Lunchtime never looked so delicious. I watched as my friends gobbled down chocolate chip cookies, cheesy crackers, even the apple Katie always ate was glistening with goodness. This was the start of a new era, I, Zainab Alwan, was embarking on my Ramadan fasting experience for the first time. Being the only Muslim in my middle school was not helping. You see, as an eleven year old, talking and eating were my two favorite pleasures in life. All I needed was a piece of cake and someone to tolerate my excessive chatter, lunchtime was my heaven. So when my sister suggested that I retreat into the library during lunch I couldn’t even imagine forgoing my two favorite loves.

Instead, I joined my circle of friends, trying hard not to stare at them enjoying what seemed like a feast before my eyes. My best friend Katie sat there chomping away, it took merely five minutes before she turned to me with a look of extreme concern, “Zainab, where’s your lunch?!” I was expecting this question, nervous that I wouldn’t be able to convey the message of Ramadan properly but excited that I would get to share this moment with someone. I wanted to explain the beauty of Ramadan to her, to expound upon the many principles my teachers had drilled in me during Sunday school. In my pre-teen vocabulary this is a rough copy of my profoundly deep response,“So basically Katie, I’m not eating until the sun goes down so that I can remember to be grateful for the food I got.” That’s it, end of story.

When I look back it makes me laugh at the simple statement I rattled off, now I can delve into what seems like an hour long lesson about the holy month. Yet, at that moment, it was a perfect sentence. I saw the look in Katie’s eyes; first, a little shocked, then somewhat confused, and finally a willingness to accept my explanation.

The next day I skipped to school, literally, I liked to skip. I eagerly waited until the lunch bell rang, for now I realized I could talk extra without having food get in the way. Yet, as I joined Katie I realized something was different, she had no lunch with her. It was my turn to ask the question, “Katie, where’s your lunch?” She responded in a very serious tone, “Zainab, if you’re going to fast to remember the needy, than I’m going join you.”

And that was that, for the next 29 days Katie and I fasted together. Although we came from two different faith traditions we were experiencing this moment together and I have to say few things truly warm my heart like that very moment when Katie reached out to me.