In high school life, when a new student comes, the other students either become friends with the new student or they try to bully the new student.

I sat outside next to the door of the class and cried. “Are you OK?” a sweet and gentle voice asked.

Days passed, Eid came and went, and classes resumed. I was back in my class with Nafesa and we waited for the boy to arrive so we could start work. But he did not come. Instead, a very handsome young man came into the class with an instructor.

I am my father’s daughter. As I stood in the mud I remembered the things he taught us about swimming, mountain hiking and tree climbing. I knew I could get my feet out of the pond.

We looked at each other until one of them said “Come.” I followed them and we went under a tree, over a river and into the forest until we arrived at a big black pond.

When I reached the prayer platform, the curtain was pulled and every girl was putting on her white clothes for prayers. Then they stood in a line, every single girl in white. Except me, I was in the front row wearing red.