Two young souls lost their lives believing that love could triumph over adversity. Admira and Boško, both just 25, resolved to escape the horrors of war in their hometown. Since their teenage years, they had been inseparable, sharing school days, celebrations, and summer getaways. Their dreams included marriage and starting a family.

However, as armed conflict erupted, invisible barriers divided their city into factions. The Sarajevo they once knew, a city of tolerance and warmth, transformed into a battleground where identity dictated allegiance. Admira, a Muslim, and Boško, an Orthodox Serb, refused to choose between conflicting sides, believing their love could lead them to safety. Thus, they planned to flee the besieged city.

Yet, life often unfolds in unforeseen ways. Allow me to recount their tale from the beginning.

Their romance blossomed from youthful infatuation to serious commitments. Born in 1968, Admira Ismi? and Boško Brki? grew up in a Sarajevo celebrated for its multiculturalism, where kindness mattered more than religious affiliation. The couple met during the 1984 Winter Olympics, as the city welcomed the world with open arms.

Tragedy struck in 1986 when Boško lost his father to a heart attack and was soon drafted into the military. Despite the distance, their love endured, as shown in their heartfelt letters:

“My beloved Admira, Each night I lie awake, consumed by thoughts of you. You are my only joy…”

Admira replied, “Dearest love, Sarajevo at night is a sight to behold. I would only leave if compelled. Soon we will be together, and nothing will tear us apart…”

Little did they know how drastically their lives would change.

When war broke out in Bosnia in 1992, the violence devastated Boško's home. After relocating, his mother realized it was time to leave Sarajevo. With help from a Muslim friend, they planned an escape. Boško chose to stay behind, refusing to abandon Admira. The couple clung to hope that the conflict would soon end.

The war was brutal, with opposing forces controlling different sections of Sarajevo. As conditions worsened, Boško resisted joining the army, seeking to protect his city rather than harm it. The couple decided to leave, and with friends' assistance, they sought permission to cross the lines separating the warring factions. They aimed to travel from the Muslim territory to the Bosnian Serb-held area, from where they could flee to safety in Serbia.

Admira's parents opposed their plan, desperately trying to convince her to stay. Yet she insisted, “Is it fair for him to leave while I remain?” Her resolve to leave was unyielding, and in her farewell letter, she wrote:

“Dear Mother, We will leave tonight, and whatever happens is in God's hands. I will call once we cross the border. Please take care of yourself…”

Her father, filled with despair, could only watch in silence as they parted for the last time.

On May 18th at 5 p.m., the couple made their way to Vrbanja Bridge, believing freedom awaited them on the other side. They approached the bridge with a sense of hope, feeling as if the war had paused for their escape. However, just as they neared safety, gunfire erupted, and both fell to the ground.

An eyewitness recounted their tragic final moments: “Two young lovers were walking towards Vrbanja Bridge, holding hands, when gunfire struck them. Boško was shot first; Admira crawled to him and embraced him, and they lay together on the concrete.”

The choice of bridge was laden with symbolism, as just a year prior, two women had been shot there as the war's first victims.

News of their deaths resonated globally, reported by American journalist Kurt Schork: “Boško and Admira were exposed as they walked 500 meters along the river, caught between two opposing forces. Som