The young Pakistani girl
was trepiditiously excited. She
was becoming a woman! Her
body was changing, developing
curves and breasts and fuzziness
in areas that had never occupied
her mind as a child.

She wondered what came next,
often thought on love, and the strange
thrill of boys. She daydreamed about
marriage and babies, and hope
of a future, of a structured life
without the strictures of her own family’s
rigid, unforgiving standards. After all,
the world was changing, wasn’t it?
Didn’t she have a chance for happiness?
Of personal fulfillment?

It was time to walk to the market. She
kept her eyes downcast, until, she
heard a laughing voice, which sent
warmth shooting through her core.
She could hardly breath! She felt
like she was floating, and couldn’t help
herself, she had to look! She flicked
her eyes upward, and saw his face!
Couldn’t tear her gaze away from the
youth’s handsome features, felt a glow
start inside. Then, with alarm, she quickly
looked down. Didn’t dare look around.
But, she smiled to herself, as her family
finished its tasks.

Back home, she rushed to her room,
to remember the meeting of eyes
she had just experienced. She felt
afire with delight, and wondered
when she would see the boy again.

She heard her name called, skipped
out of her room happily, and screamed
in horrible pain as her brother threw acid
into her face, for dishonoring the family’s name,
because, she had looked at a boy.

Erin Elizabeth Kelly-Moen
© Copyright 8/5/05