Chapter 21

Summary

• Fadi brings Yara and their daughters to his business partner Ramy's home for dinner.
• Ramy's wife Hadeel prepares a feast with Palestinian dishes to celebrate her return from Palestine.
• While everyone else engages in conversation, Yara feels out of place and disconnected, similar to how she felt in school.
• Yara is uncomfortable in social settings and reminisces about her solitary childhood and her struggle to connect with others.
• She compares herself to Hadeel and Yasmin, who have assimilated into the community better than her.
• Yara reflects on her mother's own difficult transition to America, feeling guilty for previously blaming her for her own insecurities.
• After dinner, Yara observes Ramy's affectionate conduct with Hadeel, which contrasts with her relationship with Fadi, leading to feelings of envy and alienation.
• On the car ride home, Yara is absorbed in her thoughts, reflecting on the early days of her marriage, her fears, and her father's abuse towards her mother.
• In bed, a conversation about Ramy and Hadeel leads to an argument between Yara and Fadi about their relationship and Yara's conduct.
• Fadi accuses Yara of self-centeredness and Yara feels misunderstood and isolated as they argue about her failure to be sociable.
• They argue further, touching on insecurities, and Fadi expresses frustration with Yara's behavior.
• Fadi turns over without saying goodnight, and Yara is left questioning her happiness and her gratitude towards Fadi despite their issues.
• Yara tries to rationalize her marriage's shortcomings, attributing their problems to both of their upbringings.
• She forgives Fadi in her thoughts, trying to understand his perspective and accepting the flaws in their marriage as normal and acceptable.