One of the hardest parts in life is when someone we love passes away.  No matter how many prayers we make to heal them, sometimes the answer is healing in a way we don't want here on this earth.  Sometimes healing means leaving us all behind.  Fatima and I met a little after I first converted to Islam.  We then bonded over our love for Morocco, and how I was able to have things in common, such as interior decor, art, and cooking.  I was always in awe of learning more about Morocco and their customs from her.  Plus, she was an amazing hairdresser and many in our community loved and trusted her.

It wasn't until during our first photoshoot together that she mentioned that she was also fighting for her life.  She was diagnosed with cancer, but she had such a will to fight.  She fought for years.  She kept an optimism that many in her situation would have never found.  You'd never hear her complain.  She truly LOVED life and LOVED to be alive.  She cherished every day.

On our most recent photo session with her and her family this Eid, she still looked like the beautiful woman that she was, just a little thinner and a bit more fragile.  But she still looked healthy.  She didn't seem like someone who would be dying within a few short months.

I had stayed up Thursday night into Friday because my soon-to-be husband had his visa interview at 2:30am (our time) on Friday and I was determined to be there with him even if I wasn't physically there.  So I stayed up.  I talked to his dad every moment waiting for news.  However, just shortly after I was given news that he had gone into his interview, other news began rolling in.  Fatima was gone.  The cancer took her, and she was gone.  

I took the time while he was interviewing to process what was happening. To let tears fall, and to send prayers on her behalf for Allah to give her a beautiful place within His gardens.  This life will not be the same without her though.  There is an open empty space, and may Allah reunite us again one day.  

To my beautiful friend, may Allah grant you goodness every day on that side.  Thank you for the memories, and for always making me feel so welcome and loved.

Thank you for letting me capture memories for your family to cherish forever.

May Allah always give them goodness and favor and peace every day as they begin a journey on this earth without you being a part of it, until they can reunite with you one day.

Goodbye my friend.