Zone of alienation

Saturday, 26th April 1986

Pripyat, Ukraine. (Припять, Украина)

12:35 pm.

"Kai, Tala dinner, come here!" Anna shouted for what felt like the 10th time in the past 5 minutes. She would go through the same weekend routine day in, day out. Get up, finish a few household chores, get the kids up and ready whilst she waits for her husband to arrive home from work. Saturday is the day when they would all spend family time together, they would often take their children to the park or the leisure centre. This routine was something Anna had become accustomed to over the past 14 years and it was something she wouldn't change. She was finally happy.

Their home was a standard soviet design 10 floor apartment block on Lesya Ukrainka Street, looking out over one of the complex parks and the Energetika culture centre. It consisted of 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and a main living room. It wasn't much but for them, it was everything they needed.

Her husband, Vasily, worked the night shift as an engineer at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as did most of the men, in the world's newest city of Pripyat.

The city was built in the early 1970's to house over 50,000 workers and their families of the Chernobyl NPP and was said to be the model city that all soviet cities inspired to be.

Anna was young when she had first met her husband in Moscow, Russia, where she was born. She worked in a small café on Old Arbat street within the city centre. He had bumped into her whilst she was busy running an errand and it was 'love at first sight' so they say. They exchanged telephone numbers and would meet up on a regular basis. After 6 months of living together in Moscow, Vasily was given a job at the Chernobyl power plant in Ukraine and so the decision was made to move to Pripyat in order to be closer to his work, Anna was only too happy to follow.

It was in Pripyat that they were wed and went on to have two happy, healthy boys. Her boys are her world and she was fiercely protective of them, as like any good mother and her young.

The eldest of the two being Tala at 14 years of age. Tala got his strong looks from his father but the caring heart of his mother. He was a normal bright, healthy young boy who loved nothing more than to ensure he younger brother was happy.

However, the youngest boy, Kai being 11 was the complete opposite of his brother with the soft features of his mother's face and the brave being of his father. But Kai was also carrying an internal problem sourcing from his father's side.

How can you look a child in the eye and tell them they are not like all the other children? How can you keep a smile on your face as the doctor tells you your child will not lead a fully healthy life? Was he sick?

For Anna this was no easy task but it was a task that she felt was coping with because despite what the doctors tell her, she believed her son was 'normal'', that he was the same as the other children and she would not isolate him because of his condition, it was nothing to be ashamed of. She simply refused to listen to the doctors down putting words.

At home Kai would develop random emotional outbursts and sometimes become withdrawn. Kai himself knew there was something wrong with him, granted he didn't know what seeing as nobody would tell him full details about his condition but a small, demanding voice would tell him otherwise.

Both Anna and Vasily sheltered Kai as much as they could from all the medical details as they did not wish to scare him in fear of making him worse or making him feel different. They would both treat him exactly like his brother.

But for Kai, this was a problem only he could deal with. His problem was a Bipolar disorder.

"Boys! I will not tell you again!" Anna shouted again. She was becoming more agitated as her husband was supposed to be home by this time, he would always call to say if he would be late home but it was now getting on 12:59pm and still no call from him.

She was shaken out of her darkening thoughts as Kai and Tala came barrelling into the room and ran straight to the table where their dinner lay. Anna turned and flashed her boys a quick smile before turning back to the small window and observing the busy city streets below, one last time.

It seemed she was not the only one who noticed Vasily's unusual absence and Anna was not prepared when she was questioned about it by her eldest son, Tala.

"Where's pa?" Tala enquired as he picked up his fork and began eating his food.

The simple question was enough to stop Anna in her tracks, as she was about to take her seat at the table, she raised her head to notice both her sons throwing questioning stares at her. There was a feeling of rising unease within the room as it remained silent.

There was no answer that would seem convincing enough to comfort the boys, so not wanting to place unnecessary scenarios in their young minds, She lied.

"Maybe he got caught up with something at work, I'm sure he will be here soon. Why don't you finish your dinner and go play outside for a while." Hoping that would be enough to reassure her naturally curious children. Giving them a warm smile, she starting eating her meal, hoping that was the end of the questions that she did not hold the answers to.

But for Kai, it was not enough. The deep, gritty voice was telling him she was lying and if there was but one thing Kai hated, it was people lying to him.

"But he always calls in to tell us he's late" He challenged.

This also sprung into Tala's mind. His father had always called.

"Something is wrong" Thinking out loud. "Has something happened?" Tala added.

Anna's face paled, not expecting the boys to take the matter further. A sense of panic started to rise but was quickly pushed down, telling herself there was nothing to worry about. Putting on a stern face she looked to her boys.

"No, Tala, everything is fine. Now finish your dinner and go play outside" Enforcing her previous reply in a slightly raised voice.

Kai and Tala exchanged glances, clearly knowing information was missing but both decided to say nothing more on the matter.