On August 22, 2025, the world lost Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee living in Charlotte, North Carolina. She had fled Kyiv to escape war, only to face tragedy on American soil. Her story has touched many of us across the world — people who never knew her personally, but who now carry the weight of her final moments in our hearts.
When I read about Iryna and saw the heartbreaking news, I was deeply shaken. The thought of her final moments — alone, frightened, and taken far too soon — has stayed with me. Like many others, I wish I could undo it, or somehow change what happened. But since I can’t, I turned to the only thing I know how to do: write a song.
Writing “You Weren’t Alone”
I never met Iryna, but her story broke me. I felt the need to process it in some way, and music became my outlet. The song I’ve started writing is called “You Weren’t Alone.”
The title carries a contradiction — because in her last moment, she was alone. Yet through music, remembrance, and community, she doesn’t have to be forgotten. This song is my way of reaching across the silence to say: you are seen, you are remembered, you are not lost at all.
The lyrics are still in progress, but here’s the chorus I’ve been working with:
You weren’t alone, though it felt that way,
Your sorrow reached across the ocean that day.
I’ll carry your light where the shadows fall,
In the silence, I promise — you’re not lost at all.
A Tribute, Not Exploitation
I want to make it clear — this isn’t about capitalising on tragedy. It’s about giving dignity and remembrance through music. If I ever release a finished version of this song, my hope would be to dedicate it fully to her memory, and if possible, to support her family.
For now, sharing the demo and these lyrics is simply my way of processing grief and offering a space for others who feel the same sorrow.
Remembering Iryna Zarutska
Iryna’s story is not just one of loss — it’s one of resilience. She had survived bombings in Kyiv, moved to the United States seeking safety, and dreamed of building a new life. Her courage should be remembered, even as we mourn her tragic death.
Final Thoughts
“You Weren’t Alone” is still unfinished, but I wanted to share it with you here. My hope is that, even in some small way, this song can shine a light where there has been so much darkness.
💔 Rest in peace, Iryna Zarutska. You will never be forgotten.
You Can Hear the demo version also here – https://www.bandlab.com/track/af67143e-1390-f011-b480-6045bd35f0e2?revId=ab67143e-1390-f011-b480-6045bd35f0e2
