Dear Friend of the Soul,
Perpetual violence destroys its victims,
it shows no mercy.
Those who have been inflicted —
I can see it in their eyes, their ways of being.
They journey through life carrying hidden shadows,
They are limited to half-selves, half-lives
***
But it never fails to amaze me, to astound me
For what has been inflicted upon them,
for what they have been exposed to as children —
their hearts can be so soft, so kind,
so astonishingly pure.
How?
***
I hate him more than I have ever hated anyone.
The world is unkind,
It is cruel and it is unjust
A home is by definition meant to protect.
***
Domestic violence taints a life for eternity
It leaves black gaping holes upon innocents
Upon families, generations
***
Touching lives with you — in such close proximity,
I feel utterly stuck,
hopeless.
How to be brave? How to continue in my excruciating silence?
How to tell you, it will be okay?
Will it be okay?
***
Watching you,
Rips me apart
It is trial I cannot fathom you are experiencing, living.
Yet you still smile?
and the world buys it.
***
I am in disbelief, I am terrified,
I am infuriated, I am in shame.
When I see your beautiful innocence
Every fibre in my body is set on fire
I am shattered —
For a split moment I am seething with an emotion I cannot explain
And then it is gone —
Back into survival mode
It is extinguished,
Into this dark blur of numbness
Because I am helpless
I am nothing, I can do nothing
I am immobilised
I am nothing but another ghost who was walked onwards
And I hate it.
***
To wield negative emotions
To direct trauma into art, energy, power
Is beyond what is called might.
It is more than greatness.
One day you will rise from the shadows.
And baby you will be stronger than you would have ever imagined.
I will be there to stand with you,
hand in hand, together we will rise.
I promise you.
***
Healing is slow and it is hard,
the heart is tender and it is weak
some days will be worse than others,
but you will survive, you will heal.
I promise you.
***
You are a warrior. You are a survivor.
Your scars are more beautiful than you would ever know —
the world may never see them,
but I will always admire them in my solemn silence
I will never forget your story,
I promise you.
***
Allah will give you the victory you deserve.
Allah is Al-Adl, the most Just
Do not doubt it, never forget it.
I know it is hard, but please — never let go of the truth
Our Lords promise is always true,
I promise you.
***
Hold on,
stay strong
and never let go of your faith.
If Allah is on your side, you can never lose.
I promise you.
***
The wait is almost over.
I promise you.
