Imane khelif

Iman's Unexpected Encounter

The next morning, Iman walked into her classroom, her head held high despite the whispers and pointed glances from her female classmates. As she took her seat, Fatima's loud voice cut through the chatter.

"Well, if it isn't our little tomboy," Fatima sneered. "Did you remember to wash the dirt off your face, or did you just roll out of the garbage dump?"

The other girls laughed cruelly. Iman felt her face burn with anger and embarrassment.

"Shut up, Fatima," she muttered, trying to focus on her textbook.

Oh, did I hurt the little boy's feelings?" Fatima taunted, her voice dripping with mock concern. "Maybe you should go cry to your football buddies. Oh wait, they probably don't want a dirty, ugly girl like you around either."

Something snapped inside Iman. She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "Say that again," she growled, her fists clenched at her sides.

Fatima circled Iman's desk, her eyes gleaming with malice. Oh, and let's not forget those clothes," Fatima continued, her voice dripping with disgust. "Do you shop in the boys' section, or do you just pick whatever looks the most hideous? I mean, I know you're trying to be a boy, but this is just pathetic.

Something snapped inside Iman. She stood up so quickly her chair toppled over with a loud crash. "Shut your mouth, Fatima," she growled, her voice low and dangerous

Fatima's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. "Or what? You'll hit me like the dirty little street rat you are?"

With a roar of rage, Iman lunged at Fatima. Her fist connected with Fatima's face, and she felt a satisfying crunch under her knuckles. Fatima screamed, blood gushing from her nose. But Iman didn't stop. She tackled Fatima to the ground, hitting and scratching in a blind fury.

IMAN KHELIF!" Ms. Benali's voice thundered through the classroom. Strong hands pulled Iman off Fatima, but she was still struggling, trying to break free.

"Have you lost your mind?" Ms. Benali shouted, her face purple with rage. "This is absolutely unacceptable! You're coming with me to the principal's office right now!"

As Ms. Benali dragged her towards the door, Iman caught sight of Fatima's bloody, terrified face. For a moment, she felt a twinge of shame, quickly buried under a wave of fierce satisfaction.

In the hallway, Ms. Benali gripped Iman's arm tightly. "I have never seen such disgraceful, animalistic behavior in all my years of teaching," she hissed. "You're going to be expelled for this, mark my words. And your parents—"

At the mention of her parents, panic flared in Iman's chest. In one quick movement, she wrenched her arm free from Ms. Benali's grasp and took off running.

"Iman! Come back here this instant!" Ms. Benali's shouts echoed behind her, but Iman didn't stop.

She ran through the hallways, her heart pounding in her ears. She burst through the school gates, not knowing where she was going, just knowing she had to get away.

Iman ran until her lungs burned and her legs felt like jelly. She found herself at the edge of town, near the small lake where she sometimes came to think. Collapsing on the grassy bank, she finally let the tears come.

As the adrenaline faded, the full weight of what she'd done crashed down on her. She'd attacked Fatima, running away from school. What would her parents say? Her father, who always believed in her? Her mother, who is already worried about her behavior?
Iman sat by the lake, her knees drawn up to her chest, tears streaming down her face. She was so lost in her misery that she didn't hear the footsteps approaching until a shadow fell over her.