What She Left Behind: A Haunting and Heartbreaking Story of 1920s Historical Fiction

Izzy’s mother dies, and Peg comforts Izzy, holding her for a long time. Izzy feels a strong urge to self-harm but resists. At the Geneva funeral home, Peg helps Izzy with the arrangements, including paying for everything. At school, Shannon and her friends have been leaving Izzy alone. Ethan has been trying to talk to Izzy, but she’s been avoiding his calls.

Harry makes Izzy’s favorite food, tacos, for dinner, and Peg makes her hot chocolate. That night, Alex brings Ethan to Peg’s house. Alex and Ethan hug Izzy, and Peg insists that they both stay for dinner. They say they also love tacos.

In March 1946, ongoing rain seeps into Willard’s tunnels. As Clara and Esther are herded through the basement, Clara longs for death and wonders if her parents ever think about her. She turns her thoughts to things worth living for, such as movie night and the upcoming Fourth of July picnic. Clara also hopes to find Beatrice someday. Esther and Clara are in line for what the orderlies call “The Blitz,” which is electroshock therapy. An unconscious woman is brought out of the room where the treatment is being administered. The patient behind Clara whimpers.

A few moments later, orderlies carry out another woman, this one screaming in pain.