Though there had been moments of beauty in it Mariam knew that life for most part had been unkind to her.But as she walked the final twenty paces$$$she could not help but wish for more of it.She wished she could see Laila again $$$ wished to hear the clangor of her laugh $$$ to sit with her once more for a pot of chai and leftover halwa under a starlit sky. She mourned that she would never see Aziza grow up $$$ would not see the beautiful young woman that she would oneday become $$$would not get to paint her hands with henna and toss noqul candy at her wedding . She would never play with Aziza's children. She would have liked that very much $$$ to be old and play with Aziza's children.Mariam wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes $$$ it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that wshed over her. She thought of her entry into this world $$$ the harami child of a lowly villager $$$ an unintended thing $$$ a pitiable $$$ regrettable accident. A weed $$$ And yet she was leaving the wolrd as a woman who had loved and been loved back.She was leaving it as a friend $$$ a companion $$$ a guardian.A mother. A person of consequence at last. No. It was no so bad $$$ Mariam thought $$$ that she should die this way. Not so bad.This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings. pg. 360