Rain, Sockless Vans, and Nawaal's Joy

Her eyes are so blue. So blue and clear, like the sky on a sunny day, when you could see a thousand miles away.

She wears a hijab, a simple black one with tiny flowers embroidered around her head. The design is beautiful, especially now that I've seen her up close. It makes me want to touch it, to see if it feels as soft as it looks. But, of course, I don't dare.

She's sitting next to me in this little corner of the Bazaar. I've never noticed her before. She lives here, in the Bazaar. She's part of the scenery, nothing more than that. Nothing special at all. Just another face in the crowd. And yet...

And yet she caught my eye today. When I was skating by, on my way to some part of town I don't even remember anymore because I stopped caring about the outside world a long time ago. There are too many people out there who'd rather see me dead than alive for me to care about what they think of me any more. It's better if I stay here, where no-one can get at me but where I'm still free to be myself and do what I want when I want. At least until someone finds out about my secret and decides that they want it for themselves instead. Then it'll be time to move on again and start over somewhere else, most likely.

I saw her through the crowds. She looked so different from everyone else around her. Her clothes were plainer, her hair was covered up and she was so quiet... so very quiet and still compared to those around her who spoke loudly or shouted or laughed or sang or danced or argued or fought or kissed each other or cried... anything but just sat quietly like she did! And she didn't look sad or angry either; she just looked peaceful somehow... lost in thought perhaps? You'd never know it though because there wasn't a single thing on her face that would give you any clue as to what she was thinking about! Other people let it show on their faces if they're happy or sad or angry or whatever else they might be feeling at any moment and in their eyes too - which is especially true for girls like Nawaal who wear make-up - but not this girl! Damnit! Why does she have to be different? Why does she have to look so goddamn beautiful?!

My skateboard rolled to a halt right in front of her and I stopped too, raising my gaze from the floor - where it had been all along since my feet first touched down on the ground - until we were looking at each other straight in the eye! We stared at each other for a few seconds before Nawaal turned away with a blush staining her cheeks red like roses blooming underneath all that black cloth!

"Hello." My voice sounded strange even in my own ears; shy and nervous and full of surprise all at once! What the hell am I doing?! Hasn't anyone ever told me not to talk to strangers!? Well, yeah, sure someone has but does that mean I have to listen? No-one's gonna hold me down against my will, are they? No-one's gonna beat me up just for talking to someone new who seems interesting enough? Not if I can help it!

The girl with the hijab turned back towards me again quickly - almost too quickly - as if she couldn't quite believe what she had heard herself say!

Nawaal blushed again but this time her eyes met mine without hesitation and without shame as well; as if she was determined not to run away again without giving us both one last chance! Maybe that's exactly what it was? Maybe... maybe Nawaal knows something that no-one else has realised before: that life would be better if we tried talking to those people we usually avoid whenever possible!? And maybe... just maybe... maybe Nawaal is willing to demonstrate that fact by taking a chance herself!?

"Yes?" Her voice was soft and low but carried more strength inside than all those loud voices rang together! More confidence too! If only everyone could speak like this girl does when she opens her mouth then maybe we wouldn't have so many problems these days after all!! "Who are you?"