Zainab is a round, dynamic character. Her arc is the heart of the novel. She transforms from a passive, obedient daughter to an active agent of her own life. Her strength is not loud or aggressive; it is quiet, persistent, and deeply courageous.
"Breaking Ties" is a poignant narrative about the price of freedom. It is a guide for anyone struggling with family expectations, validating the pain of having to choose between family loyalty and personal happiness. The story ultimately champions the belief that true happiness comes from living authentically, even if it means breaking the ties that were meant to hold you together but instead held you back.
"Breaking Ties" by Sara Abubakar follows a protagonist navigating the emotional and practical process of ending a long-standing relationship that has become unhealthy and confining. The piece centers on three interwoven themes: recognition, disentanglement, and renewal.
Stylistically, Abubakar favors restrained, observant prose. Scenes are spare but resonant: a half-packed box, an awkward conversation at a doorway, the silence after keys are handed over. These concrete moments stand in for larger emotional states, allowing readers to feel the gravity without melodrama. The pacing mimics the real-world tempo of leaving—uneven, cautious, and incremental.
Overall, "Breaking Ties" is a compassionate, realistic portrait of separation: it validates the difficulty of letting go while also showing how careful, intentional decisions can open space for healing and self-reclamation.
The novel does not end with a romantic reunion or a new love interest. Instead, the epilogue shows Emma one year later. She is in a small but bright apartment of her own, working as a freelance illustrator. She has limited contact with her mother but has built a chosen family with Ivy and other survivors she met in a support group.
The final image is powerful: Emma is looking at an old wedding photo. She does not burn it or destroy it. She simply turns it face down on her desk and walks out to meet a friend for coffee. She has broken the ties, but she has not let bitterness tie her down.
The climax arrives when Emma discovers that Liam has been secretly recording their conversations to use as “evidence” of her instability. She finds a hidden camera in their bedroom. This violation shatters the last thread of her denial. breaking ties by sara abubakar summary
Rather than a loud confrontation, Emma executes a quiet, strategic exit. She withdraws half the joint savings (legal in her state), drives to Ivy’s, and hires a divorce attorney, Mr. Delgado—a fierce advocate for survivors of emotional abuse.
Liam receives the divorce papers while at his firm. He is not sad; he is enraged. He shows up at Ivy’s door, alternating between sobbing apologies and cold threats. “You’ll never get a job. You’ll be nothing without me.”
Emma’s response is the novel’s most quoted line: “I would rather be nothing alone than a puppet for your love.”
The courtroom scenes are tense but satisfying. Emma presents the ledger, the camera, and her therapist’s notes. Liam’s attorney tries to paint Emma as a gold-digger, but Ivy testifies about Emma’s abandoned career, and Dr. Marcus provides expert testimony on coercive control.
The judge grants Emma a favorable settlement, including alimony for two years to allow her to re-establish her career.
Act Two is a masterclass in slow-burn tension. Emma begins secretly attending therapy with Dr. Marcus. She initially frames their issues as “communication problems.” But through careful questioning, Dr. Marcus helps her name the dynamic: coercive control.
Meanwhile, Liam senses Emma’s withdrawal and escalates his tactics. He proposes a “contract renewal”—a formal, written agreement about their marriage roles. When Emma refuses, he threatens to cut off her access to their joint bank account and calls her mother to say Emma is having a “mental breakdown.” Zainab is a round, dynamic character
This is a pivotal sequence. Emma’s own mother, a traditional woman who believes marriage is eternal sacrifice, sides with Liam. The title Breaking Ties now takes on a second meaning: Emma must break the tie with her mother’s outdated beliefs.
The most intense scene occurs at a family dinner. Matriarch Helen, in front of extended relatives, publicly shames Emma for not having children yet, implying she is defective. Liam sits in silence, then later tells Emma, “You embarrassed me by not laughing it off.”
Emma packs a “go-bag” for the first time—a hidden suitcase with her passport, some cash, and copies of the ledger.
The story revolves around Gulfam, a young man who has lived in England for several years. He returns to Pakistan for a vacation to visit his family. While his return is physical, the story reveals that his emotional and cultural ties to his homeland have been severed by his life abroad.
The Visit Home Gulfam arrives at his family home, where he is greeted with warmth and excitement. However, he immediately feels a sense of alienation. The house, the smells, and the atmosphere feel unfamiliar and somewhat repulsive to him. He struggles to relate to his parents' simple lifestyle and their traditional values. He views his surroundings with a critical, almost superior, Western gaze, finding the local customs and the heat unbearable.
The Visit to the Village A significant portion of the story takes place when Gulfam’s father takes him to their ancestral village to meet his grandmother. Gulfam is reluctant to go, preferring the modern comforts of the city (and by extension, England), but he complies to please his father.
Upon arriving in the village, Gulfam is disgusted by the lack of sanitation and the presence of animals. He refuses to eat the food prepared by his grandmother, fearing it might be unhygienic. His grandmother is overjoyed to see him and tries to offer him the best she has—simple, home-cooked food and her love—but Gulfam rejects her gestures. He maintains a distance, refusing to touch the food or embrace the connection she offers. Stylistically, Abubakar favors restrained, observant prose
The Climax The central conflict of the story is internal. Gulfam realizes that he no longer belongs in Pakistan. He feels like a stranger in his own home. The "ties" that bind him to his family—love, shared culture, and history—are being "broken" by his assimilation into Western culture. He feels suffocated by the expectations of his family and the backwardness he perceives in the village.
The Resolution The story concludes with Gulfam making a silent but firm decision. He realizes that he cannot wait to return to England. In a poignant moment, he looks at the people and the land, acknowledging that he has outgrown them. He chooses to return to England, realizing that his true "home" is now the foreign land where he has chosen to build his future, even if it means severing his roots.
The story centers on Lailah, a young Nigerian woman caught between the weight of her traditional family's expectations and her own desire for independence and self-defined love.
The Conflict: Lailah is engaged to or being pressured to marry a man her family has chosen—often a wealthy, respectable, and "suitable" suitor from a good background (sometimes named Temilade or a similar character). This union is meant to solidify family alliances, reputation, and financial security. However, Lailah feels trapped. She does not love this man and finds him controlling, cold, or fundamentally incompatible with her true self.
The "Breaking" of Ties: The title refers to Lailah’s painful decision to break her ties to:
The New Tie: In breaking the old ties, Lailah forms a new, healthier connection, often with a man who represents understanding and respect—perhaps Dimeji or a character from a different background or one who has also struggled against tradition. This relationship is built on mutual love, emotional honesty, and shared values, rather than obligation.
Resolution: The story follows Lailah’s emotional journey from guilt, fear, and isolation to empowerment. She learns that honoring herself is not betrayal, and that "family" should not require the death of her own spirit. The ending is typically uplifting, with Lailah either reconciling with her family on new terms or choosing to build her own path, free from toxic ties.