The sun peeked through the curtains, casting long shadows across the small living room. Anya, a six-month-old with wide, curious eyes, stirred in her crib. Her mother, Olena, smiled as she watched her daughter’s tiny hands reach for the colorful mobile hanging above her head.
It had been a week since Anya had been discharged from the hospital. With the ongoing war, the hospital was struggling with a severe shortage of staff. Doctors and nurses had been mobilized to the front lines, leaving few to care for the sick and injured. Anya had been sent home, much earlier than planned, to make room for those in more critical condition.
Olena’s heart ached with worry. She missed the constant reassurance from the hospital staff, the familiar faces that had helped her navigate the challenges of motherhood. But she knew she had to be strong for Anya. For her husband, Serhiy,who was fighting on the front lines.
Every night, Olena would sit by the window, her gaze fixed on the horizon. She longed to hear Serhiy’s voice, to know that he was safe. They had been communicating through video calls on their smartphones, but for the past two days, there had been no contact.
Olena’s stepmother, Olga, tried to offer comfort. “Don’t worry, dear,” she would say, her voice filled with concern. “Serhiy is a brave soldier. He’ll be fine.”
But Olena couldn’t shake the feeling of dread. She had heard stories of the harsh realities of war, of the constant danger that soldiers faced. The news reports of the declining birth rate in Ukraine only added to her fears. It felt like the country was losing a generation, a future that was being stolen away.
As Anya babbled happily, Olena held her close. She was determined to protect her daughter, to give her a chance at a better life. A life free from the fear and uncertainty that had become a part of their reality.
Ukraine’s population in steep decline, deaths outnumber births three to one
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