Olena and Pavlo
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Image credit -www.ukrainian lessons.com
Olena Rudenko met Pavlo Lavinski whilst at Kyiv University
Pavlo told all his friends that she's definitely the girl for me
They got on well then fell in love and had planned to wed
But like the rest of Ukraine were oblivious to what lay ahead.
They had both studied medicine and had now qualified
And they applied to the same clinic working side by side
They both worked long hours and saved all their money
Planned a wedding in June when it would be warm and sunny.
They were driving home one late evening both feeling jaded
And heard the news on the car radio that Russia had invaded
They were shocked and couldn't believe they were now at war
Both walked in stoney silence up the steps to their front door.
President Zelensky addressed the nation calling for volunteers
And as all the young and old signed up many women were in tears
Pavlo volunteered as a medic and was sent off to the front line
Whilst Olena stayed at the clinic; Pavlo assured her he'd be fine.
The weeks and months rolled on by and it was now early in May.
And both vowed that by late June they'd have their wedding day
They sent invites to family and friends for their joyful occasion
Determined they both were to go ahead, despite the invasion.
Pavlo couldn't contact her often for fear of giving his position away
But he managed to once a fortnight and both had plenty to say
Pavlo had saved many soldiers and civilians with his medical skill
Couldn't grasp why the Russians only wanted to maim and to kill.
Pavlo was granted a weeks special leave for the last week in June
Told Olena he couldn't wait and they'd be husband and wife soon
Olena kept herself busy organising the church and party venue
And bought streamers and balloons of bright yellow and blue.
Pavlo had travelled by train at night and he was now heading south
When he arrived at Kyiv station Olena was there when he stepped out
She ran toward him and they embraced and Olena cried tears of joy
Then she whispered "I've missed you so much my darling soldier boy".
Both couldn't wait for the next day when they would finally marry
That night Olena went to stay with an old girlfriend from university
The next day Pavlo was at the church and Olena was on her way
Then realised she'd forgotten a bracelet she'd wanted to wear that day.
She asked the taxi driver to quickly turn around and to take her back
And knew that she'd still have plenty of time to get back on track
As she was going up the elevator she heard the loud air raid sound
There was a huge explosion and she plummeted toward the ground.
A Russian missile had hit the tall block and reduced it to rubble
Fire crews had become used to it and were there on the double
The taximan drove to the church to break news of the tragedy
Pavlo told him "take me there, she might be alive; I have to see".
They quickly arrived at the scene that was once a tall tower block
Pavlo went pale and started shaking he then collapsed with shock
Two medics put him in an ambulance and it was soon on its way
Horror had replaced joy on what should have been their wedding day.
He suffered a nervous breakdown and was discharged from the army
He couldn't accept that his sweetheart Olena was gone for all eternity
All that went through his mind was Olena should have been his wife
Two months later the darkness overcame him and he took his own life.
Written on 29th April 2023
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2023
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