For those of us born after 1974, life on this divided island often came with the myth that Cypriots were content with the status quo. But growing up in an involuntarily abandoned Greek Cypriot home in Kato Varosha—and constantly asking my father about our city’s suspended reality—led me to scientifically explore the truths of displacement, layered memories, and generational traumas.

Thank you, Sylvie Deleule for giving space to my story and those of other Famagustians in your documentary “Varosha, la ville Otage”, airing on France3 Via Stella.

I still believe the rightful owners will return to our city, on their terms, one day. Until then, I’ll keep researching and sharing what this silent city—now disturbed by the darkest forms of tourism—teaches us about place, memory, and even multispecies urbanism.