This story comes with an example of the sort of art Malvina creates in her day job.
(Image: Malvina Perova)
Jolly hullabaloo greets me at the shelter. Children run around, shrieking with laughter as if the war never tainted their innocent minds.
“Guess what’s in the bags?” I say, and they rush towards me, beaming.
“Chocolates!”
“Muffins!”
“I want juice.”
I notice five-year-old Mila is missing. Absorbed in drawing, she stood indifferent to all the fuss around lunch.
“She drew tons already,” one boy points out. “And never stops.”
“Hey,” I come up to Mila, “let’s have a bite.”
She shakes her head over a lopsided tank on paper. “No, I need one million more to bring my home back.”
“Guess what’s in the bags?” I say, and they rush towards me, beaming.
“Chocolates!”
“Muffins!”
“I want juice.”
I notice five-year-old Mila is missing. Absorbed in drawing, she stood indifferent to all the fuss around lunch.
“She drew tons already,” one boy points out. “And never stops.”
“Hey,” I come up to Mila, “let’s have a bite.”
She shakes her head over a lopsided tank on paper. “No, I need one million more to bring my home back.”
Note from the editor: Malvina wants us all to know that our support is much appreciated, but please bear in mind that Ukrainians are currently being advised not to leave their mobile phones switched on, because Russian drones use them to seek out targets.
