Amal Unbound(43)

Fatima’s eyes watered when I walked over to her. She was my first friend here, the person who gave me a chance before anyone else would.

“When you finish writing your story, will you send it to me?” I asked her. “I want to read it.”

She looked at the ground and didn’t respond.

“We’ll see each other at the market. Hamid’s village is just on the other side from where I live. I’ll find you. We’ll stay in touch,” I promised.

“But it won’t be the same,” she whispered.

“No,” I told her. “It won’t be the same. But maybe it will be better.”

She hugged me. I watched her follow Hamid out the door, out of sight.

I picked up my satchel and felt a tap. Nabila.

“Here.” She pushed a cloth bag toward me. “I packed some snacks for you. Some water. In case you need it for the walk home.”

“Where are you going?” I asked her. “Back home?”

“No. Never. I’m going to live with my cousin Latif’s wife in my old village near Simranwala. She needs all the help she can get.”

“You going back to school?” I asked her.

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged.

“The literacy center is free, Nabila. I really liked it, and it’s not far from where you’ll be. Give it a chance. We might even bump into each other—it’s just around the corner from where I live.”

“Maybe. And you better go back to school. You have to become a teacher. It’s not every day you get a second chance like this.”

“I hope so.” I smiled.

I could hardly believe there was a time she was anything but a friend to me. I leaned over and embraced her.

I pulled my suitcase behind me as dusk settled. A crescent moon was etched into the sky above. Soon stars would glitter overhead. But I didn’t need them to guide me. I knew my way home. I thought about what Nabila had said. Maybe I would be a teacher one day. Or maybe I’d write a book. Or set up schools, like Asif. Or maybe I would do all these things. I knew now that one person could hold many different dreams and see them all come true. And one was coming true right now. I was leaving this estate behind me.

The walk took longer than I thought. I kept expecting someone to come after me. To snatch me away and take me back to the estate. But no one came.

I kept walking. Each step took me closer to my parents, to Seema and Omar and Hafsa. I didn’t look back. I followed the winding path, walking over potholes, some so deep they seemed to crack open into the center of the earth.

I wondered what would happen next.

Would Jawad Sahib be released one day? Would he come searching for me?

I thought not knowing would scare me, but I didn’t feel afraid. Today I was free, and even if I didn’t know what the future held, I knew I was going home.

And right now, in this moment, this was enough.





Author’s Note


In 2012, Malala Yousafzai was on her way home from school in the Swat Valley region of Pakistan when she was shot at point-blank range. Her crime? Malala wanted an education, and she regularly spoke out against people who opposed her right to do so.

When Malala was attacked, people from around the world stopped and paid attention, and when she recovered, they rooted for her as she renewed her quest for an education not just for herself, but for all girls. Malala continues to embody what it means to be a strong girl. She builds schools, advocates against violence, and is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. Children around the world know her story.

Malala is truly brave, but even she acknowledges that she is one of many young people all over the world who fight for what they believe in, who do the right thing even when it is difficult, even when the risks are overwhelming. Most of these people will never get a headline in the newspaper, we will never know who they are, and sadly, most of them will not get the type of happy ending Malala has, but they are still brave and courageous and worthy of respect, whether a spotlight shines on them or not.

Amal is a fictional character, but she represents countless other girls in Pakistan and around the world who take a stand against inequality and fight for justice in often unrecognized but important ways. We don’t have to make headlines to help change the world for the better. Everything we do in our communities and beyond to impart good is important and matters.

The issue of indentured servitude covered in this book is a global problem affecting millions of people, including in the United States. While some experience situations similar to Amal’s, unfortunately, the vast majority suffer much more difficult situations with no end in sight. Amal’s reality is far luckier than most who endure this horrendous practice.

There are brave girls all over the world. They may feel afraid sometimes, like Amal. But doing the right thing despite the risks it may involve is the bravest thing there can be. It is my hope this story shines a light on brave girls everywhere.





Acknowledgments


This book wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my amazing agent, Taylor Martindale Kean. Many thanks to Stefanie Von Borstel and the entire team at Full Circle Literary. Thank you to Nancy Paulsen for understanding the heart of the story I wanted to tell and helping me realize it—I am inordinately blessed. Thank you to Sara LaFleur for all your feedback and insight, as well as a huge thanks to the entire team at Penguin Young Readers: this book wouldn’t have been possible without all of you, and I am grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you to Shezil Malik for a cover that captures the heart of this book.