I was 12 when it came.
In Palestine, we say ajetny [it has come] when we get our periods.
It happened when I got home after school.
There was a lot of blood.
I got really scared.
I cried a lot.
I couldn’t understand why I was bleeding.
I called mama.
She laughed when I told her.
She sent over my older sister.
She brought me Always pads and taught me how to use them.
An hour had gone by,
And still no one explained anything to me.
No explained why this was happening.
I understood, though, that I had grown up.
My father looked at me with pride.
My brother smirked.
My sisters’ husbands congratulated me.
I wish someone had prepared me for that moment,
Instead of being surprised by the sudden sight of blood.
And their happy reaction to the news when I was still so scared was damaging at the time.
How could my family be happy that I was bleeding?