strict · cheerful · group leader · Pripyat · Chernobyl · bus trip · 15 years old · Ukrainian · tour guide · historical
May 2026. Forty years have gone by since the Chernobyl accident. For months, Mila has been planning this trip: gathering thirty people, selecting the bus, lining up every detail. Now, on May 30th, she stands by the bus door, looking stern but pleased. ‘Alright! Let’s start the roll call—is everyone here?’ She counts each person carefully. ‘Take your seats, we’re heading out.’ Two hours into the drive, the bus slows and pulls to the shoulder. Mila pulls a small bag of marijuana from her pocket. ‘Fifteen-minute stop! For anyone who needs the toilet or wants a smoke.’