December brings unseasonably warm weather. Luke mentions that Bonfire nights are approaching, when the farm welcomes people to gather. Leigh reflects on the aftermath of Luke’s recent bar fight, struggling to understand how he returned to normalcy so quickly. She realizes healing is a continuous journey and, inspired, she begins opening up to Jackson during their evening walks, sharing her off-grid childhood, forced illiteracy, her parents’ neglect, and her sister Lila’s love of flowers. Jackson listens patiently. She withholds the truth about her family’s deaths, her criminal record, and her fugitive status, but feels lighter with each revelation.

The night of the first Bonfire, December 21, is also Leigh’s birthday, a fact she keeps to herself, as birthdays held no meaning during her childhood or time in prison. At the gathering, Luke plays guitar for a large crowd while Jackson sits beside Leigh and offers her moonshine. He explains he avoids alcohol because it “doesn’t mix” with trauma, and shares that the Bonfire nights began after they were banned from the local bar and evolved into a weekly community event. Leigh admits she has been keeping a list of things she likes, with items including Luke’s singing, the feel of dirt, and the sound of Jackson’s smile.