Love, Hate & Other Filters

by Samira Ahmed

I don’t want to hide anything, and I don’t want something … expected. I want to go to film school and be the first Indian American to win an Oscar, and then I can meet the One and fall in big, heart-bursting love, and we’ll travel the world, my camera ready to capture our adventures.” My cheeks flush; I know I’m blushing, but I can’t bring myself to shut up. “Oh, my God. I want my future life to be a cheesy romantic comedy.” He shakes his head. “No,” he says. “You want it to be an epic.”

“It’s a Muslim terrorist,” Brian yells. “They hate America.” I turn to look at Brian. He stares right back. His glare is icy and unnerving,