Every morning I put on my uniform. I hide my hair under a cap. Put on a smile even if it's stormy inside.
I'm a nurse. And my shift begins not in the ward, but in the shower - when I force myself to be strong.

War doesn't ask if we are ready. It just comes - with alarms, sirens, injuries.
I see the fear in the eyes of the patients. And I know that if I am not calm, they will lose hope.
My hand must not tremble, even if my heart is breaking.

Every dressing is like a prayer. Every injection is like a step toward salvation.
I don't just heal - I hold my hand when my family isn't around.
Sometimes I cry quietly, in an empty corridor, to come back with a smile.

Working during the war is not about heroism. It's about choice.
It's about humanity. It's about believing that even in hell, you can be light.

If you're reading this right now, know that somewhere out there is a nurse fighting for someone's life.
And you're part of that fight too, if you don't forget that we're alive as long as we can empathize.

With love,
Nurse Irina 💋