my back pages

"Dilara, you must become a writer. I'm just so impressed with how good you are at writing dialogue and being creative."

i spent almost 2 hours looking for a worn out piece of paper--my crusade back then--a short story assignment about a guy and ants--a 7th grade moment--and the first time i thought this is it. this will be my life. and the first time i was actually encouraged for it--by those few words in the beginning written on little purple pieces of paper by my then mentor and english teacher--two little pieces of paper that made me cry my heart out tonight. i don't know why. they just did.