I'm using a nebulizer as I've been suffering from a nonstop cough that woke me up. Despite taking my medications and using the nebulizer before sleep, I had to wake up at midnight to search for old ampules to relieve the cough. I've been diagnosed with acute upper respiratory infection—a condition I haven't had in a long time. Now, my night coughing reminds me of my late father, which saddens me deeply. He suffered a lot. There’s also a small fear inside me, one I’m not comfortable admitting, that this cough might reappear toward the end of my life.

It's a scary thought. Alone in my room, I considered asking for help, but you really can't wake people up when all you need to do is manage on your own. So, I had honey, swallowed another bunch of tablets, applied vapor rub, and used the last couple of ampules in my medicine drawer for the nebulizer. I’m already feeling better. I've been listening to a Kuwaiti podcast called "You Are Not Alone," which addresses loneliness and sadness in such a delicate and courageous way. I'm so thankful to have the tools and means to get better and, above all, the will to keep fighting.