Marah
Twenty-two-year-old Marah started writing during the war, focusing on her experiences of trying not just to survive but also to live with her family. Writing is not a choice to her — it is a way to survive.
The fear that I might lose this sense was as painful as a knife in my ears.
In May 2025, my family and I were evacuated to a tent in Al-Mawasi. I spent most of the time sitting in my only spot, listening to the deafening sounds of bombs both close and far. Fearful yet hopeful, I awaited my turn to become a martyr, believing it would soon be the fate of all Gazans.
Meanwhile, a severe pain in my ears screamed in my head. It was as if someone was using an iron tool to breach inside them. This disturbing pain lingered with me, but it was far less severe than the prospect of going to a clinic lacking the essentials for war-affected people.
I started treating myself as a doctor. Most of the time, I covered my ears, and thankfully, this provided some relief.
The Pain Was Increasing
One very hot day in July, I got up at 7:00 a.m. after a night in which I had managed only an hour of sleep. The noise in my ears seemed to resonate through my whole body. I couldn't hear clearly.
The headache was unbearable. I tried every method I knew, but nothing worked.
The fear that I might lose this sense was as painful as a knife in my ears. That day, I lay on my mattress with so much noise in my head. All I could think was, "You must see a doctor before something worse happens."
Without thinking twice, I decided to visit a doctor as soon as possible. My family and I started thinking of the possibilities that would allow me to go.
To which clinic should I go? All the doctors we knew before the war, and used to go to, had fled.
Then, Mum said, "I can call my uncle Omar at the hospital. He will help us get you treated quickly by the best doctor."
I tried to convince myself, but the reality was that hospitals were overcrowded with war-affected people, and my case would likely be dismissed as a "joke." Besides, I had never dared to go to a government hospital before the war because of the large number of people there.
What about this time? Who would come with me to this overcrowded and therefore dangerous place?
To be continued…