The following version of this short story was used to create the guide: Minor, Caroline Albertine. "Grief's Garden." Granta, 2019.

Caroline Albertine Minor's short story "Grief's Garden" is written from the main character Caroline's first-person point of view. The story employs both the past and present tenses, and defies conventional notions of plot and linearity. Though the story's frequent temporal and spatial shifts dictate the story's structural unfolding, the following summary adheres to a primarily linear model of explanation and uses the present tense.

Not long after starting her new job at an architectural firm, Caroline sees "M" for the first time. They fall in love shortly thereafter, and eventually marry. Throughout their relationship, Caroline and M have a healthy and caring connection. Even after they have their son, they continue to desire one another, and their dynamic is peaceable and loving.

One day after work, M meets Caroline at the salon where she is getting her hair done. They go to a café and then have sex back at their apartment. Afterwards, they say goodbye to one another before departing for their respective nights out. Shortly after midnight, Caroline calls M on her way home. He is still at his party, but sounds sober and happy.

Then, in the middle of the night, the police contact Caroline. M has been in a serious car accident and is in a coma. At the hospital, she cannot believe what is happening, and begs M to wake up and get better. While sitting with him, she begins to realize how reliant she has become on him for her identity and stability. If he does not recover she fears she will not be able to either.

Finally M wakes up, but his memory is severely fractured. He spends a lot of his time sleeping, and Caroline wonders where he is traveling in his mind. Though M gradually regains his strength, he remembers little of his shared past with Caroline. His inability to recall their life together disrupts Caroline's sense of reality. She feels lost and alone, unable to remain grounded in either past or present.

The Christmas after the accident, Caroline brings their son to the hospital to visit his father. Though the child is initially delighted, when M grabs him by the throat, the baby becomes terrified and frantic. Caroline leaves the child with her parents. When she returns to the ward, M has no recollection of what has just happened.

Over the course of the following weeks and months, Caroline's emotions vacillate between extreme hopefulness and profound hopelessness. She wants to believe M will return to himself and thus to her, but she has trouble convincing herself that this is possible.

When the doctors finally discharge M, Caroline feels despairing. His condition does not seem fitting outside the hospital, and threatens to dislocate her even further.

The Christmas following his discharge, M gives Caroline two bottles of wine and a short story collection. The gifts feel impersonal. Caroline realizes he still remembers nothing of their history. Not long afterwards, she feels herself giving up on the relationship, while also feeling angry and ashamed of her selfish response to loss.