Summary

Chapter 16 begins with Ingrid recounting a story from the previous morning, June 8th, 1992. While Ingrid, Nan, and Flora were eating breakfast, Flora confessed that she skipped school on Friday to practice swimming. Flora reveals that the school pool was closed, and she was therefore forced to swim in the sea. Ingrid chastises Flora, relating the dangers of swimming in the sea alone. Flora responds by reminding Ingrid that she swims in the sea alone too.

Ingrid proceeds with her letter to Gil, remembering the weeks following his party in 1976. The couple spent their days sleeping, talking, eating, and making love. Gil asks Ingrid to promise that she will not die before him. Ingrid says that if she does, she will haunt Gil, calling him in the early morning to say she loves him. They read together on the beach and stay up late drinking...