This is a true story. Names have been changed to protect everyone involved. It's a step into life behind the Islamic veil of secrecy. Originally, it was written as part of my own healing, but in that process, it became an act of advocacy. I held a dark secret for half of a lifetime, and it wasn't just the real identity of my eldest child's father. It's the story of how true love can withstand the test of time and geography, a story that can inspire true bravery.
Penny Deerhill is 42 years old. She was born in Huntsville, Alabama in 1970. She was raised in the heart of the southern United States during a time when being open minded and non-prejudicial was looked down upon. That didn't deter her family from bringing her up to be accepting of everyone. She was married to an Iranian American for 17 years and has 4 children; her oldest being from a previous relationship. In 2011, she escaped her abusive husband and, after surviving an F-5 tornado, was reunited with the father of her oldest child.