The Field of Mars in Lviv (Марсове поле) is a military cemetery and War Memorial for Ukrainian soldiers who died during the Russo-Ukrainian War.
This is Mariia. She comes here every day.
“Your son?” I ask. She nods. Roman, 47. Her only child. I search for the right phrase in Ukrainian to say “My condolences”. I am not sure if she understood me.
She tells me about him. I don’t catch everything, but I listen. I offer her a hug. She lets me. Her eyes are a pale blue, like forget-me-nots. Like a young girl’s – but tired, very tired.
She asks where I am from. “Austria”, I say. She looks surprised. “It was better back then. Better than what came later.”
We sit in silence. Then I stand. “Thank you”, she says – and bursts into tears.
