Malala describes the day that her familiar life in Pakistan changed forever. She recalls her bedroom with its unmade bed, the smell of rice cooking in the kitchen, and the noise of her little brothers arguing. Now, she and her family live in chilly Birmingham, England, in a much different kind of house. Malala reflects that she may never return to her beloved Pakistan because of the event that took place on Tuesday, October 9, 2012.

On this day, 15-year-old Malala wakes up late for school and an important exam. She is in ninth grade at the Khushal School for Girls, a school founded by her father. Malala is already gaining public attention for speaking out about the importance of girls’ education. Malala enjoys school and takes pride in the many trophies she has earned for academic achievements. Recently, Malala had a premonition that something bad was going to happen. She asked God to let her die a little bit so she could return and tell people about the experience. Days pass, however, and nothing negative occurs. This day, Malala does well on her exam, and she and her best friend, Moniba, catch the second bus home.