Summary

In Chapter 8, “Norma,” Norma reflects on the strange nature of marriage. In spite of this strangeness, Norma chose “to suspend [her] disbelief” when she married Mark (133). After marrying, the couple moved back to Maine and started their life together.

When Norma got pregnant, she grew hopeful for the future. Convinced she was having a daughter, she planned to give her baby the life, family, and love she had not had growing up. However, 35 weeks into the pregnancy, Norma lost the baby. The doctors induced labor and she delivered a stillborn baby girl whom she and Mark named Sarah.

Losing Sarah helped Norma to understand her mother better. However,. Sarah’s death also made Norma realize she did not want to conceive again. She and Mark tried to heal from the loss; but, while on vacation together, Norma realized she needed to end her...