I can't concentrate on doing anything. I feel guilty every time I try to start doing something, knowing nothing about Zobayda. Reading the news about bombing schools and toxic acid rains in Iran, my heart races.

Wars on Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Venezuela have enraged me for a long time, and the illegal attack on Iran was like the last straw that paralyzed me.

Zobayda and I weren't close friends, and we weren't even in regular contact. But during the few times we contacted, we could connect to each other. We had a lot in common and we lived through similar challenges.

Now, her country is under attack by two nations that were built on stolen land.

I feel the world should pause until all wars around the globe stop. The world should pause until I hear from Zobayda again.

I made a phone call to her number. I didn't hear it ringing, and suddenly the seconds started counting. I kept saying hello but I received no answer. I hope that wasn't the wrong thing to do and it wouldn't cause her any trouble! Living in an authoritarian country, hopefully, that attempt wouldn't cause me trouble either.

As if their attacks and wars weren't enough to make our lives like hell, they make announcements that make us dwell on our worries. A few days ago, there was a declaration from the American ambassador in I*rael saying that "it would be fine if I*rael took all the land from the Nile river to the Euphrates in Iraq".

Are they going to attack Egypt as well?

In 1967, I*rael occupied Sinai. We restored it in 1973 after fighting a war and signing an unequal peace treaty.

What else do they want from us? Would they steal Sinai again? Or would they take more territories this time? Haven't they had enough through their long history of colonialism?

Living through all of that craziness going on in the world drives me crazy and I have no idea how to hold my nerve!

I will keep praying, asking Allah to provide us sanity, serenity and resourcefulness!