Burden describes the ospreys’ journey away from the nest after the summer.

In the fall, Burden and her children returned to New York City. After school started, Burden devoted herself to redecorating the apartment to be more reflective of her personality, enlisting Susan’s help. Burden was pleased when the project was done, but her despair soon set back in. “COVID rates were still high” (171), so she had little to occupy her time and few people she could see.

In October, Burden decided to attend a dinner at a friend’s. A man who used to play tennis with James remarked that he had recommended his tough divorce lawyer to James. This upset Burden, who felt that James was trying to make her life miserable and that all his friends supported him.

Burden visited her gynecologist, who opined that women are less compelling to men once they stop working. Burden wondered if it was her fault that James lost interest in her.

Burden and James began divorce proceedings at the end of the fall. Burden’s lawyer was nowhere near as hard-hitting as James’s. Meanwhile, during the holidays, Burden grew resentful of Christmas letters featuring happy families. Burden also worried about celebrating without James. The family had always gone to the Vineyard for Christmas. James texted, urging her to do the same this year. Although Burden wanted something different, circumstances kept her and the kids at the Vineyard. Susan joined, and they enjoyed themselves.

In January, Burden and James exchanged divorce-settlement proposals. Burden was shocked to discover how many millions of dollars James had been making each year—all of which he would keep. Meanwhile, he still wanted his share of the properties. Burden wouldn’t be able to buy him out, as she’d used her entire trust fund to buy them in the first place. She was devastated by the thought of selling.

Burden began to write for the first time in years. The pastime helped her organize her experiences. She joined an online writing workshop and began a personal essay.

Burden’s lawyer drew up custody paperwork. James didn’t want even partial custody, insisting that the kids were “too old to go back and forth” between two homes (182). Stunned by his lack of interest in the children, Burden drew firmer boundaries, drafting a counterclaim to his divorce proposal. Susan expressed concern over inciting James’s wrath, but Burden decided to file.

Burden’s friends encouraged her to start dating, but she was still getting over lingering feelings for James. Meanwhile, she kept working pro-bono cases. When one client received her green card, Burden reminded herself of how much she had in comparison to others. Still, a year after James left, she texted him asking what she had done to make him unhappy. He insisted that it wasn’t her but offered no other explanation.

Around this time, Burden’s close friend Anna asserted that she liked Burden better now; ever since Burden and James had separated, Burden seemed more like her old self. Burden was upset but quickly realized that Anna was right. She compared the woman she’d been with James to the new, single version of herself.

Still, Burden was overwhelmed by the impending divorce and financial upheaval. James was still covering her expenses; she realized that she needed to stop relying on him. In court, the judge accepted the prenup terms, discarding Burden’s counterclaim. The prospective loss of her homes made Burden depressed. She often dreamed that she and James were still together. She also lay awake imagining her death. Amanda helped her understand that this was suicidal ideation, so Burden started taking medication to help.

Burden longed for a man to step in and convince James to change the terms of the divorce. In the end, however, she and James settled before the hearing; James gave up his share of their properties but refused to make any commitments to the children.

Burden returned to the Vineyard. She had new signs made for the front of the property and tore down the Meadowpath sign. She invited friends over for a big dinner.

Burden continued writing, eventually submitting her essay on the divorce to the “Modern Love” column in The New York Times. The editors accepted the story but insisted that she contact James for permission. Burden refused at first but then decided that she had to publish and sent it to James, who gave his approval. The article went viral. Many readers let Burden know what a difference she’d made in their lives, while others ridiculed her. The night the article appeared online, Burden saw a swarm of dragonflies, which she took as a good sign. She heard rumors that people on the Vineyard were upset about the essay. Some even accused her of being a bad mother for publishing the piece. Burden reminded herself of the social context for these accusations.

Meanwhile, Burden reflected on the man James had been when they’d met and the hurt he’d experienced as a young person. She realized that his decisions weren’t really about her at all. She also saw how parts of her childhood self were still inside her. As she sorted through old belongings, cleaned the basement, and digitized James’s old family videos, seeing the family all together was bittersweet. She still believed in the life they’d shared and felt no need to edit these memories.