Picture this:

a chilly winter day in Kyiv, a park paints the backdrop for a scene straight out of a young adult novel.

Meet the Dreamers

Here we have a teenage manicurist and a food delivery boy, both dreaming big amidst their war-torn country. He wants to be a doctor, she aims to be an engineer. But first things first, marriage is on their minds.

Plans of a Proposal

Danylo Khudia, the 17-year-old romantic, has plans to pop the question on his girlfriend Alyona Zavadska’s 16th birthday this summer. It’s all hush-hush; even her mom’s only just got wind of it. They’re eyeing that sweet moment when she hits 18 to tie the knot.

The Love Story

Their love story? It’s intense enough to puzzle their folks, but love wins, right? Oksana, Alyona's mom, spills the beans, “They may be just kids, but hey, they seem to handle themselves pretty solid.” Amidst the chaos of Ukraine’s clash with Russia, Danylo finds his peace with Alyona, calling her 'my baby girl', while she’s all about 'my boy'.

Friendship and Support

Their buddy, Danylo Bondarchuck, can’t help but notice how Danylo lights up when he talks about Alyona, bragging she’s the prettiest girl ever. The duo is thick as thieves, with Alyona cheering Danylo on at his basketball games and backing him up as he chases his driver’s license. They stick together through thick and thin, from cram sessions to heart-to-hearts about past hurts.

Art and Confidence

Alyona’s even tried her hand at tattoo art, with Danylo daring to be her first canvas. Aliens, scorpions, moon designs – you name it, she’s inked it on him. When Alyona confides about her struggles with an eating disorder, Danylo’s there, her steadfast champion, helping her see her own beauty.

Tragedy Strikes

Just as peace talks seem to warm up, reality bites hard. They had just moved into an apartment near Alyona’s folks, started pooling their pennies into a bank account, ready to build their forever after. But war, with its cruel ironies, never strays far. Months back, Alyona had a haunting premonition about Danylo’s home getting leveled by a missile. Then, fast forward to a fateful Thursday night, something feels off. She clutches Danylo, begging him to stay in touch, until a grim silence answers her. Post-midnight sirens lead to the worst wake-up call. A missile had targeted Danylo’s home; only rubble and loss remained. His parents, a casualty; his sister, barely making it. Their neighborhood, far from the frontline, still wasn’t spared. And in the aftermath, the loss of 13 souls draws sharp words from across the seas, with leaders pleading for sanity and peace negotiations.

The Farewell

Monday brings a gut-wrenching farewell. Alyona, by Danylo’s casket, a picture of devastation, supported by her mother as grief consumes her. The service, a first encounter for their families, with an elderly voice breaking through the sorrow, recognizing the girl who lost her world. And now, haunted by dreams and sleepless nights, Alyona sees Danylo in her nightmares, as real as the grief that clings to her.

Reflection

In a park, under a gazebo they once loved, she revisits memories, thumbing through photos of better days, whispers of a future stolen. Her voice, now a shadow, barely stirs the air as she confesses part of her died with him. Her mother watches, heartbroken, fearing for her daughter’s resilience. Danylo’s memory, his warmth, all linger like the last rays of a setting sun. “We were so pumped for summer,” Alyona murmurs, “So many plans…” It’s a tale of love, loss, and the haunting echoes of war. Isn’t it tragically beautiful how love carves deep marks?