Summary

In the section Six Months Later (July 2013), Connell travels Europe with his friends Niall and Elaine. Throughout the trip he keeps up with his girlfriend Helen, his mother, and Marianne online. Though he is in love with Helen and enjoys talking to her on Skype, he values his email relationship with Marianne for its expansiveness. In April both he and Marianne receive large scholarships which cover their housing, food, and tuition. The money makes Connell feel free and grants him a new sort of status as well as the ability to travel. In the present, he and his friends arrive at the house where Marianne is staying in Italy. When Connell sees Marianne he feels overcome by emotion. He tries to ignore these feelings as Peggy and Jamie are also at the house. Observing Marianne, he...