Summary

Ariel visits Lucy in rehab. Lucy's counsellor encourages Ariel to attend an A.A. support group for the families of addicts. Lucy is wearing the clothes Ariel sent her and Ariel is torn between feelings of tenderness and rage. Lucy admits she had been drinking every day, even when she swore she was sober. Ariel is surprised to feel empathy instead of the usual betrayal. She realizes how lonely Lucy must have been, struggling with alcoholism alone while Ariel was focused on her pregnancy.

Lucy's counsellor tells Ariel that this is only the beginning of the recovery process and that relapses are to be expected. Ariel is incapable of taking that uphill battle with Lucy. Although Ariel thinks of Lucy as family, she tells her she cannot go on that journey.

Analysis

In this chapter, Levy begins to move thematically from betrayal toward rebirth...