Sonder: Youth Mental Health Stories of Struggle & Strength | Page 75

Bus Ride
By Asha Hassan
I’m the only girl on the bus that looks different.
I wonder what’s wrong with me ?
Is there something wrong with me?
I ask those question to myself.
We get asked...
Why do you  dress differently?
Aren’t you hot?
Why are you wearing those clothes?
Long dress…
hijab...
Isn’t it too heavy for you ?
Don’t you feel it is too big for you ?
It is summer, what kind clothes are you wearing ?
They say rudely
This is summer not winter.
Friends...
You have beautiful hair.
Why do you have to cover it ?
They tell me to take off my hijab.
I’d like to ask...
Why is my hijab your problem?
Empower
If a women has the right to show off what she has, then she certainly has the right to
cover it up too.
...But they don’t know what a hijab means to me.
Hijab is what I  choose to wear.
wearing a hijab is not rare.
It is all over the world, so judging us does not seem fair.
I could teach you what it means to me and then maybe you would care.
Eating Disorders & Identity  73