I can’t remember how old I was when I got it,
But I remember being in the third or fourth grade.
I remember being really upset.
I remember crying.
I was scared that someone would force me to put on a headscarf.
Even though my parents never forced me to wear it.
I never understood why people associated getting your period
With the beginning of your judgement by God.
Periods are determined by the nature of your body and your hormones.

I also remember mama telling me,
“Don’t you dare tell any of your friends!”
As if there was something wrong with me.
She also refused to let me take food and water with me to school,
When I was on my period in Ramadan.
“So no one talks about you!” she said.

My coach punished anyone who wasn’t fasting in Ramadan because they couldn’t work out while fasting.
One time I was punished by being given more exercises.
Even though I hadn’t fasted because I was on my period.
Despite the period pains and the pain from the extra workouts,
The thing that hurt me the most was the feeling of injustice.
Of getting punished for something that wasn’t my fault.
Something I couldn’t speak up about, because it wasn’t something we talked about.