Where Do You Go When There's Nowhere Left?

It’s meant to be the happiest day in a girl’s life when she finds her prince charming. The one she falls in love with, marries and has the perfect life. But what if you never had that chance? In South Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and East Asia 90% of the marriages are arranged, and 60% of all marriages in the world are arranged. Yes, that’s right. Teens and even pre-teens are forced into a union where they either are too young to understand or too depressed to think of the consequences. These girls will get married to their cousin, or their uncle or maybe some strange man 90 miles away from them. Some may call...

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Have You Ever Felt So Afraid And Alone, Even In A Crowded Room?

How would it feel to be a 12 year old girl, watching all the other little boys and girls rush toschool, knowing that you’ll never have the opportunity to be as worry-free andhappy as them? Today is your wedding day. It’s time to get ready. Everyone youloved is suddenly far away, remote, distant; you no longer understand whatthey’re talking about and they’ve suddenly stopped listening to you. Keep yourclothes clean; straighten your back, don’t slouch. Make sure you smile, butdon’t smile with your teeth. Keep your eyes natural; do not blankly stare atanyone. Pretend you’re happy. They’re going to tell you what you’ll wear,...

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And That Single Moment Was Mine.

Samiha Julakha.  That is the name written on my precious little birth certificate. However, I have many more names than it appears, but I'll just give you a little insight on SAMIHA JULAKHA. Two beautifully constructed complications. Yes, that is MY name. For a good whole half of my life, I hated my name. Why? Well almost no one could spell it, say it, or even try to pronounce it. I always wanted something that was simple but unique. A name like Samina or  Mirah. But no, I was given the name Samiha Julakha, pronounced saa-me-hah  joo-lake-ah. It's such a bother to have such a name. I'm the girl who screams...

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Forget The Judgments, And Set Yourself Aside.

Sentence Limitation  “Have you ever wondered to yourself why it is that all people like me seem to have learned from you is how to imprison and murder each other, how to govern badly, and how to take the wealth of our country and place it in Swiss bank accounts? Have you ever wondered why it is that all we seem to have learned from you is how to corrupt our societies and how to be tyrants? You will have to accept that this is mostly your fault. Let me just show you how you looked at us. You came. You took things that were not yours, and you did not even, for appearances' sake, ask first. You could have said, "May I...

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Lets Step Into Imperfections... Ready, Set, Go.

Culture:  A woman can do just as much as a man can, there's no reason to restrict her from the world.  Save the dried fish for the motherland, the entire neighborhood can smell it. It isn't the most pleasant smell either.  Marriage can wait, let me at least finish school first! I'm too young for that bro.  can we not judge a person as soon as we get one look at them? maybe they're not as bad as you're saying they are. Gossip circles. let's just back away slowly from that one, shall we? Just because i dont wear traditional dresses doesn't mean i'm not proud of my culture; nor does it mean that i'm completely...

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