My friend from a distant land

asked me —

What does freedom mean to you?

I replied :

"To walk on the streets of my country

any time of the day or the middle of the night

without the fear of being *****.

To live and work in any part of my country

without the fear of being beaten

black and blue for not knowing

the language.

Practice any religion or be an atheist ( which

I am) without the fear of getting killed.

But more than anything  —

the freedom to choose,

to live my life the way I want

not just survive,

never surrender to anyone's wish or will."