09.11.2008 21:11 | Hope did not leave us

Our people endured so much grief and suffering during 18 years, but the August events became the most tragic for us. I’ll never forget those several long and terrible days, which I spent together with my neighbors in a dump, dark basement. Shaking with each explosion and being frightened for a life of the children, parents pressed them to themselves more closely. There were no tears; there were no also children's whims as if they realized the all seriousness of the situation. We were hungry and without water, our forces became more and more depleted, but hope did not leave all of us, we believed in the help of Russian peacemakers.

Several days before those tragic events, the neighbor wanted to send her young pregnant daughter-in-law Tina Kabisova to Northern Ossetia. But so far as she did not have a passport, she could not leave. And, unfortunately, she had to be together with us in a cellar too.

- If the labour pains begin suddenly, I ask you, please, stay near with my daughter-in-law. So I’ll feel calmer, - Tina`s mother-in-law told me. It was difficult to me to imagine myself in a role of a mid-wife. I was so confused at that moment that forgot for a while about shelling and about my daughters, who were with me in a cellar. They began to worry about Tina too. I was disturbed by only one thing: how could we cope with such a difficult problem for us.

- Don’t be afraid, shooting will calm down and you’ll have time to leave to Northern Ossetia, and she still keeps her head, - I was calming my neighbor down. And I prayed: "My God, let this nightmare finish soon".

In the morning of August, 10 they, at last, managed to leave to Northern Ossetia. For that moment Zarskaya road was heavy fired, but, fortunately, they have reached safely. I worried about them, but could not contact with them. Accidentally I saw Tina`s photo on the page of one of the Russian newspapers. It turned out that after arrival to Vladikavkaz they immediately transported her to a hospital and she gave birth to a healthy, strong boy. I was so happy, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

He would have turned fifty tomorrow

There was other our neighbor Ruslan Gagloev together with us in the basement. In a peacetime he considered himself a happy person. There were beloved wife, who understood him in an instant, children Irene and Alan near. Whether it is necessary to the person for happiness so much? ButthenextgenocidefromGeorgiahasbegun. The family turned out to be in Vladikavkaz and he was in Tskhinval.

In the morning of August, 9, after the next strange "calmness" we went out to the street. Ruslan called me and said:

- You know, it is necessary to take children out to Vladikavkaz. They look dreadful, I am sorry for them.

Of course, I could not disagree with it, but this day road Zarskaya has undergone to heavy bombardment, I could not risk my daughters’ lives. After our conversation I have come into the house and he stayed in the street. Then a strong explosion was heard, Ruslan has fallen without consciousness. He immediately was taken to the hospital, but on the way there he died.

On September, 21 he would have turned fifty.

We’ll never forget our kind and cheerful Ruslan.

Many apartments have burned down for these awful three days, almost all of them have been destroyed to some extent.

Juliet Valieva, South Ossetia

Translated by Tatiana Inozemtseva