people with their stuff crammed to the roof. The car had been completely shot up as well as all the belongings but there was not a scratch on the driver or his 7 passengers.

“Sounds like we need to get help to Mariople, before too late.” Vlad slapped my husband on the back.

We talked quietly in a corner.

“Yes, good idea. What about the portal will it let us through?”

“Don’t know.” Vlad looked to the ceiling.

“What about the portal?” I asked

“It knew about the bomb and stopped letting people through/”

“So, you are going back today?” I looked at both men.

“We will try.” Vlad said.

My husband nodded. “Get you to safety and re-group.”

“I need to stay here and help.” I whispered really loud.

I saw the WHAT look on my husband’s face.

“We are in living in this war now.” I held his hand then let it drop.