Page 248 - A Woman Is No Man

Isra looked away. “I can’t . . . I can’t raise them on my own.”
“Why not? You already do, practically. America is full of single
mothers.”

“No! I don’t want to put my daughters through that. I don’t want to
uproot them—snatch them from home and force them to grow up alone,
without a family, in shame.”
Sarah sneered at her. “You have to have a home first to be uprooted
from it. You have to know what love is to feel alone.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Of course I am.” Sarah studied an invisible spot on the floor. “But

whatever happens . . . It can’t be worse than what’s happening now.”
Isra knew Sarah was right, but awareness and action, she also knew,
were very different things. “I don’t know where you’ve found this
courage,” she whispered. “And I envy you for it. But I can’t go with you.
I’m sorry.”
Sarah looked at her with sad eyes. “You’ll regret this, you know. Your

daughters will grow up, and they’ll hate you for your weakness.” She
walked away, pausing at the doorway. “And don’t think they’ll understand,
because they won’t. They’ll never see you as a victim. You’re supposed to
be the one who protects them.”