I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Esther is informed that Deborah is in the Disturbed ward; she asks to visit, but is dissuaded and begrudgingly chooses not to interfere.

Dr. Fried notices a pattern in Deborah’s moods: She becomes upset and retreats whenever she reveals secrets about Yr. Deborah explains that Lactamaeon, the second in command of Yr, once told her, “Three Changes and Their Mirrors, and then Death” (56). Deborah believed the first change was her tumor, and its mirror is the “broken flower” (56) she continues to feel. The second change was the antisemitism she experienced at the camp. The third change was moving to the city, and the mirror became death, but Deborah is unsure if this death was the day she attempted suicide. She recalls coming home from the last surgery and her parents happiness, but she felt that her life was ruined. Before her surgery, Deborah dreamed of a red geranium growing in the hospital. A voice said that if flowers can grow there, so can she. Then, the dream turned dark, and the flowerpot smashed. Deborah later saw a broken flowerpot with a red flower, and the same voice said the first change and mirror were complete.