The school that built us- Flames can’t burn what we carry inside

Being an adult can be really hard sometimes. You wake up, go to work, do your tasks, and suddenly you remember…you’re not 9 anymore. You're over 30 now. Life goes by so fast. It’s full of responsibilities, challenges, and hard moments. But even when things feel heavy, there are still beautiful things to see. There’s still joy, kindness, and sweet memories that live in our hearts.

Not long ago, I was visiting Prekmurje in Slovenia. My hometown. The school I went to is only about 400 meters away from my parents' house, you can see it clearly from the kitchen window. One quiet afternoon, we were sitting at the kitchen table when we suddenly heard sirens. We rushed to the window… and there it was…our primary school. On fire. Thick black smoke was rising into the sky. I couldn’t believe it. My heart dropped.

Firefighters came quickly and did such a brave and professional job. They were amazing. And the kids, so strong. They evacuated the building in just five minutes. Every year, the school holds a fire drill, and the children really knew what to do. No panic. Just courage.

They still don’t know exactly what happened. They think it might be something to do with the solar panels on the roof. The whole area was closed off, so we couldn’t get close. That’s when we decided to fly a drone to get a better look. And as the drone flew over the school, all the memories came flooding back.

I started going to that school when I was just six years old. It started with preschool…and that’s where I met my very first best friend. A year or two later, I found four more girls, and the six of us were inseparable after that. Always laughing, always joking, always by each other’s side. We had our own little world.
We shared everything—snacks, secrets, and silly pranks. Some school days were hard, but one of us always had the energy to cheer up the others. I’ll never forget the sports days, when we had to run and we really didn’t want to. We tried hiding behind trees or buildings, hoping the teachers wouldn’t find us—but they always did. And there was Cleaning Day, when we’d walk around town picking up litter, but honestly just having fun and being together.
That school was where I had my first crush… and also my first argument with a friend. It’s where I discovered my love for history, thanks to an amazing teacher. So many little things happened there that helped shape who I am today.

When I saw the smoke, it wasn’t just a building burning—it was memories, laughter, and childhood. I hope the school will be okay. I hope it gets repaired quickly. That place holds so many stories. And I hope the children going there now can make their own wonderful memories…full of friendship, love, and laughter. Just like we did. Because those years? They stay with you forever.

“No one ever really leaves the place they grew up. It lives in them always.” — Alexandra Bracken

With love, @tinabrezpike ❤️