Letters to God

I eat my vegetables. I do my homework. I even brush my teeth before going to bed. I do what I’m told. Then why, God?

Humdah Tahir April 17, 2013
The box was placed between old grimy paperbacks. It had been there for a long time. She could tell by the layers of dust that enveloped it, obscuring it. She removed it from the iron shelves and opened it while her heart slammed painfully against her ribs.

It had been a home for her letters, the ones she had written a decade ago.

The envelopes sealed by glue had been opened-mother had read them.

She didn’t care.

She picked up the first one and went through it.









She finished. The tear stained page now dampened by fresh tears. Maybe taking a trip down memory lane wasn’t the brightest of ideas, she thought as she remembered that fateful night when her father came back with his ‘friend’, now his other wife, and asked Aminah to call her ‘mama’ too.

The pain never did go away after that day.

Missed birthdays and preferential treatment for his other children became a norm.

Angry tears blurred her vision as she remembered the death of her mother from internal bleeding after a severe beating from her father.

Life just sent her misery after misery.

She took the letters and burned them one by one wishing she could set the memories that haunted her to fire too…

Read more by Humdah here, or follow her on Twitter @pforpariah
WRITTEN BY:
Humdah Tahir An FSc student, being forced to become a doctor. She tweets @pforpariah
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (36)

Anon | 10 years ago | Reply The pictures aren't showing up. Fix it please!
Another anon | 10 years ago | Reply I don't understand anything. What is everyone talking about? What ten-year old? What drawings? And what barbies?
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ