Little Inklings 2023

HEROES By: Zarah Rizvi ’27 Suffocated. That’s how Sahar Shaleem felt, breathing in the freezing air of NYC. Every snowflake that fell from the grey sky pierced her skin, as she made her way to her black Toyota. Her frozen lips were pressed together, only releasing them once, to let out a small sigh. She turned up her car heater as she reached her small apartment. She got into her uninviting bed right away. She was tired and sad, struggling to hold on. Her patient of no more than 7 had died today. But there was another feeling. It was the suffocating feeling of dread. Dread that she would have to do the same thing tomorrow. She tossed and turned in the cold, dark, and damp room, her sheets providing lit- tle comfort from all her fearful and painful thoughts. That girl had a life. That girl had a family. She had friends and a home, and a bed with a teddy bear she would have been sleeping with that night. If only Sahar had… no. She had to stop blaming herself. The thoughts were suffocating. The only thing that brought her joy was knowing that she was doing what most people weren’t strong enough to do. She was a hero. Feeling lighter, the cycle repeated, but the day was a bit brighter, the people were a bit nicer, and the patients were a bit happier. Nighttime came, and just like that, so did the morning light. But today was different. Instead of dragging herself out of bed, she extended her hand, smiling as she hit the snooze button, thinking about the delicious omelet she would make herself that morn- ing. She was no longer suffocating. 23