For My Sophia

I have always loved the name Sophia. It means "Wisdom."

It was the name I gave to my daughter.

She was stillborn. She didn't get to stay.

Sometimes, people ask me why I write so fiercely about women’s safety when I am raising two boys.

The answer is simple.

I am raising the brothers she never got to meet.

My job isn't to teach a daughter how to be safe anymore. My job is to teach my sons how to be safe to be around. To be the kind of men who make the world softer for the Sophias who did get to stay.

I write this for her. And I write this for them.

With love,

Salwa