Carmen and Ali: A Queer relationship in a cis-heteronormative society

Carmen met Ali in 2011, not realizing that this meeting would help her discover her sexuality in later years. Her home life robbed her of the ability to consider her options. Constant abuse from her older brother forced her to choose the marital prison to escape her familial cage; disregarding her feelings for Ali.  “He looked manly, the way he spoke, his mannerisms, even the way he dressed. I felt a strong attraction towards him but ignored it because it could only bring me more trouble.