Summary

As summer arrives, LaPointe begins to feel a newfound strength and healing within herself. To celebrate this progress, she decides to throw a long-awaited housewarming party. Embracing the connection between nature and healing, LaPointe picks blackberries from the land in her neighborhood, recognizing that even amidst development, the presence of nature endures. This act symbolizes her resilience and determination to embrace the beauty and vitality that surrounds her.

While planning the party, LaPointe extends an invitation to Richard, fully aware that he would decline. Their relationship has become distant, a realization that saddens LaPointe but one that she believes is necessary for both of them to find their own paths to healing. She reflects on the distinction between true healing and merely self-medicating, acknowledging that genuine healing involves confronting and addressing one's underlying issues rather than seeking temporary fixes or avoiding them altogether...