This summer, Danylo Hudia was going to propose to Alyona Zavadskaya. It was going to be a surprise on her birthday, Hudia told the girl's mother.
The young couple, 16 and 17 years old, met on a winter day in Kyiv. They had big dreams for the future, but first: marriage. As soon as they both turned 18, they planned to get married.
The parents were amazed by the rapid and intense infatuation.
We knew they were just kids, but we could see that they were responsible, says Alyona Zavadskaya's mother Oksana Zavadskaya.
Inseparable
With the war raging, the teenagers found comfort in each other. Danylo Bondarchuk, Danylo Hudia's close friend, remembers how his friend's eyes sparkled the first time he mentioned Alyona: "I have the most beautiful girlfriend", he said.
The couple quickly became inseparable. Zavadskaya cheered on Hudia in his basketball matches and helped him study for exams. He encouraged her to explore her interest in tattoos and became her guinea pig. A stranger, a scorpion, and a moon, she tattooed on her boyfriend's skin.
Hudia also helped Zavadskaya in her struggle against eating disorders.
She didn't think she was beautiful. He made her understand that she is, says mother Oksana Zavadskaya.
Just a few weeks ago, the young couple found an apartment together. They opened a joint bank account and got ready for a life together. But they never got to move in.
Can't sleep
The night before last Friday, the air raid alarm went off in Kyiv. Alyona Zavadskaya took refuge in a basement. The SMS to her boyfriend remained unanswered. The anxiety in her stomach grew.
In the morning, Danylo Hudia's best friend called. A Russian robot had hit the 17-year-old's house and killed Danylo, his parents, and ten others.
He was the most precious thing I've ever had, said Alyona at the boyfriend's funeral on Monday, shaking with grief.
Now she dare not sleep anymore. Danylo comes to her in dreams, crying at her feet.
His hugs were so warm, she says.
We longed so much for the summer. We had so many plans.
