Hosha is a 16-year-old young writer from Kharkiv who writes under a pseudonym. She was born and raised in Kharkiv, where her childhood passed. Her school and friends are also there.
After Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Hosha’s family had to leave the city. The decision was not immediate – they left in April 2022, when Hosha was still a child. The family moved temporarily to a smaller town, where they lived for about three years.
That time brought many new experiences and taught her to appreciate simple things and adapt to constant change.
Even though Kharkiv is still dangerous, the family has now moved back to the city. Hosha has returned after spending several years in the countryside.
This week’s main event has definitely been heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. Recently, it dropped to –17°C, and my hands froze completely outside.
There has been an incredible amount of snow this week. I went to the window and started watching people moving through the snow. Someone was running to catch public transport and barely managed to get in. Near the stop, children ran with sleds and snow sliders. People came out of the shop carrying bags, talking so enthusiastically that they even forgot to board the trolleybus.
This winter has actually surprised me in a very pleasant way. People often joke, saying:
“War, missiles, Shaheds, sleepless nights… and Kharkiv residents say: what are you talking about – there hasn’t been snow like this in a hundred years!”
Of course, that only helps on the level of words.
When you hear loud bangs in the street, you want to think it’s just a garbage truck making noise. But unfortunately, the news often brings terrible reports. Life feels very contrasting now: during the day I think about the future, walk with friends, and make plans. At night, I fall asleep to the sound of explosions, hoping each time that they are shot down somewhere far away, and that the “Shaheds” won’t bring new victims and deaths.
The city also calms down much earlier now. Streetlights go out, shops close – even though they used to be open 24/7. One sign used to shine into my window every night, and passing cars would twist the light into funny shapes.
Before, it bothered me and maybe even annoyed me. But now, strangely, I’ve started to like it a little.
The light in individual windows reminds me that I’m not alone in this world – people are still living.
Suddenly, I remembered a funny story about how our city services and local authorities take care of us.
Have I already mentioned the snow? I’ll say it again – people here are really responsible! In the city center, there are well-known stairs where there used to be a waterfall. After heavy snowfall, so much snow gathered there that people decided to build a slide right next to the stairs themselves.
Because it’s a park area, there are many trees, and people often crashed into them while sliding. And do you think they banned sledding there?
No – the city supported it and protected the trees with soft padding. This way, both the trees and people’s heads were saved.
This is a good example of how even small things can bring people a lot of joy and happiness.
Hosha