The way you saw me...
But I grew into it. It was easy to be strong when fair winds were blowing. The confidence, the career, moving on from mistakes - I started believing in my strength.
But little did I know that it was all building up to a moment when I would truly be tested. But did you know all along Pappa?
If you had raised a soft and sweet daughter who had to be shielded, who needed a knight to protect her, then today I wouldn't be here would I? You raised me to stand up and face down a bully, to call out a liar, to tell my heart to stop being such a baby… To woman up!! To always, always prioritize my self-respect. To never compromise on dignity, on agency. The world told you not to instill so much pride in a girl, they would rather see a broken girl. But you raised a girl who could break the ties that were breaking her, and walk away and never look back.
How did you know that was what I would need to do in my life? That I would need to be so much stronger than just an educated girl, who worked, who drove, had opinions, traveled alone. Psshhhtt, you didn’t raise me for just that. You raised me to not tolerate bullshit - that’s what you were teaching me all along.
And because of you Pappa, and because of Mummy who is the living example of the strong woman you wanted to see in me - I was able to stand up for myself at a defining moment of my life, and use my brain and intellect and logic instead of all the weak feelings that wanted to overwhelm me.
Because of you, I have everything. Everything you wanted me to have. Thank you for everyday that you taught me to not settle for less than everything I deserve.
It’s been just over a year that you left this world Pappa, and I miss you but I am out here living like the queen you raised me to be.
May Allah reward you for being the father I needed, and increase you with every passing moment in my life.
