As promised last week, here we are with Sara’s story. Sara, my best friend. It’s a story about friendship, dreams, and holding onto hope, even when things seem tough.

Back in Afghanistan, Sara was more than just a friend to me; she was like my adventure buddy. With her brown eyes and dark brown hair, she was more like a tomboy than a girly girl, and that’s what I liked about her. We lived next door to each other, and she was the only person I really talked to because I’m kinda shy. Sara always pushed me to try new things, like climbing trees or exploring new places after school. She introduced me to her friends; because of her, I made three or four new friends!

We’ve been best friends since we were 4 or 5 years old. We played together almost every day, sharing stories and dreams. I always thought we’d be friends forever, but something big happened. My family had to move away suddenly because of some problems my dad was facing. It was scary and sad, mainly because I didn’t get to say goodbye to Sara properly.

The day we left, I wanted to see Sara one last time. I hoped to have one final adventure, or at least give her a hug and tell her she was the best friend ever. But we had to leave so quickly for my grandparents’ house that I didn’t get the chance. All I could do was leave her a letter, hoping she’d find it and know how much our friendship meant to me.

We moved to my grandparents’ house and, after some time, to America. It was in America that I learned why we had to leave so suddenly. My dad was helping the Americans, and it wasn’t safe for us anymore because the Taliban were after him. It was a lot for me to understand, especially because I just wanted to be back in Afghanistan with my best friend, Sara. But my dad, one day, told us all that we have find new friends here in the US because we will not be able to go back until the Taliban are there.

Life here is different. I miss Sara every day, but we’ve managed to keep in touch, borrowing our moms’ phones to chat on WhatsApp about once a month. The last time we talked, Sara shared something really upsetting. Her family is also going through a tough time, and she’s facing challenges that no kid should ever have to deal with. It made me realize how important it is to cherish our freedom and opportunities, like going to school and dreaming about the future.

I’ve told my new friends here about Sara. They were shocked to hear what girls in Afghanistan have to go through. It’s made me appreciate how lucky we are and how important it is to support each other, no matter where we are in the world. I hope that by sharing Sara’s story, we can all remember to be grateful for what we have and help others whenever possible. I told my classmates that Sara has only one choice to stay alive and fulfill her dream of becoming a female civil engineer, and that choice is to pick what her father has picked for her.

A member of the Taliban regime who is a distant relative of Sara’s mother wants to force marry Sara. Her father, knowing that the Taliban member is a savage and will keep Sara as an enslaved person and will kill her dream of becoming a female civil engineer forever, wants her to marry one of his relatives, who is a college graduate and has worked with Americans. He hopes that the man will one day take her daughter to America and allow her to fulfill her dreams. He will let her go to school, and after becoming an engineer, she will be free to work. He only wants her 11-year-old daughter to marry a 33-year-old man because of that hope.

I tell my friends at school that even though things are tough for Sara, I believe in the power of dreams and hope that Sara can overcome this challenge. Sara has always been brave, and I know she’ll find a way to keep chasing her dreams, no matter what. And I’ll be here, cheering her on and holding onto the hope that someday we’ll see each other again.

I want to be a voice for kids like Sara, to show that even when things seem really bad, there’s always a way to make a difference. I’ve learned so much from being her friend and want to share that with the world. Maybe, just maybe, we can all help make the world a better place, one small act of kindness at a time.

Thank you for reading my story. Remember, no matter how big or small you are, you can make a big difference in someone’s life. Let’s all hold onto our dreams and never stop hoping for a better tomorrow.

Aqsa Rahmani