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It is January, and if all goes well at Esther's discharge interview in one week, she will be able to return to college. Doctor Nolan has warned her that people will treat her gingerly or even avoid her, but Esther is prepared to deal with this situation. Whether or not the bell jar descends again, she does not plan to hide her past from others or from herself.

Buddy Willard drops in to visit, and Esther helps him dig his car from the snow. She sees that he is changed; his "old, sure smile" is gone when he asks Esther whether anything he has done caused her illness or Joan's. Esther reassures him that he is not to blame.

Esther phones Irwin and asks him to pay for her emergency room visit, which he agrees to do. She declines to see him again.

Esther attends Joan's funeral, where she sees some old friends, patients, and nurses.

Esther gives herself a once-over before her interview with the doctors. She is scared and wishes she could be confident about her future, but all she can do is begin to live again.





 She is scared and wishes she could be confident about her future, but all she can do is begin to live again

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