Nine Cycles

The air inside the National Cancer Institute in Precinct 9,Putrajaya, was clean, cool, and carried the faint, sharp scent of antiseptic, a sterile perfume overlying the muted smell of illness and hope.

The soundscape was a slow, persistent hum, the collective thrum and gentle beep of bio-machines: infusion pumps clicking softly, the rhythmic sigh of a ventilator, the steady drone of air conditioning.

In this quiet and still treatment room, Adila began her first of nine chemotherapy cycles. She felt afraid, often hiding under blankets, her body shivering. She was ashamed—of the toxins in her veins, her hair loss, her uncontrollable weakness.

You've been brave in fights no one saw.

The Struggle & Inner Strength

Through each cycle,Adila fought a war within. She showed up on days she wanted to disappear. The most important growth happened in those silent seasons.

You stood tall when it felt better to hide.

The Final Treatment

Months later, Adila stared at the mirror in the hospital room. Short, fine hair, like the down of a newly-hatched canary, covered her head.

Dr. Aini removed the final IV line and whispered, "You've been brave, Adila. In fights no one saw."

Returning Home

Her return home was quiet.No victory cheer, only the wind chimes tinkling on the porch. That afternoon, she opened an old photo album and saw a picture of herself before the illness, smiling. She placed a hand on her chest, feeling the scar and a new quietness within.

Now, the storm is quiet because 

you did not quit!

A New Dawn

The next morning,she woke differently. She wore her mother’s bright batik and stood before the mirror again, this time, not mourning what was lost.

Rebirth & Hope

She stepped into the garden.The morning sun felt warm and unfamiliar. She saw rosebuds blooming after a long winter.

Her elderly neighbor, Pak Ali, smiled from his rocking chair. "Looks bright today, Adila."

"Yes, Pak Ali," she replied, breathing deeply. "It’s very bright today."

Quiet Victory

For the first time in a long while,she believed her own words. Her journey wasn’t over, but that silent battlefield had become fertile ground, where her greatest victory was won not with applause, but with every breath she took when she wanted to give up.

She smiled. The storm had passed. And she was still here, whole, in the winning silence.