Kabul, Afghanistan

Faggot was written all over my locker for everyone to laugh at. I'm not surprised though. Faggot is the only word Darwesh, the school bully, knows. It doesn't get to me as much as it did the first time. I just brush it off and go on about my day.

" Hey fag!" Darwesh chuckled pushing through the crowd of people surrounding my locker. His grin making me sick." Did you like my present?"
I paid him no attention as I grabbed my books for my last period. Darwesh has always bullied me for being gay. Ever since I came out in the 6th grade. All he's done is make my life a living hell.

" All right that's enough!" My best friend, Ubaidan , yelled. She made her way through the crowd, pushing people out the way. " I'm pretty sure half of the boys in this crowd likes the comfort of men!" She continued. Everyone was silent. The bell rang and everyone hurried to their last period.

" Thanks Ubaidan. It's like they haven't seen the word faggot before." I said making my way to my last block. " No problem. It's what a best friend does."She stated proudly. Darwesh and his gang bumped us as if we weren't there.

"They're such jerks." Ubaidan growled. "One day karma'll catch up to them"

"Call me when that happens." I chuckled giving her a hug before I entered my class. Ubaidan has always had my back. And I always had hers. We've be friends since kindergarten. Ever since someone took her animal crackers and hid them in my book bag we've been close. She's helped me through so much over the years. She's been there for me in the worst of times. Especially when my mom died few years ago. It took a huge toll on me and dad. But we got through it.

Time flew by and the bell rand for the end of the day. I jumped out of my seat, turned in my class work and bolted for the door. I couldn't wait to get out of class and go home. I was beat. After an hour of algebra I could barely think. I needed time to relax.

"Aalem wait up!" Ubaidan yelled through the roar of the crowd. She ran down the hall way to catch up to me.

"I'll walk you home." She said breathless.

"Don't you have to get home before a certain time?" I asked. "You do remember my house is across town, right?"

"Yeah but my dad needs me to some rice for dinner and your house is on the way." She replied. I shrugged my shoulders and started my way to the exit.

"Hey are you still coming to my birthday dinner?" Ubaidan asked.

"Of course! Why would I not be there." I forgot all about her birthday dinner. She only mentioned it once before and that was a month ago. I didn't even know when it was. But of course as the good friend I am I pretend I remember.

"Ok good. Don't forget it's at seven. OK?"I nodded as we crossed the street. Hydra soldiers were up ahead circling around an old man. The old man's wife was crying.

"Stop! Please don't hurt him" She cried out. They didn't listen. They hand cuffed the old man and shoved him into the back of their truck.

"Looks like someone didn't pay up." Ubaidan mumbled to me. Hydra has this big top secret experiment going on and needed money. They would go around at any time taking money from us. No one tries to stop them after what they did to the last few people who did. Hydra basically runs Kabul. They control everything we do. What we watch, when we sleep, and where we can go. And that's not all.

"Take him!" The soldier yelled. He jumped into the truck and took off. The wife fell to her knees and cried in front of everyone. There was no telling what Hydra was going to do to the old man. Who knows what she's thinking right now.

"Are... are you okay?" Ubaidan asked as we approached the old woman. She didn't answer. She continued to cry. Head stuff in between her cuffed hands. Ubaidan looked at me like I knew what to do. But I didn't. Who could possibly know what to do in a time like this?

"Umm... uh... " I started confused on what to say. "If it helps I heard they kill their prisoners quickly." I instantly regretted saying that. Ubaidan elbowed me in the gut.

"Nice going." She growled as she helped the old woman up. " I'll walk her to her car once she calms down. K?I'll see you tomorrow." I watched as she walked away, trying to comfort the old lady. I waved feeling like a complete idiot.