8 seconds

In February, I thought I had a busy life.

Little did I know.

Today’s Best Band Ever™ is Max Richter. Not really a band, but a composer.

In case it’s not clear from my last name, I’m originally from Ukraine. Not living there for a couple of decades now, but still have friends and family there.

In some cases had.

My brother, after several agonising weeks, of their town being surrounded and bombed by the “liberators“, decided to try and take his family out of the war zone.

The chances were 50/50 at best. Russians could not take the city, but were shooting anybody trying to leave.

It was maddening, but they made it. Many didn’t.

The normally 9-hour trip to the western border, took them about a week.

They made it to safety, eventually.

It’s been almost 6 months now.

They still get spooked by the sound of aeroplanes.

Later, he told me that during the siege, he learned that they have 8 seconds to get into the cellar after hearing the cannonade.

Whatever you do. Wherever you are. 24 hours a day.

You have 8 seconds.

He suddenly died in his sleep on 10th of September. Natural causes.

He was 50.

This war took him. Along with thousands of other Ukrainians.

There’s a hope that the war’s death toll for Ukrainians will be below 100’000.

Rest in peace.

Rest in peace.