Summary

Punzel continues her narration, saying after Reuben kissed her, she tried to “[keep] a physical distance” between herself and her father, but she often failed when her father “made a grab for [her] dress” (303). Her father consistently confuses her with Ute, and continues to make plans for their joined suicide. James says to Punzel, “Promise you’ll come with me?”, referring to their suicide, and Punzel responds, “I promise,” worrying that she “existed only inside [her] father’s head” (304).

During this time, Punzel continues to meet Reuben and begins having sexual dreams about him. Reuben and Punzel spy on James as he searches for poisonous mushrooms and Reuben learns about their suicide pact. Reuben pleads with Punzel, saying, “promise me you won’t eat those mushrooms,” and he grabs Punzel’s wrists (311). Looking at his fingers, Punzel thinks, “they reminded me of...