Summary

Page 46 begins a new chapter from Isra, in the Spring of 1990 as she arrives in New York from Tel Aviv. Isra is awed by the Manhattan skyline and wonders what else her new life will bring her here. They drive into Brooklyn and get to Adam’s parents' house, which is a cramped apartment. She and Adam will live in the basement. She walks downstairs to the dark gloomy basement seeing a gold mirror on the wall that reflects no light. She stares at her reflection and feels disappointed at her own acquiescence to her life.

Isra goes upstairs to help Fareeda with dinner, and finds Adam already gone. Fareeda calls to Sarah, Adam’s 11-year-old sister, to help with dinner. Sarah says she has homework and Fareeda says that can wait. They sit at the sufra, dinner table, and eat more dishes...