Mr Joshua Young Visits

I have written and told much about my life while being trafficked and trying to recover from the amnesia and PTSD. I sometimes couldn’t believe it or wasn’t even sure if it was true. I talk and think about myself as a rather average person. I often forget just how different I actually am until someone points it out or they fall asleep from boredom.

I do my best to walk the righteous path as do many others. I respect all of God’s creation, not just a select few. It’s earned me the respect of various groups and the hatred of few. It’s why I don’t hide nor walk with fear. I don’t hide my patriotism nor support of our service member family. I don’t hide the fact that I have ghost colored skin. I don’t hide my ancestry. I don’t hide my Islamic faith. I don’t hide my Queerness. I don’t hide my disability. I don’t hide the abuses I suffered. I don’t hide my trafficking.

I had the distinct honor of having my first visitor Tuesday evening. I met Joshua Young at Lifehouse, the homeless shelter. He has had a rough life in a rough family. He was regularly intoxicated when I would see him. It was hard to trust him fully because of it. I was never afraid of him nor his solid, tall frame that can crush a pistachio into powder~.

He has code in his heart which he has proved to me in word and deed. I don’t fear anyone who respects code. They don’t knowingly harm innocents like me. I am perfectly safe with him because of it.

When I saw him recently, I offered him a meal and conversation. It took him a few attempts before he accepted. I reminded him of who we are. We are family. My house is your house. Just don’t disrespect me nor it. Code.

We shared a simple yet delicious meal of kielbasa and baked potatoes with cheese. Dessert was riz bi haleeb, rice pudding scented with rose and orange blossom water. We then baked bread and bagels while talking about our lives, ancestral lands, military service and God.

While we are nothing alike in many regards, we are humans who have respect because we give it freely. It’s the basic guiding principle of humanity and any just society. I will turn a bitch in if they harm others though because

Every life matters, especially yours.

God bless Nebraska and especially Her people.