The Crash

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, illness, mental illness, child abuse, suicidal ideation, and substance use.

Polly narrates Part 2, which begins two days before Tegan’s crash. Polly hasn’t had much to do since she left her job after an event that she refers to as “The Incident.” Hank works at the auto shop they own, and Polly and Hank’s cabin is isolated, with only one neighbor within a mile: Mitch Hambly and his seven-year-old daughter, Sadie.

Polly lets Sadie come over after school, even though Mitch doesn’t want her to. Today, Sadie appears underfed and unbathed. She also has bruises on her body. Polly concludes that Mitch is an abusive father. She has called Child Protective Services in the past, but nothing changed.

Polly’s mother died from battling aggressive breast cancer. Polly misses her terribly but senses her spirit’s presence in the basement. Polly receives a call from Angela, another nurse at Roosevelt Memorial hospital who was her close friend for 13 years. Angela tells Polly that she is pregnant, and the news comes as a blow to Polly. It hurts her every time another friend conceives. She feigns excitement and congratulates Angela, but afterward, she blocks Angela’s phone number and doesn’t plan to speak to her again.