A Very Large Expanse of Sea

too weird

very alien

terrifying

stuck up

she was in the girl's bathroom wiping off the remains of a cinnamon bun

some of Navid's friends came home with him

she was at home in front of an open window

someone grabbed her scarf from her head as she walked down the hall

"She never even notices when I'm not home."

"She is my most faithful supporter."

"She faithfully follows my sports career and clips all the newspaper articles."

"She sets strict house rules about homework and curfews."

she swore at them if they approached her

she told the administration what was happening

she pretended they didn't exist

she asked her parents to intervene

it allowed her to neglect her hair

it let others know that she was Muslim

it made her feel less vulnerable in general

it created a good place to hide her earbuds

her text messages to friends

her intense diary

her email accounts

her homework journals

Shee-reen with a rolled r, gently

Shir-een, with the ee's drawn out

Sharon just like the American name

Shir-rin with hard consonants

give them his car to use

beat up anyone who gossiped about them

allow them private time

lie about where they were to their parents

excel at gymnastics

breakdance

run marathons

fence

Shirin had her eyes set on Yusef, a Lebanese student

she knew it would hurt his baseball career to be with her

her parents did not approve of Ocean

being with her would destroy Ocean's safe, comfortable life