Summary

Eliza writes to her sister. She has “much strangeness to report” (138). She is unsure she understands people, including herself in light of recent events (138).

Eliza regrets getting close to Jack. Ever since sharing “matters of the heart” with him, he started taking liberties (138). His treatment of Ofelia worsened, too. Because Ofelia is Black, she felt threatened by him, and frequently began asking for Eliza’s help to deflect him. The way Jack spoke about Black people infuriated Eliza.

Then one night, he called Eliza to his room because he was sick. She tended to him, but he again made threatening political remarks. Eliza gave him a heavy dose of tea, which she guesses her sister will understand. Then, while he was in the bath, she jammed “the tub tray hard against his throat” and smothered him with a cushion (142). She left him there...