They gave me to someone who could not read or write … it would be better if you buried me alive
I was the top student in my university class but when the Taliban took Afghanistan again I was forced to marry and my dreams of being a pilot ended
TL;DR
- The author was the top student in her university class, aiming to become a pilot.
- The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan ended her university education and dreams.
- She was forced into marriage with an uneducated man under Taliban decree.
- Attempting to travel to Iran for education, she was imprisoned by the Taliban for traveling without a male escort.
- Inside the prison, she witnessed extreme suffering, including suicides and financial exploitation by the Taliban.
- After release, she faced homelessness and poverty with her husband and child.
- She learned to bake sweets and attempted to start a business, but faced financial barriers due to Taliban-controlled support systems.
- Despite these challenges, she remains hopeful and determined to achieve her dream of opening a coffee shop.