Perepichka

 

 

(Tale-2)

In the heart of nation, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the city, the streets thrummed with life. It was evening, and street was bustling. People hurried along, and the air was filled with the enticing aroma of street food. The longest line on the street snaked its way towards a small stall where a woman tirelessly sold 'perepichka,' a beloved local delicacy of sausage wrapped in dough.

The woman, Kateryna, moved with practiced efficiency, her hands deftly wrapping the sausages as she served the eager crowd. Despite her tiredness, she smiled warmly at her customers, exchanging familiar greetings with regulars. Her thoughts, however, were never far from her little daughter, Sofia.

Sofia, a lively seven-year-old with bright eyes and a head full of dreams, wove her way through the crowd. She had just finished her school day and her face lit up as she approached the stall.

"Mommy, can I also have a perepichka?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

Kateryna’s face softened, and she handed her daughter a freshly made perepichka. "My dear, here you go. But I'm sorry, mommy might have to stay here for some more time. Can you please go home? Mommy will be there after some time. Be careful on the way."

Sofia nodded, her eyes sparkling with understanding. She knew her mother worked hard for them. "Okay, mommy. But don't be too late!" She hugged her mother tightly before skipping away, her small figure soon lost in the crowd.

As Sofia made her way home, the city's vibrant life captivated her. She paused to watch a street performance, laughing and clapping along with the audience. The street performers, painted in colorful costumes, spun and danced, bringing joy to everyone around.

Sofia continued her journey, turning into a quieter alley adorned with graffiti. The artwork told stories of resilience and hope, messages that had become all too relevant in recent times. She admired the paintings, tracing the lines with her fingers before finally reaching home.

Inside their modest apartment, Sofia set her backpack down and began her homework, the perepichka beside her, a comforting reminder of her mother’s love. Time passed, and eventually, Kateryna returned. As she stepped through the door, Sofia ran to greet her, wrapping her arms around her mother in a warm embrace.

"Mommy, when is daddy coming home?" Sofia asked, her voice tinged with a longing that cut through Kateryna’s heart.

Kateryna sighed, forcing a smile. "It will take a few more months, my dear. Daddy is serving at the borders, keeping us safe.

Dinner was a simple affair, but the love in their tiny kitchen was palpable. Sofia chattered away, her stories of school and friends bringing a temporary reprieve from the harsh realities outside their door. "My friends loves the perepichka you make, mommy!"

After dinner, they moved to the balcony. The city lights flickered below, and for a moment, everything felt normal. They talked about dreams and hopes, about how Sofia wanted to be an artist, and how much she loved her mother.

But then Sofia noticed something strange. "Mommy, why is the sky so bright even though it's already night?"

Kateryna’s heart skipped a beat. The bright sky was not from city lights but from distant explosions. The air raid sirens began to wail, a chilling sound that pierced the night. Kateryna’s hands shook as she grabbed Sofia, rushing her downstairs. The television flickered on, showing images of the escalating conflict. Kateryna’s eyes locked onto a scene at the border. There was her husband, lying among other soldiers, unmoving.

Sofia’s voice, small and scared, broke through her horror. "Mommy, why isn’t daddy moving?"

Kateryna felt a sob rising in her throat, but she swallowed it down. She had to be strong for Sofia. "Daddy is very tired, my love. He needs to rest. But we have to go outside now, okay? We need to find a safe place."

They hurried out, the last perepichka clutched in Sofia’s hand. As they moved through the streets, the once beautiful fireworks in Sofia’s eyes turned into a terrifying display of missiles and bombs. The sky, so unnaturally bright, loomed over them, a harbinger of destruction.

Sofia’s small hand clutched her mother’s tightly. They moved through the city, the sound of distant explosions ever-present. As they approached an intersection, Kateryna saw the shelter they had left behind, hoping for safety.

Sofia looked up at her mother, her innocent eyes filled with hope and trust. "Mommy, can I have more perepichka tomorrow?"

Kateryna’s heart broke into pieces. She looked down at her daughter, tears streaming down her face. "Of course, my darling. You can have as many as you want."

In that moment, a sharp whistling sound filled the air. Kateryna's eyes widened in terror as she realized the imminent danger. She had no time to think, no time to run. She instinctively threw herself over Sofia, shielding her with her own body.

The explosion was deafening, a blinding light followed by a wave of heat and destruction. In that final moment, Kateryna held Sofia tightly, whispering words of love and comfort even as the world around them disintegrated.

"I love you, Sofia. Always remember that," Kateryna whispered, her voice breaking with the weight of her sorrow.

Sofia, sensing her mother's fear but not fully understanding, clung to her. "I love you too, mommy."

As the missile struck, the bright sky, once filled with the innocence of fireworks and dreams, now bore witness to the devastating reality of war.

Amidst the rubble, two figures lay entwined, their final moments a silent testament to an unbreakable bond. Beside them, a small, untouched perepichka—a simple comfort once shared, now a haunting symbol of love and loss. The city would rise again, brick by brick, its people moving forward with resilience. But the memory of the souls would linger, a quiet echo, a somber reminder of the true cost of war.

 

(NOTE: This is just a fictional story based on the current conflict arising in the world. Let's hope and pray for peace)