Smoke

I was on my way home from tuition when I came across this road.

People carrying burning torches filled the road, and within minutes the air was covered with thick smoke.

The scene may look ordinary in this photograph, but standing there felt completely different. As someone who has had pneumonia and suffers from severe dust and smoke allergies, I felt my chest tighten.

My breathing became difficult, and I had an anxiety attack.

I was scared to take even a small breath, fearing it would trigger an asthma attack or leave me struggling to breathe on the roadside.

I couldn't simply walk away because the smoke had spread across the entire street. For many, this smoke may seem temporary or harmless.

For people living with respiratory conditions, it can become a serious health risk within seconds.

Every breath carries fine particles that irritate the lungs and make breathing painful. This photograph is a reminder that air pollution is not only created by factories or vehicles.

Sometimes, a street filled with smoke is enough to turn an ordinary journey home into a frightening experience.

What lasts only a few minutes for some can leave lasting physical and emotional effects on others.