Red Hot Seconds That Changed My Life

I live in Egypt and am 44 years old. I remember that day as if it is now, 25th of Jan 2011. It was when I decided that I would not go for protesting demonstrations in an era where every single fact and snapshot in our Country states that the probability of me coming back to my kids is in fact really limited. An afternoon where I proved to myself that there is nothing that could block my voice and will as a woman, a patriot and a mother who has a dream for her kids to have a better life. A right to grow in an environment where there is no dreadful police monsters who trace anyone who expresses himself and stands up for his values, and scars his life with torture and humiliation that ruins his life onwards. I still see it as a now moment... I was walking in an empty street looking for others like me and surrounded by police units who are mocking me with their comments as I walk alone. Suddenly as I walked in the middle of an extremely empty street except for security officers and soldiers, at the end of the street I see around 4000-5000 people mainly youth coming my direction, and pushing the security metal hinders. I walked ahead, they walked ahead, we met. All are screaming “down with Mubarak Regime“ "down with Mubarak Regime”,.. “down with Mubarak Regime” and then all of a sudden, I find myself in the front line of the protesters and as I turned around they are all following !!! In seconds after I identify myself as a middle aged, helpless mother who security officer took as a walking joke with a slight rheumatic limb voiced as the leader of 5000 people following !!! The strange part is that this particular figure was an inspirational snapshot for the large group of people coming towards me…truly unforgettable moments…I felt myself getting red hot in seconds, adrenaline rush that changed my whole life afterward (that was 7 months ago) I vowed to myself that there is no place for cowardice in my life or my children's lives any more.

Submitted by Anonymous

Determination