*
- Dawn Sahr (DS): I wanted to reach out to you so much.
I just wanted to know that you were okay.
That was my biggest concern.
- Asma Jama (AJ): That was my biggest concern, too.
I used to be carefree.
I used to go everywhere by myself.
I would say, "Hi!" to strangers.
But after what happened to me,
I felt like I had to look over my shoulder
every time I go outside.
- DS: I was so sorry you had to go through that.
- AJ: Did you stop talking to her because of what she did to me?
- DS: I did, yeah.
- AJ: Why can't you forgive her?
- DS: Because then it's telling Jodie that it's okay;
and it's not okay.
Do you feel like you can't speak Swahili
in public anymore?
- AJ: Yes, because
I realized I don't belong.
I have to prove myself every single day,
and it makes me feel like
I had to give up a lot of who I was.
- DS: I'm going to pray that you can eventually become
that person you used to be.
- AJ: I will get there.
It's going to take me a while.
But for you to stand up for somebody you don't know
and to say that what she did was unacceptable,
that meant the world to me.
- DS: I will support you in any possible way I can.
[AJ exhales]
You know, they say blood's thicker than water
and you stand behind your family no matter what.
Well,
you gotta draw the line somewhere.
And you're my line.
- AJ: Thank you.
*