I want my freedom!

Today was special as from today she would no longer be treated as a young one, that’s what she always wanted to be treated the same as her brothers. But she was scared, it was the first time she would go somewhere all by herself.

Amina came into this strange city when she was 4 years old. She was told by everyone that she was a girl and girls weren’t allowed to move by themselves in a big city. As her thoughts wandered in the open chambers of mind she heard someone calling her name softly. She turned her back towards the whisper that had called her. It was her Ammo, her weak and feeble mother. Ammo was thin and her face showed some signs of aging, her hairs had turned silver in some areas and the scalp peeked out from underneath.

Amina had always admired Ammo’s beauty. She had married amina’s father when they both were very young and carefree. All her beauty smoked up in the kitchen where every women of the village was chained to labor, working with their hearts to spin the wheel of life. This was the ritual of their native land where Amina was born.

“Are you ready to go my dear?” said ammo in her quiet voice. Without a word Amina stood up and took a deep look at her lovely mother. Ammo’s eyes were showing signs of distress; it looked as she had a sleepless night. Who would like to throw her beloved child to face the reality of the world when they their age was to capture butterflies and gain wisdom and knowledge.

Not giving it second thought ammo walked past Amina towards the dark stairs that led to the entrance of the apartment they lived in. Amina made her way to the lightly lighted staircase; the sun rays started poring through the windows and showed signs of filthy trash lying on the steps, awful smell rose from everywhere she turned her face.

When she stepped out on the mulberry road a drop of water touched her white skin, it was drizzling. She found ammo waiting for her at the entrance; ammo grabbed her hand tightly and started walking towards the west. The place where she was taken was the last place on earth she wanted to be. She had heard horrible rumors of it from the neighbors.

Ammo was walking as fast as her legs could carry her. She knew Solomon was an angry man. Checking her watch she took a deep breath, only 2 minutes to 8 o’clock. “Run fast my dear child, we don’t want to be late on our first day”.  Through the busy road and occupied public Amina and Ammo made their way to their destiny, the dress shop.

“We are here my dear” said Ammo and without another breath she started to climb up the stairs. If you had been there, you could smell the awful air the building was covered in. Amina tried to hold her breath but it wasn’t worth it. The air was full of the smell of leather plus the smell from the workers.

As they walked in the room at the second floor Ammo went straight to the women with the no neck. Taking deep breaths “Mrs. Solomon we are here” Ammo said.