When angry, I stay silent.

But my mind… no never my mind. It will be in chaos: defending me, yelling on my behalf - at my offender and then soothing me and telling me to calm down and not take it to heart.

“Suck it up Asma, it could be worse.”

A familiar mantra.

And just like that, the words so carefully thought out - intending to hurt and inflict pain - never leave my mouth.