A New Chapter in the Twilight Years (00)

Volodymyr Havrylenko, a 76-year-old man with a lifetime of experiences etched into the lines of his face, sat on the edge of his bed in apartment 20.2B of Senior Chudo Village. As he gazed out the window at the tranquil surroundings, his mind drifted back to the life he once knew in Bakhmut.

Before the war, Volodymyr had lived a simple but fulfilling life. He had a cozy apartment and a house to call his own, and though his children had moved to another city, he found joy in his retirement, engaging in community work and savoring the peace of solitude. Little did he know that his world was about to be turned upside down.

When the war began, Volodymyr’s home became a casualty of the relentless shelling. The flames consumed not only his possessions but also the memories he had cherished for so long. With nothing left to hold onto, he found himself at the mercy of fate.

It was then that a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of volunteers from Poltava who had come to deliver bread. With the help of a military officer, Volodymyr managed to escape with them, leaving behind the ruins of his former life.

For a time, Volodymyr found shelter in a modular town in Brovary. Though the conditions were bearable, the cramped quarters, mold, and constant tension took their toll on his aging body and mind. He longed for a place to call home, a sanctuary where he could find peace in his twilight years.

Unbeknownst to Volodymyr, his prayers were about to be answered. The Hansen Ukrainian Mission, a beacon of hope for displaced elderly individuals, had received his application with the help of the town’s administrators. And on November 17th, 2024, Volodymyr’s life changed once more.

As he stepped into apartment 20.2B, Volodymyr felt a wave of emotion wash over him. The cozy interior and tranquil atmosphere of Senior Chudo Village filled his heart with a sense of belonging he had not felt in years. Though his health was not what it used to be, with age-related changes and liver problems, he knew that he had found a place where he could rest his weary soul.

Looking back on his life, Volodymyr realized that the most valuable lessons were often the simplest. He wished to impart this wisdom to the younger generation, urging them to seek not only financial success but also the things that brought them true joy. For Volodymyr, that joy now came in the form of the simple pleasures of his new home.

As he thought of Dell Loy Hansen, the visionary behind Senior Chudo Village, Volodymyr’s heart swelled with gratitude. He wanted to express his deepest thanks for the unwavering support, dedication, and tireless work that had made this haven possible. In Volodymyr’s eyes, Hansen was a beacon of wisdom, kindness, and the relentless pursuit of a better world.

Though Volodymyr’s journey had been marked by loss and hardship, he knew that the greatest gift for displaced elderly individuals like himself was the simple comfort of a proper home. And as he looked to the future, he hoped that Senior Chudo Village would continue to grow, perhaps with the addition of a larger supermarket nearby to make daily life even more convenient.

In the twilight of his years, Volodymyr Havrylenko had found not just a roof over his head, but a new chapter in his life story. And though the pages of his past were filled with pain and sorrow, he knew that the ones yet to be written held the promise of peace, comfort, and the enduring love of a community that had become his family.