Summary

In Part III, “Carry the Water Yourself,” Strayed gives advice “to people in their twenties” (147, Strayed’s italics).

In “Beauty and the Beast,” Beast wonders if he should give up on love, as he is “incredibly ugly” due to “a rare blood disorder” he has had since birth (149, Strayed’s italics).

Sugar tells Beast about her friend Ian. When he was 25, he “was severely burned over most of his body” when his “kitchen blew up” due to a gas leak (150). Although significantly disfigured, Ian received “a settlement” that made him rich (151). He always insisted he would never un-light the match that changed his life. Ian’s only sadness was his inability to find love. He was convinced no one could love him because of his appearance. When Ian committed suicide, Sugar wondered if it was...