The Leftover Woman

On May 6, 2022, an unnamed narrator writes to an unnamed person. She admits that forgiveness might not be possible, but she would like to tell her side of the story. She notes that she has a recurring daydream in which she and the speaker are united after a separation of many years.

The narrative skips back in time, 15 years earlier. Jasmine is standing outside of a Manhattan teahouse, looking through the window at the people inside. She gazes at a set of parents who are there with their young child, and a lump rises in her throat. She realizes that she has very little time before she must repay the smugglers who helped transport her to New York City. She pushes her way inside the restaurant, not without hesitation. She approaches the hostess and explains that she is there to ask about employment. She is directed to a table in the back where the owner of the restaurant sits. He is brusque and immediately intuits that she does not have papers and thus cannot work legally. As the two talk, she sees a familiar man walk by. She recognizes him as