We imagined overcoming life’s challenging hardships with its ups and downs and reaching the most significant goal we had in our minds. All of us were filled with enthusiasm about the potential of passing the Kankor Examinations. We slept at night and woke up with a world full of hope and excitement in the morning.  One week earlier, we were eager to find out the results of our mock Kankor examination.

With enthusiasm, we went to our institute to take the test. We wanted to know how many marks will we get. Finally, we arrived there. The guard in front of the entrance gate told us: Hurry up! It is the last day of mock Kankor examination. We laughed and said: yes, if Allah wants.  I took the paper test and sat with the students. With high motivation, I was solving the questions. There was a strange and ominous silence all over the place, and suddenly, we heard gunfire.

In my mind, instead of fear or devising an escape plan, I saw thousands of wishes and memories that suddenly vanished. I was thinking and wished to be among the people so I could sit, talk, and laugh with them. While I was Deep in my dreams, I hid under the chair, and I stood up after a short moment, but I didn’t feel well.

I felt pain in my hands and head, my head was dizzy, and I couldn’t move my legs. I looked around, and everything was destroyed. My classmates were injured, and some were shouting and trying to escape. I told myself, oh my god! What disaster happened to us. I’m I not going to meet my classmates anymore? Will I be able to study for examinations again?

I ran after the other students who were escaping. In the middle of the way, I told Nazadana, who is my friend: I will not be with you anymore; I have been shot in my head. She said: just run, everything is okay. I arrived near the exit, and there was a man standing. He told me: my dear sister, please pick up your scarf and wear it. I said: I cannot, would you please cover it on my head. He covered my head, but I suddenly fell.

I don’t remember what happened. When I became conscious, I realized that I was being carried. They put me in the car, and again I lost consciousness. Near the Watan hospital, I became reactive, but I couldn’t talk. I could barely open my eyes and couldn’t move my hands.

I do not remember what happened. When I became conscious, I realized that they were carrying me. They put me in the car, and again I lost consciousness. Near the Watan hospital, I became reactive, but I couldn’t talk. I could barely open my eyes and couldn’t move my hands. I wasn’t feeling well and eventually fell down; then, two people helped me  go inside Watan hospital. Even though I was conscious, I couldn’t open my eyes.

Inside the hospital, everyone was shouting, Oh my daughter, Oh my sister. Another was shouting, Doctor, I have been shot! Please, ease my pain. Then, I heard the weak sound of Sabera crying. She shook me and said, stand up, Fatima; let’s comfort each other. While looking at me, she said, for the sake of your mother, please endure.

From Watan hospital, they transferred me to the Emergency hospital. While I was on the wheel bed, a woman came and said:  open your eyes. She wanted to make sure that I was still alive. A nurse took me to the operation room, and she was afraid of losing me; therefore, she kept talking to me. She was saying, please open your eye. You have an exam tomorrow; do you not want to pass your Kankor examination?

After the operation, when I became conscious, the Doctor told me, you were talking a lot during the operation. You told us the entire history of Afghanistan, and you made the doctors tired.

The doctors told me that most patients can’t talk immediately after the operation, but you did. What kind of person are you? I told them: these incidents can’t stop me from talking. The Doctor laughed and told me you are a tenacious girl.

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