Zlata's Diary by Zlata Filipovic Read Free Book Online

quantities. Just in case, I guess. God forbid!
    Still, it’s very tense. Mommy is beside herself, Daddy tries to calm her down. Mommy has long conversations on the phone. She calls, other people call, the phone is in constant use.
    Zlata

Sunday, April 12, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    The new sections of town—Dobrinja, Mojmilo, Vojničko polje—are being badly shelled. Everything is being destroyed, burned, the people are in shelters. Here in the middle of town, where we live, it’s different. It’s quiet. People go out. It was a nice warm spring day today. We went out too. Vaso MiÅ¡kin Street was full of people, children. It looked like a peace march. People came out to be together, they don’t want war. They want to live and enjoy themselves the way they used to. That’s only natural, isn’t it? Who likes or wants war, when it’s the worst thing in the world?
    I keep thinking about the march I joined today. It’s bigger and stronger than war. That’s why it will win. The people must be the ones to win, not the war, because war has nothing to do with humanity. War is something inhuman.
    Zlata

Tuesday, April 14, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    People are leaving Sarajevo. The airport, train and bus stations are packed. I saw sad pictures on TV of people parting. Families, friends separating. Some are leaving, others staying. It’s so sad. Why? These people and children aren’t guilty of anything. Keka and Braco came early this morning. They’re in the kitchen with Mommy and Daddy, whispering. Keka and Mommy are crying. I don’t think they know what to do—whether to stay or to go. Neither way is good.
    Zlata

Wednesday, April 15, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    There has been terrible gunfire in Mojmilo [a part of Sarajevo]. Mirna spent a whole forty-eight hours in the shelter. I talked to her on the phone, but not for long because she had to go back down to the shelter. I feel sorry for her.
    Bojana and Verica are going to England. Oga is going to Italy. And worst of all, Martina and Matea have already left. They went to Ohrid [a lakeside town in Macedonia]. Keka is crying, Braco is crying and Mommy is crying. She’s on the phone right now, and she’s crying. And “those boys” up there in the hills keep shooting at us. I just heard that Dejan has left too.
    OOOHHHHH! Why war?!
    Love you, Mimmy,
Zlata

Thursday, April 16, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    Martina, Matea and Dejan didn’t leave, after all. That’s really not fair! Yes, of course it is, they mustn’t go. But it isn’t fair because we all cried our eyes out and in the end they didn’t leave. There are not enough buses, trains or planes for all the people who want to get out of here.
    Love you,
Zlata

Saturday, April 18, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    There’s shooting, shells are falling. This really is WAR. Mommy and Daddy are worried, they sit up until late at night, talking. They’re wondering what to do, but it’s hard to know. Whether to leave and split up, or stay here together. Keka wants to take me to Ohrid. Mommy can’t make up her mind—she’s constantly in tears. She tries to hide it from me, but I see everything. I see that things aren’t good here. There’s no peace. War has suddenly entered our town, our homes, our thoughts, our lives. It’s terrible.
    It’s also terrible that Mommy has packed my suitcase.
    Â 
    Â 
    Love,
Zlata

Monday, April 20, 1992
    Dear Mimmy,
    War is no joke, it seems. It destroys, kills, burns, separates, brings unhappiness. Terrible shells fell today on BaščarÅ¡ija, the old town center. Terrible explosions. We went down into the cellar, the cold, dark, revolting cellar. And ours isn’t even all that safe.
    Mommy, Daddy and I just stood there, holding on to one another in a corner that looked safe. Standing there in the dark, in the warmth of my parents’ arms, I thought about leaving Sarajevo. Everybody is thinking about it,