"We were like best friends," Dragana Zivanovic said, as she reflected on the deep bond she shared with her daughter, Kristina, who tragically died in a road accident in August 2022.

Twenty-three-year-old Kristina Zivanovic died on 24 August 2022, after she was hit by a bus in Birkirkara, a police statement had said on the day. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance, but succumbed to her injuries soon after.

The Malta Independent on Sunday reached out to her mother, Dragana, who spoke about the devastating experience of losing her daughter.

Zivanovic said that Kristina was the type of daughter who would call her 10 to 15 times a day, sometimes just to chat, ask to meet up or simply update her about her day.

"When I woke up in the morning, the first thing I'd see was a message from Kristina. She'd tell me she loved me and to call her when I had the chance," Zivanovic recalled.

Since Kristina's death, Zivanovic's strong personality has been her anchor. She keeps busy with work, taking care of Kristina's beloved elderly dog and visits her daughter's grave twice a week on her off days.

Zivanovic spends at least three hours at the cemetery, decorating Kristina's grave with something new each time. She pours her some coffee, and lights a cigarette for her - despite Kristina having quit smoking the last month of her life.

This routine makes Zivanovic feel as if Kristina is still alive, enjoying a coffee date with her mother.

We were like best friends, Dragana (left) says of her relationship with her daughter Kristina

Zivanovic spoke of how difficult it is to continue living after such an event; however, she said that she knew that "if I'm not happy, Kristina won't be happy either. I try, but sometimes it's impossible".

Her colleagues have been a tremendous support, especially as her husband and the rest of her family are back in Serbia.

Zivanovic believes Kristina is in a better place now, which gives her strength to carry on. But with time, the pain has only deepened. "People say it gets easier, but for me, it's worse. The more time passes, the more I miss her."

Zivanovic often finds herself breaking down in uncontrollable tears after bottling up her emotions for too long. Yet, she finds some solace in her dreams, where Kristina appears gleaming in light, smiling brightly.

Support has come from her colleagues and family, especially as Kristina, the first grandchild, was adored by all.

Zivanovic chose to stay in Malta close to her daughter's resting place, but the eventual plan is to take Kristina's body back to Serbia.

"Wherever I am, she will be," Zivanovic said.

However, for now, Malta, Kristina's chosen home, holds Zivanovic. "When we spent time in Serbia, Kristina would always ask when we were going back home to Malta," Zivanovic recalled, realizing that the island had become her daughter's true home.

To cope, Zivanovic distracts herself with work and has found herself watching more television.

She avoids looking at Kristina's photos for too long, attempting to keep her mind from spiralling into grief. She takes comfort in knowing that she gave Kristina a good life, without feeling any guilt.

"I never imposed strict rules. She was obedient, and I let her go out with friends. My only request was that she updated me if her plans changed during the day," Zivanovic said, adding that Kristina lived her short life fully. She knew every corner of Malta and called the island "home".

"She was my life, and I was hers. Even if she had friends and a boyfriend, Mummy was always first place."

Kristina had a passion for charity shops, especially those supporting animal welfare. Growing up with a father who was a professional dog trainer, her love for animals was profound. "Kristina had more photos with dogs than with people," Zivanovic joked.

Friendly and full of life, Kristina had a natural ability to make friends in seconds.

With her bubbly personality, she never let on if something was troubling her, always having a smile on her face. She was also deeply empathetic, helping many of her friends through difficult times. "She had such a good heart," Zivanovic said, recalling her daughter's generosity.

A lover of nature, vintage clothing, playing guitar and crocheting, Kristina embodied a free spirit.

"I always told her she was born in the wrong era - she belonged in the 1960s," Zivanovic said. Kristina's unique style and love for small treasures were cherished by her mother, who kept many of her vintage items.

Kristina had also just begun driving lessons before the tragic accident.

The day of the accident she was rushing to catch a bus for her new job. She had been training there for only a week before her untimely death.

Her grandparents took the loss hard. Kristina's grandfather was heartbroken, visibly aged and lost weight. Her grandmother, overwhelmed with grief, removed all photos of Kristina to avoid the constant reminder of her absence.

Zivanovic, who is facing her grief alone in Malta, believes her strong personality and her faith has kept her afloat. "Being in a foreign country, away from home, you have to be strong."

Kristina, who would have been 25 this year, was a sensitive soul, often getting emotional over small mistakes. Zivanovic had always tried to raise her daughter to be independent, knowing that, as a foreigner, she would face additional challenges in Malta.

"She always had to do more than everyone else, which is why I taught her to be strong."

Despite Kristina calling Malta her home, Zivanovic was disappointed by the way foreigners were often treated.

"We're all human. You can't judge someone by their nationality," she said. "It's sad how quickly people tell foreigners to 'go back to their country' during arguments."

Now, Zivanovic is left to grapple with the pain of knowing she will never experience the joy of having grandchildren, and how it would feel to love her daughter's children.

"Kristina took her legacy, and my heart, with her."

Nevertheless, Zivanovic also found support in many of Kristina's friends, who still spend Christmas with her as part of a tradition they had, and offer to go with Zivanovic to the cemetery, never forgetting Kristina as a pure soul who strived to love and help everyone.