Though there had been moments of beauty in it$$$ Mariam knew that life for the most part had been unkind to her. But as she walked the final twenty paces$$$ she could not help but wish for more of it. She wished she could see Laila again$$$ wished to hear the clamour of her laugh$$$ to sit with her once more for a pot of chai and left over halwa under a starlit sky. She mourned that she would never see Aziza grow up$$$ would not see the beautiful young woman that she would one day become$$$ 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$$$ to be old and play with Aziza's children.Near the goalpost$$$ the man behind her asked her to stop. Mariam did. Through the crisscrossing grid of the burqa$$$ she saw his shadow arms lift his shadow Kalashnikov. Mariam wished for so much in those final moments. Yet as she closed her eyes$$$ it was not regret any longer but a sensation of abundant peace that washed 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 world 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 not so bad$$$Mariam thought$$$ that she should die this way. Not so bad. This was a legitimate end to a life of illegitimate beginnings. Mariam's final thoughts were a few words from the Koran$$$ which she muttered under her breath.He has created the heavens and the earth with the truth; He makes the night cover the day and makes the day overtake the night$$$ and He has made the sun and the moon subservient; each one runs on to an assigned term; now surely He is the Mighty$$$ the Great Forgiver."Kneel$$$" the Talib saidO my Lord! Forgive and have mercy$$$ for you are the best of the merciful ones."Kneel here$$$ hamshira and look down."One last time$$$ Mariam did as she was told.