Dear you

Dear you,

Dear boy who lives down the street, dear old guy at the gas station, dear lady in the office, dear you,

I’m sorry

I would like to formally apologize for what I’ve done and the things i stand for. 

I would like to apologize for the extreme pain I must have caused just by showing my face on the street

and the fear i have placed upon your children the second istrolled in

I’m sorry

I’m sorry that the hijab I wear terrifies you to no extent

I’m sorry that my religion makes you clutch your handgun closer to your chest as the night passes by

I apologize for the fact that you can’t seem to understand what my presence stands for.

that you can’t see past my head scarf towards all the kindness and generosity built up inside me

that you don’t understand the concept of modesty, generosity and peace that i try so hard to build under my name

but that name has no meaning.

it cannot cover the name that I was born with. the name iacquired at birth.

the name that has followed me through my whole life. 

the name everyone knows all too well. 

terrorist.

so yeah, I’m sorry that my actual name is too hard for you to pronounce

and that I even bothered to have a you tube account.

I’m sorry I was born the same year as 9/11

and that I stand out in this conformed disaster of a world.

I apologize for identifying as the same religion as some posers half way across the world.

I’m sorry.

sincerely,

Majdaah