56 pages • 1 hour read
Brain Damage
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Chapters 32-43Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of graphic violence, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and substance use.
Chapter 32 Summary: “Eleven Months Before”
Flashing back to the “before” timeline, Charly visits her best friend, Bridget, for lunch and finds that her once immaculate apartment is now chaotic. Bridget is stressed and overwhelmed because of her new baby, Chelsea. The conversation turns to Charly’s life, and Bridget urges the 36-year-old to start a family with her husband, Clark, soon. Charly internally acknowledges that she wants a child, but harbors reservations about having one with Clark.
Chapter 33 Summary: “Eleven Months Before”
Charly and Clark go to dinner, and he drinks heavily. When she broaches the subject of starting a family, he reacts with shock, questioning the timing and their finances. He pushes back against her reminders that he previously agreed, suggesting that they wait until she’s 40. After a tense argument, he proposes a compromise: They’ll begin trying for a baby in exactly one year. Feeling relieved to have a short delay, Charly agrees.
Chapter 34 Summary: “Four and a Half Months After”
In the “after” timeline, at the rehab facility, Jamie’s friendly demeanor turns to horror when a woman approaches. It’s Karen, the mother of his son, Sam. She confronts Jamie, demanding to discuss custody, and mocks his physical limitations. When he calls her a “drug addict,” she retorts that she’s sober and vows to see Sam again, with or without Jamie’s permission.
