I don't think I will survive

But I know that I will have to try

Because I'm a warrior and a fighter

I will not surrender just to please

My enimies because they can't tell me what to be

I am free

No! That doesn't sound right! Right now, I was flopped on my bed and writing a poem for English class It was now the weekend. Mr Sullivan, the supply teacher for Mrs Moore gave us homework. And nobody liked Mr Sullivan. And I mean NOBODY. After I gave up on English, I headed downstairs. I saw May sitting down on the couch. I went and hugged her. She groaned. "Mariam it's not that big a deal! Now get off of me." She tokd me, joking. I smirked. I threw a pillow on her. "Hey! Anyway how was school and...YOUR CRUSHHH?!" She teased. How did she find out?! "Shhhh! Lower your voice May! If this spreads- Oh my God I hate you! And who tokd you anyway?!" I turned around the room and looked at Mohamed in the kitchen. He smiled a cheeky smile at us. I pinched May's cheek then went to Mohamed and did the same thing. "Ow! What was that for?" He asked. "What do you think?! I hate you dork." I told him. I gave him a hug. I was happy that May was now out of the hospital and now here, at home with us. What an amazing morning, so far.

At the breakfast table, everybody was talking to May about how she was except Baba and I so I decided to stir up a little conversation with him. Who knows, it might bubble him up a little. "Alsalamualakum Baba. How are you and how is work?" He immedietly jolted his head up from playing with his food. "Good, good Alhamdullallah. How are you Habibti? And how is school?" I remembered how tough school was getting. Being the new kid, not understanding some of the homework and material they're giving me, friends and even- even Kareem. Baba interupted my thoughts. "Are you ok Marioma?" He asked me. Marioma is the nickname Baba has always had for me. We had this special bond together and I loved it. Between you and I, I think I'm his fave!!! "Yes Baba. Everything is great actually. I aced my science exam actually." Now I didn't lie about that. I really aced it. Science is my favorite subject. It's Baba's favorite subject too that's why he always helped me study for it. Just then, everybody's attention snapped to Mama, as she was about to say something. "Habibani, 'My dears in Arabic' Baba and I have decided that we all want to go to Sudan and Egypt for vacation. We want to go to Egypt first and then Sudan. And the big surprise is- We're also going back to the UAE for vacation too!" Everybody laughed and cheered. I was super excited! "When are we going Mommy?" Tala asked. "Soon baby. Inshallah in three days." Mama answered. "In three days Mama?! That's like- Oh my God why didn't you tell us earlier then?" Mohamed asked. Everybody laughed at Mohamed's comment.

Is it her looks or is it her eyes

They're shining through the night

She's a queen and hopefully mine one day and she'll stay

It's like they say it's love at first sight

And I know that's she's just right

and I will fight for her heart in return for

Her love

I don't know why. Why I was so bad to Mariam. I've liked her ever since my sister told me about her. Even before I saw her because of her personality and because of her beauty on the inside. And when I saw her in person- I was going to get paralized from her beauty. I think she liked me too but I highly doubt that now because of what I said and did. I want to just rip my poetry homework up in a million pieces because it was about her. Anything and everything that had to do with her hating me. Including Kareema. My own sister. She threatened me and said that if I didn't make everyone in school hate her and turn her into the popular girl then she would spread to the whole school including Mariam that I liked her. I mean, what else was I supposed to do? I didn't want to profess my love to her. I don't even like her though. I love her. And I won't let anyone have her. She's mine. Just then I heard a knock on my door. knock knock knock! "Come in." I told whoever was there. And if it was Kareema- It was her. "Hey Kareem. Can you do me a-" "If it has to do with Mariam, I'm out!! I'm sick of you and your hating self telling me what to do ok?! She's you're BFF. You know what BFF stands for? Best Friend Forever. But you don't deserve her Kareema. You're a witch. A WITCH Kareema. Get out. Please get out now and leave me ALONE." I interupted her. Wow I never got the nerve to stand up to my little sister like that. Ever. But now was the time I did. I wasn't going to live my life getting oppressed by her. I love Mariam and there's nothing she could do about it. Just then Kareema started fumming up. "I hate you Kareem!" She stormed out of my room, slamming the door behind her. Let her hate me if she wants. She's the one that's wrong. I decided to take a break from my work and went on my phone. I opened Instagram up and tapped on Kareema's account. I knew she followed Mariam so I scrolled through Kareema's following list. After a long journey through Kareema's following list, I couldn't find Mariam's name so I figured I'd go on Kareema's following list. After a while, I found Mariam's username which was . I clicked on her profile picture. It was a beautiful dark skinned girl, a bit of my complection. She was wearing a beautiful yellow hijab and a yellow dressed. She looks pretty cute my inner voice told me. I had to text her and tell her that Kareema made all this up. But without Kareema knowing though. If Kareema knew, she'd burry me alive (Just an expression)! I pressed the DM button and started typing.

Mariomaaa

Me: Hey Mariam

Me: Its me, Kareem

Me: Look Igt tell u smt...RN!!!

Me: Kareema set me up I swear.

Me: She threatened 2 tell z whole school a secret of mine if i didn't make her more popular dan u.

Me: But u CANT tell her I told u!

Who was I kidding. She'll just think I'm lying. I love Mariam. With all my heart. But I can't just tell her.