The Little Girl

The Little Girl

I was on my way home one day,
Walking down Aswan street,
When I almost tripped over a little girl.
I only noticed her when I heard her mother talking to her:

“Listen, love.
Your father and I let you do everything you want.
We don’t tell you what to wear and what not to wear.
We even let you wear short dresses.
Later on, when we you tell you what to wear,
We don’t want to hear any objections from you.
You wouldn’t want me and your father to go to hell because of you, right?”

I looked down and saw a little girl.
She was so little, she barely even reached my waist.
Her mother, who was wearing the niqab, was beside her.
And her father was with them.

I felt a great sense of despair.
I went home and got out my passport,
Looked at it,
And wished to leave this country.

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