The Beauty in Sisterhood

This is a love letter to all the women in my life. To the women that have held me up when I have been my most broken. To the women that have put the biggest smiles on my face. To the women who have shown me how to love others and myself.

There is beauty in my friendships with women. There is a softness that comes with them. My strongest friendships are with women. They are the ones that have helped picked me up when I couldn’t put the pieces of my broken self back together.

To Katie, for being there for me during one of the most difficult times in my life, to being part of some of my best life memories. For being there for my mind and health. For being my soulmate.

To Alex, my best friend of the last four years, and many more. For making my university years from the first day we met and I found your £20 on the floor and that solidified our friendship. To satisfying my dessert cravings and being my baking pal from first year. For making the first lockdown easier to get through and making the difficulty that has been this year so much easier.

To Maria, for bringing me all of the laughter. Every time we manage to fit in a phone call, I always leave feeling so much better. For being a part of my favourite memories. I am so proud and in awe of your work ethic. Hopefully, we can party until it is 6am again.

To Kanyinsola, for the bedtime stories, you used to tell me back at uni. For that bonding experience we had with the marvel movie marathon, a memory I will treasure forever. For sending me all the videos in our little way of communication. For being there that summer watching Desperate Housewives with me when I was at one of my lowest points, you brought me joys in those difficult days and I will never forget it.

To Charlotte, one of my biggest supports over the last year. In the last year, I did not think I would make sure a strong and pure friendship with someone like you. You always support me in everything I do and have been the shoulder to cry on (from a distance) throughout this last year, and I don’t know what I would do without you. I only wish the best for you because you deserve it.

To Sarah, for allowing me to be myself, and for giving me friends for my background again. I didn’t think I would have Muslim friends again after leaving faith, and you showed me that was possible through you and the other amazing women in our group. You truly are one of my soulmates, shame you are across the world.

To Rida, Aisha, the Tay’s, and others for being there for me when I needed to talk to someone. For being there for me in some of my worse anxiety attacks, for being open with your mental health so I can be more open with mine. For never making me feel judge. And for all the good, for hyping me up, for supporting me, for giving me some great laughs and loves.

To Camilla, for putting a smile on my face every day at work. For being one of the first friends I really made in the workplace. For bringing colour and light into this rainy, grey city. For checking in with me during the first lockdown and teaching me all about South Africa, especially the food. You make every day at work the best. Your energy is so warming.

To Fay, for being the big sister I needed. For being there for me in all ways. For being the person who really understood what it was like to live through the things I have lived through. For giving me all the advice I need and eating many meals with me over the lockdown period. I am so lucky to have someone as loving and caring in my life that looks out for me like family does.

Finally, to my sister and my mother. You really got me through November. I miss the laughs we have together. The two of the strongest individuals I know and love. The women who have made me who I am today. I miss our movie nights and our days out. I miss our holidays. I miss your hugs that made me feel better and provided me with comfort when I couldn’t articulate how I was feeling but you knew I needed that comfort.

Each one of these women means so much to me. They are some of the strongest and bravest women I have come to know. I admire them so much, and to see each one grow and succeed warms me in ways I cannot describe. Without them, I wouldn't be the person I am today, each of them has been important in some of the biggest turning points of my life. The woman I am today has been shaped by their influence, guidance, and support.

These are the relationships I will treasure for the rest of my life.