Cutting the Last Tie

She was never going to get rid of her blue eyes. They made her who she was.

She was never going to dusken her alabaster skin. It made her who she was.

There was one thing she could do, however. Beyond the hijab. Beyond the study of the Quran, the fidelity to the teachings. Beyond even converting other women from abroad. She could adopt a Muslim name and forsake that of Elizabeth. And that was how Ayesha Barre came to be.