(Life in America)

Columbia University student Talia sat at the back of the lecture hall, listening as her "pro-Palestinian" classmates laughed at a tasteless joke about Jews. Her discomfort grew, but she hesitated to speak up.

Later, at a party, the topic resurfaced, with peers mocking Jewish stereotypes. Talia's heart raced, torn between fitting in and staying true to her values. Taking a deep breath, she found her voice, calmly challenging the hateful rhetoric. No one listened. No one cared.

On her way back to her dormitory, Talia clutched her Star of David pendant, a cherished heirloom from her grandmother. At this juncture, she heard footsteps, a lot of footsteps, following her.

The next moment, Talia found herself among many, many Talias.

Author: renqiulan