Guarding My Faith

one

"Are you for real? Did you really convert to Islam?"

"On the first day you came in with it, I thought it was some sort of prank!"

I shrug and start to walk ahead without my friends. They have to run to keep up with me as I walk. "Are you going somewhere?" Kim chirps from behind.

"Yes. I'm late for my prayer."

"Prayer? Just skip it. Let's just go get coffee," Hannah says as she locks her arm with mine. I pull my arm back and shake my head. 

"No way! I can't miss my prayer."

And I leave them standing there so I can pray my Zuhr salat. At the same time, I wanted to get away from them. I've been converted to Islam for the past two months and they still think its a joke.

When I enter the mosque, I notice there's a new girl praying in the corner. Before I have the chance to talk to her, the imam starts the adhan and we all begin praying at the same time.

Finished praying, I glance over to my side and notice that the girl who was there is nowhere to be seen now.

Where did she go?

I quickly slip on my shoes and run out the door. In the mosque that I go to, only women and ladies with babies go to pray. I've never seen a girl the same age as me pray there. 

I notice her walking towards our school and that's when I wonder if she attends the same school. She's also wearing a full-length abaya and a dark blue hijab. I can spot her easily through the crowd, even though she's short. 

"Excuse me!" I call. She stops abruptly and turns around to face me, a small smile fitting onto her lips.

"Yes?"

"Are you new? It's just because I never saw you here before-"

"Oh, then nice to meet you. I'm sorry but I can't talk right now... "

She speaks quickly and leaves me there. I watch her tiny body vanish through the crowds of the students as she enters the school building. I smile at the thought of us becoming friends. Well, if we do become friends.

Speaking of friends...

"Are you done praying?" Hannah asks. I nod and she links her arm with mine as well as Kim's.

"Let's go see Caleb," Kim teases while wiggling her eyebrows. "Your unrequited love." She sighs and dramatically places a hand over her heart as she bats her eyelashes towards Hannah. She blushes and bites her lip nervously. I roll my eyes and softly push myself away from their holds. They stare at me as if I'm crazy.

"Could we not talk about boys for once?" Kim narrows her eyes and stretches her neck so she's towering over me.

"Then, you can go along your way and leave us alone," Hannah says, linking her arms back with Kim.

I scoff and roll my eyes. "I certainly wasn't the one who came up to you guys... wasn't it the other way around?" I narrow my eyes at both of them. "Well, seems like you wouldn't know."

I leave them with their mouths wide open.

It's not like before. Before, I had a boyfriend and a wonderful family... but I will do whatever in order to find the truth. And I have a feeling... that it's literally right around the corner.

I walk back inside the school building to finish the rest of my classes.

As I'm walking out of the school building for the second time that day, I notice Dad's car parked on the side. I glance at him, then my dressing, and then him again.