Summary

In “Dream House as Pathetic Fallacy,” Machado notes that her abuser buys an enormous amount of produce and rarely uses it, allowing it to rot in her refrigerator.

In “Dream House as the First Thanksgiving,” she arrives at the Dream House and discovers her girlfriend has invited all of her friends over for Thanksgiving. Machado is forced to do all of the shopping and most of the cooking.

In “Dream House as Diagnosis,” she goes to the doctor complaining of constant nausea and anxiety. She is told to lose weight.

In “Dream House as I Love Lucy,” Machado recalls an episode of the titular show in which Lucy's husband Ricky convinces her that her favorite actor, who is visiting, is not the man she thinks he is.

In “Dream House as Musical,” Machado's abuser demands she stop her benign habit of singing to...