“They [terrorists] entered our classroom as we were sitting with our teacher,” said Irfanullah, who was shot in the chest and is currently recovering in hospital. “She seemed to understand what was going on before we did because she immediately stood up and prevented the terrorists from targeting us,” he added.

According to a tearful Irfanullah, Ahmed told the terrorists that she would not allow them to shoot her students. “She was so brave,” he said. “Her last words to the terrorists were: ‘You must kill me first because I will not see my students’ bodies lying in front of me,’” he added.

Irfanullah says the Taliban didn’t seem to care about anything she said and immediately threw something on her body. “The next thing we knew, she was on fire,” he said. “Even while burning, she shouted at us to run away and find refuge.”

I’m going back to school tomorrow, time to reflect on the last summer holiday of my life, so here’s 5 things about this summer 

1. Crippling loneliness and helplessness, crying a lot, more than during any other period of time in my life.

2. Wasted opportunities, some due to poor weather conditions, some due to my own laziness

3. Appointments, so many of them.

4. Going everywhere either with my parents or in hiking boots.

5. Somehow still managing to seize each day, which I am only just now starting to realize.