Sorrow and Bliss

Patrick is gone for 10 days. Martha doesn’t reply to any of his texts except to say that she is staying with Ingrid. She doesn’t go back when Patrick returns, either. A month after being apart, Patrick comes to get Martha from Ingrid’s. Martha only goes because she sees how relieved Ingrid is that Martha is leaving.

Martha’s anger toward Patrick doesn’t abate, and she becomes mean and contemptuous toward him, even asking him to sleep in a different room. However, she also realizes the medication is taking effect when she is able to respond calmly and reasonably to her editor’s feedback on an article. She emails Robert that she is feeling better, and doesn’t go for any follow-ups. She is “hyper-aware” of feeling “normal,” and believes her behavior toward Patrick is also “normal,” as she currently hates him.

Patrick suggests planning a party for Martha’s 40th birthday, and goes ahead despite Martha’s disinterest because he doesn’t want her to hold it against him later. When Martha suggests he is throwing a party for this reason and not because he loves her, Patrick gets upset and comments, “Sometimes I wonder if you actually like being like this” (256). The next proper conversation they have is on the way back home from the party: When Patrick suggests that they don’t talk until they get home, Martha suggests they don’t talk at home, either.