Living with sickle cell disease

My name is Zainab. I’m 27 years old. An SS.

That is, I live with sickle cell disease.

My parents are both AS.

Oh, they They knew.

They were told.

They still married.

They said God approved it. They said love would be enough. They said faith would cover the consequences.

I am the consequence.

I was diagnosed before I was two. My childhood memories are not playgrounds or cartoons,they are; hospitals, needles, and adults whispering when they thought I couldn’t hear.