Summary

As this part of the novel opens, Ona describes her surgery to have a tumor in her uterus removed. She flashes back and reflects on how this experience made her feel disconnected from her own body, which was very distressing for her. As she recalls this experience, she reveals this happened at the same time she starts to have a desire for motherhood. This is another reason why the tumor and the long recovery from the surgery is difficult for Ona.

The novel then shifts to a section headed "One Day Until the Wake." It opens with Flor describing her repeated dreams of a snake biting her, the same snake that bit her as a child. She takes this as confirmation that her death is truly coming. She continues to reflect on her life as she prepares for her wake. She flashes back...