𝙄'𝙇𝙇 𝘾𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝙔𝙊𝙐 𝙈𝙄𝙉𝙀 - 𝘫𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘺⁸
zara had never known what it meant to have a good life. it might seem dramatic to start this way, but it was the truth. she and her family had once lived peacefully in italy but one day, that peace shattered.
growing up in a religious household, zara held strong beliefs about God and His greatness. yet, she also believed something that set her apart: she was certain that God didn't care about who she kissed. to her, love was love, and all were His children. this belief brought her comfort-until it didn't.
her father couldn't see past his expectations. to him, zara was supposed to be his perfect little girl, an image shattered the moment he found out she was dating a girl. his anger was instinctive, his disgust palpable. in his eyes, zara had become unrecognizable, and it broke something between them. he even said, he didn't want her as his daughter anymore.
her mother's reaction was softer but still heartbreaking. though her mother didn't like it, she couldn't bring herself to cut zara off entirely. zara was still her child-the daughter she had almost died giving birth to. but the cracks in their family's foundation were deep, and they only widened with time.
just when zara thought things might improve, they got more out of control.
her parents sent her to conversion therapy, a nightmare she wouldn't wish on anyone. it was hell-a place designed to crush her identity. and while they managed to smother her feelings for one girl, they couldn't erase the flame she will soon feel for someone else: a tall, egyptian basketball player she played during her fiba years, and who she met in college after she transferred to uconn from usc.
she was scared like hell. she didn't think she will be able to love someone again. but maybe, just maybe jana will be the one to show her how two arms can feel more like home then any house ever did.
