#2402022

it is raining. as i write, it’s begun snowing in wet gusts. it is february. 

putin has declared war on ukraine. a friend messages me when she hears the news on her lunchbreak, ‘don’t let E see the news’. E has not seen the news since i blocked his view of the news-stand in the off-licence when we went in for energy drinks on tuesday afternoon. 

the radio at work announced the first hints of russia’s invasion on sunday, while i was sweeping. it interrupts the retro sunday show, outbreaks of war between abba’s gimme! gimme! gimme! and presley’s can’t help falling in love. a volunteer fears her marine son’s safety if a war breaks out. i am convinced russia will not go further. 

the bakery across the street gives us free bread, a brown sourdough loaf that we claim as a victory. i have a new jumper, and it smells of the winter sparkle fabric softener i love. there are jokes on social media of the incoming war draft, and posts that rebuff the memes, warning of the displacement and murder of real people. there is nothing to do but university assessments and readings.