Scout E.S. in the Shadows

  I pine, I perish. I watch myself from above as I lose my mind over a glance and a laugh. It glazes over me like the silky mixture covering donuts, but in my case, it doesn’t sweeten me; it hardens like a crust. It pretends to be enough to hide that delicate, doughy base underneath. It pretends like the lights above don’t burn their eyes, and the sound of the televisions doesn’t fry their brain. I enjoy light distractions until I get upset with myself for running from reality. You can only run from the world for so long before it comes banging at your door, pushing aside the glaze and releasing you, all dough. I always dreamed of being a righteous politician, changing the world in a fair system that would reward my intelligence and integrity. Now I watch my country become the opposite of what it was, what I was taught it stood for. Born and raised in the United States, with the language and culture of Egypt in my veins. I believed that being here was better, being an American, whe...