I DON’T REMEMBER WELL

I DON’T REMEMBER WELL how the first anniversary passed. I don’t remember the second at all.

But today, I decided to remember. Just for myself.

And I also wanted to share something that might help those of us who struggle to find peace and fall asleep right away.

When you go to bed, get comfortable, close your eyes tightly, count to five, then open your eyes and count “six.” And repeat: “one, two, three, four, five” - with your eyes closed, “six” - with your eyes open.

I usually lose track somewhere around the fourth round, and in the morning I can hardly remember how far I got. I don’t remember.

But I remember everything else: all eleven years of war in different regions of Ukraine, with different people, in different circumstances… Everyone taken, killed, or lost because of Russia. I remember how many children were never born, how many new orphans were left behind, how many tears were shed by those who survived, how many lives were broken, how many graves have grown across our land.

If I still remember all of this, then you must not forget either. We must not forget. We must not.

Yours, Nata Che