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Abstract

“Shall Her Eyes Rest” is a short story about a Syrian refugee woman, Maryama, who overcomes challenges in her journey as a refugee in the USA through hard work, dedication, and resilience. The story reveals how she displays agency by asserting herself in a foreign community, becoming independent, and sharing her Syrian cuisine and culture with the American society. Moreover, Maryama’s story reveals a nightmare that some refugees face—family separation. She and her children and husband were able to board their flight to the United States, but one of her sons was denied entry and was not allowed to join his family. Her narrative captures deep yearnings for safety and security while weaving together intimate, on-the-ground refugee hardships, mainly family separation. Based on the authors’ interviews with Syrian refugees, Maryama’s story is not only a story of emancipation, but also a tribute to refugees and their everyday suffering and survival.

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