21. Coop
Summary
- The chapter begins in 1961 with Kya feeling thoroughly sick with despair after Tate has left, so much so that she remains in bed for three days following his departure. This leaves her feeling abandoned and unloved, similar to how she was left by her family in her childhood.
- Kya spirals into depression, reminiscing about her family, her lost love for Tate, and her loneliness.
- For the first time in her life, Kya feels the pain of love lost and promises herself not to trust or love anyone again.
- She finds motivation and slight relief from her depression when a Cooper's Hawk, which she names "Coop," perched upon the steps of her dilapidated shack, ignites a spark of interest within her.
- Kya, for the first time in days, pulls herself from the mire of despair, feeds the gulls on the beach, and revels in their crowd and warmth around her.
- She isolates herself for a month after July 4, surviving on dried fish, mussels, oysters, grits, and greens. She avoids interaction with people, motivated by her belief that needing people only results in being hurt.
- For the first time since Tate's departure, Kya ventures into the marsh again after she sees the Coop, engaging in her collection hobbies – searching for shells, bird nests, and feathers.
- She manages again to find some form of normalcy by the end of August: she resumes her boat rides, collection, and painting sessions. But she remains reclusive, interacting with other people only when necessary.
- In the years that pass, Kya's natural science collections mature and blend aesthetically with her art, filling every corner of her lonely abode. The wonders of the natural world soothes her, but they also remind her of the loneliness in her heart.
- Her isolation and heartache become larger as time passes; she craves the company of others but is afraid of opening her heart and being hurt again. As a result, she spends another few years in solitude.