CANVAS Untitled 03

Hi, My name is Iqra memon

I fluttered my eyes open to find myself in the depths of the ocean. I gasped as I gazed at a shark heading straight for me. The fear petrified me as the distance between us shrank.

The shark banged into something a mere inch from me. It tried again but only ended up mushing its ugly face. I touched the surface to find a thin glass barrier separating us.

I sagged in relief but not for long. It called out to its herd. And they all started to plough into the glass.

I looked around for a way out. It was only a matter of time before the glass gave away. I was terrified. And then I finally found a small piece of paper with a pill tucked into a corner.

I held the paper and it read, ‘Eat this and you won’t have to fear anymore. You will be just like them’.

I looked at the tiny yellow pill that held the power to save my life. I asked myself, do I really want to be like them? Do I want to bring this fear for life to others? Do I want to be a predator, or would I rather stay a prey?

Don't they always say that if you can't beat them, join them?

And yet, against all odds, I chose to be prey. I didn’t like predators. I didn’t like violence or killing. I didn’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t want that kind of power so I let the only cure slip through my fingers.

Eventually, the glass splintered. And they lunged for me with a smug look. I just turned around and swam. They caught me multiple times. They bit me, but I never stopped swimming.

Sometimes I would find a corner to mend myself, but they would always sniff me out. We played this game of chase for an endless eternity. I was bruised, isolated and exhausted. But I had to keep going.

I had made the choice of facing the sharks instead of becoming one. And now I had to live with it.

But then one day, I finally found a way to bait them. I told them that I knew of a place that held the power to strengthen them. But it doesn’t allow sharks. So, if they let me go, I will fetch it for them. They fell for it. They let me go.

Meanwhile, I kept swimming. I crossed oceans to get away from them. Maybe someday they will catch me and kill me for lying. Or maybe I will just die from exhaustion. Or perhaps I will find a safe shore before that.

Either way, I know one thing, I will never give in and stop fighting. Or choose to be like them.

I was born in a violent, abusive household. My family was like a school of sharks making me quiver with fear, but they didn’t hit me until I was five years old, when the glass finally gave away.

Since then, all they have ever done is abuse me. And all I have ever done is survive. Until one day I decided to use their excuse of public image against them.

And now I live thousands of miles away from them, but I don’t know for how long I will be alive.

I only know one thing, until the very last breath in my body leaves me, I will keep fighting. And maybe one day, I will be finally free.