In the name of Allah, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy...

I smelled Death on May 25th.
I was scared to journey on May 25th, thinking of leaving behind family that I might only long to ever see again, thinking that I was leaving a place where Death might visit.
Little did I know on July 17th when I journeyed from a place where I was leaving behind new family members, great new brothers and sisters, that I was leaving with Death on my coat tails.
It was July 18th when Death finally walked by, and filled my nose for the second time with that putrid stench of his.
This time, he decided to walk a little bit closer than he did the last.

Shivers already jump down my sides knowing that he is planning to walk even closer--dreadfully very close--next time he is to visit.

I urge you Death...please don't come back.  We are not well-acquainted, but you are a friend I would love to live without.

And these are the pleadings of a man who thought he was a man, thought he was in control...but these are the pleadings of a boy just as impotent as everybody else unable to change the way the wind blows, or the sun sets, or the tide flows.

May Allah forgive