Step into the first chapter of one of the most powerful LGBTQ+ memoirs of the year — a true survival story rooted in Ukraine’s foster care system. In this free chapter, you’ll meet Vitaly as a child abandoned at birth in Soviet-era Chernivtsi and witness the beginning of his emotional journey through an orphanage, trauma, and the search for identity.
Chapter One offers an intimate glimpse into his earliest memories — from a mysterious hospital corridor to a question every child fears to ask: “Why was I left behind?” It’s the beginning of a lifelong quest for belonging.
This is not just another adoption memoir — it’s a coming-of-age story about resilience, self-discovery, and what it means to reclaim your life despite the odds.
