I grabbed my pounding head as soon as I regained my consciousness and felt my hair. It was wet and slightly warm. Savage sensations resonating in my psyche, I gazed through the room as I endeavored to have a better grasp of my surroundings.

“Look at that. How is she even alive? We could just kill her if that is what our mission requires! Why stop now?”

The silhouettes that I perceived as military personnel were defiant to the light passing through the fences that seemed to restrict me from things, everything actually. The noises were not factors of relief; they aggravated my self-inquiry.

“She is not even wearing a headscarf! In that moment I managed to navigate my exasperated body and slanted it towards to two adverse silhouettes.

“Can you talk? Answer us! Why have you been wandering in the streets of this metropolitan city that late at night? And with no head covering? You should know that it is strictly forbidden as a proud citizen of this republic.”

I tried saying something, but I soon understood I was not articulate enough because the silhouettes quickly and deeply struck me with kicks and spits.

“I was going to get some groceries, my son Ashraf is in need of medication. I was also going to get bread for my newborn,” I said.

“Without a scarf? Don’t you know the regulations? Well, obviously you do not and that is the reason for your arrest!”

It is my profound desire to say that I found the situation too far-fetched and waited for someone to pinch me on the arm but it was far too common. I have witnessed it before. After all, the morality police are free to arrest and assault anyone that allegedly acted against the Islamic shariah rule. After all, the inclusive and belittled voices of women across the Islamic Republic of Iran are not heard unless they obey the audacious rule of men and of course, cover their heads.