Sabar

This fandom has given me a LOT. Most of it entertainment by reading and watching some amazing stories. But, MLP:FiM and fimfic also did more. It affirmed that I am not the only person in the world who cares for other people. It gives me strength to write what I must. The following is not how I planned my first blog but I NEED to get it out.

Some years back my husband made a new friend. That new friend called himself "Sam" and worked at the local convenience store down the block. Sam was so sweet. He always had the best smile and kindest words. He also immigrated to U.S. from Pakistan. Over time we grew to know him better; we discovered he had a beautiful wife and adorable daughter still in Pakistan that he was working to bring here. So, I do what any self-respecting pegasister would do, I loaded that baby girl down with as much pony as I could. I wanted to show her that Friendship is Magic. 26 August, 2016 Sam was able to welcome his wife and now 4-year-old daughter to his new home. We were so excited to meet them, planning a huge dinner at our house. Who cares if they don't speak English, friendship needs no words.

17 September, 2016 at 7:45 a.m. a young man named Samuel Myers walked into the store Sam worked at. He pulled a gun, demanded the cash from the till. Sam complied, had his hands raised above his head. Then Sam said something, the video has no sound but you can see his mouth move. Whatever he said had effect, Myers fired the gun, shooting out the security system monitor screen. When Sam turned around he placed the gun on Sam's back and fired at point blank range. He then fled- with less than $200 cash- walking down the main road next to the store. A short time later, my friend was discovered, police called and he was taken to hospital. He died two hours later.

We were lost. How do you react to something like THIS? Many things have happened since that day. Some of them good, most just hard. I have seen a monster captured a week after cowardly murdering an innocent man. I was also welcomed into a mosque to attend the most difficult, beautiful, painful, grief-sating funeral I've ever been to. I have made new friends and new family. I saw an entire community come together and mourn a simple store clerk. I have seen Islam from the inside and am a better person for that.

Instead of a welcoming dinner, I am now planning a candle-light vigil. But I still stand firm: Friendship is Magic.

Akaal akaal akaal satnam, Salman Tahir.