Russia has invaded Ukraine

People say that Russia is taking Ukraine back

Artillery strikes on airports and military bases

No heat, no gas, no cell service

I’m scared of the sirens but trying to stay calm

There are Russian troops occupying my apartment complex

Mom says that we have to leave now

I was told to only pack the necessities

This is hard because I think I need everything that I own

My dad says he can’t come with us

Martial law prohibits men from leaving Ukraine

I really wish that I could just fit my dad into my bag

We say our goodbyes to my dad

I cannot believe this is happening right now

But it is really happening, and we have to leave Ukraine

We pack our bags into our car

A dark cloud of emotions is eating me up

Then we are off to Poland, leaving everything else behind

We are stuck in so much traffic

We’re barely moving, and it has been ten hours

My stomach is yelling at me because I haven't had food

Click, engine on, click, engine off

Someone get me out of this car I am so bored

I used to love long car rides but not car rides that are this long

We have to pull over right now

We have no more gas left, and have made no progress

We grab our bags and a map from our car, proceeding on foot

Following the map is working

I am tired of walking and cannot feel my feet

I do not know how long it has been, but it is nighttime now

I see a huge group of people

I think that we have finally reached the border

We have made it into Poland greeted with smiles and hot drinks

My mom is looking through her bag

Then, she pulls out her phone hoping it still has charge

Finally having service, she texts her sister who lives here

Ten minutes later, she is here

My aunt says that we are welcome to stay with her

Having nowhere else to go, we happily take the guest room

It’s been a year since we arrived

We rented an apartment, and I’m starting school

Two months ago, we received news that my father had been killed

I still think about that odd day

The day that I said my last goodbye to my dad

My last words to him and last time seeing him are so vivid

Besides that, everything is good

I feel safe here, but I miss my old life and friends

But I know that I can and will make new friends here in Poland

For now, Poland is my new home

I wish I could go back, but I have to let go

Now I have one thing to say, and that is goodbye to Ukraine