The scarf, described by Taryn as “shining orange-red” with “a sweeping pattern of marigolds woven into the fabric’s Indian design” (97), signifies both love and tragedy whenever it appears. For Taryn and Clara, the scarf is what they notice first and what leads to major changes in their lives. When Taryn sees the photographs from the day of the attacks, she “recognized the scarf [she] was clutching, with its splash of marigolds” (10) before she recognizes her own face. Similarly, Clara does not notice Andrew when she sees him in the line at Ellis Island but the scarf around his neck, which “seemed to call out to [her]” (23).

At first, both Clara and Taryn try to reject the scarf. Taryn refuses to retrieve it from Mick when he calls, and Clara tries to return it to Andrew and, when that fails, plans to give it away. Indeed, the scarf functions as a reminder of pain and heartbreak for both women. However, by the end of their journeys, both women come to see the scarf as a symbol of their willingness to rejoin humanity and live full lives. The scarf’s significance has changed from a reminder of heartbreak to a symbol of love and destiny.