Maru

There have been, every night, protests from the government supporters for almost one month.

Whenever I'm out at almost 9 p.m., I see them.

Oh my goodness, not again.

The men chant repeated slogans in favor of the regime.

They declare that they're ready to be martyrs of Islam and the Islamic Republic.

Once I even saw a few of them wearing shrouds to prove they're ready to die for their cause.

When I go to bed, I think about Reza.

I immediately burst into tears.

Reza's the guy I've been in love with lately who turned out to be a religious fanatic.

I knew he wasn't my match, but I couldn't help but to love him.

Reza and I met at my dad's pharmacy.

He's a pharmacist.

We used to work different shifts.

All I knew about him at first was through my brother, my brother's high opinion of him.

I remember a winter evening that I went to the pharmacy to give my brother something.

Being in my 30s, I am mature enough not to believe in love at first sight, but at the very first moment I saw him, he captured my attention.

Gradually, I tried to change my work shift for two days of the week in order to meet him more.

He was always well-groomed and obviously picky in the way he dressed.

He looked so mild-mannered, kind, always ready to help the people around him.

We started texting each other.