Darkness swallowed without asking.
I went out into the street with a backpack, which fit two large plastic jar and one liter and a half.
Almost 23.
In a few minutes, the curfew will begin, and I wanted to get some fresh air and at the same time replenish my water supplies.
The column is within walking distance. I know the way by heart, so the pitch darkness did not frighten me in any way, on the contrary, it added excitement to this ordinary event during daylight hours.
If you are also from Ukraine, then you should understand what the May curfew at 11 pm is. Rare windows flooded with light after a few seconds became a real salvation in this darkness.
I am a cat and I see everything.
In my mind’s eye, behind every tree, under every bush, I imagined a robber lurking. For him, I have nothing but a fast run, so I walked calmly, breathing in this wonderful quiet evening.
There was no wind, all I could hear was someone swearing loudly in some apartment of a five-story building, my steps and the rustling of plastic behind my back in a backpack.
Almost half way and some kind of light is moving towards me. I understand this is the commandant’s moth, just like me, but what is on his mind is unknown, so I grouped up and was ready to fight back or quickly rush to the side of the road into the nearest bushes with cries for help. My “friend” turned out to be a peaceful comrade and even gave way a little on a narrow path, because for him I was an even greater unknown, I walked without a lamp, I walked confidently, calmly, quietly rustling bottles. He doesn’t know what is my plan.
And my plan is simple.
Come to the pump, collect 12.5 liters of water and go back.
The column, which was illuminated before the war, is now also drowned in a dark curtain, only the white putty of its arch and low dome helped to find the right path.
A light wind blew and flung my bottles to the ground. Unpleasant, noisy for the whole area, but what is there to do?
Again the thought flashed that there was a war going on, what was happening now, why is everything so, why I need hurry. And it became a little sad.
A cat and memories of recent troubles are waiting at home, the chest is full of spring night air, cans of water, and the head is a desire to end this whole nightmare as soon as possible.
The road back gave me another oncoming one, just like me, quiet and unmarked. It seems to me that we smiled at each other, two kindred spirits met, two commandant’s night thrill hunters.
I walked back slowly, I didn’t even want to, because I got up late today and ahead of me all night.
It became sad again, water was swaying behind my back, I desperately wanted to see her smile alive again … And finally utter the cherished words “the war is over, baby…”
There is light at home and a cat, the house is empty, but who is now easy. I guess I’m not all that bad yet, and maybe even good.
And tomorrow will be even better, because I want to.
Because it will.

I know.

ⓒ Volodymyr Zahnybida

(The text was translated from Ukrainian and published for familiarization with the work. Some sayings, individual words cannot be translated literally, because they do not have full analogues, so the English version cannot fully convey the entire spectrum, mood and peculiarity of the original work. Author's note)