Summary

Shelby spots the girl with the face tattoo again. It is been years since she last saw her, but Shelby thinks of her often. She has always wondered if they are the same woman, struggling with the same demons, on different paths of fate. She follows the girl to Strand Book Store, where she works unloading books in the basement. Shelby tries to speak to the girl but quickly realizes they are nothing alike (222). In the bookstore, Shelby notices that her dog, Blinkie, is having a tough time breathing. She whisks him to Harper’s veterinary clinic, and Harper informs her that the dog is in renal failure. They both know they need to put the dog down. Shelby says her goodbyes and meets James in a deli as she cries over her loss. James holds her to comfort her.

Analysis

This chapter provides...