Summary

Cindy Coombs was at the grocery store for one of the first times since her illness began when she noticed people staring at her. Uncomfortable, she wandered around the store, overwhelmed looking for the few items she needed. She nearly fell reaching for some butter and Olive, her former teacher, came and helped her. Olive commented, “you’re having a hell of a time,” which Cindy admitted she was (118). Together, they found the other things she needed and walked her out to the car. On the way out, Cindy caught her own reflection in a glass door and was shocked by her own appearance, dominated by her sunken eyes and baldness.

At home, Cindy reflected on her upbringing, particularly that her poor upbringing had made their very average house seem embarrassingly large. She mentioned to her husband, Tom, that years before she had wanted...