Ash arrives from a run with coffee for Nora, gently noting she slept on Molly’s floor after comforting their daughter. He blames himself for showing Molly bear videos, walks the dog Plato, and outlines a late hospital shift with routine surgeries. Nora, still orienting, deflects a stray remark about an upcoming half-marathon and thanks Ash for his support.

They coordinate the morning: Ash will run and drop Molly at school, though Nora offers to take her. Ash mentions his sister’s good news about illustrating a Kew Gardens calendar, then heads out. Nora absorbs the domestic details, reading the room as clues to who she is in this life.

After Molly is dropped at school, Nora checks emails and learns she isn’t merely pausing teaching; she is officially on sabbatical to write a book on Thoreau, backed by a research grant and a planned visit to Walden Pond. The credible academic path and funded project suggest a stable, purpose-driven life.

Nora explores the house: books on philosophy, climate, and Eastern thought; an electric piano; a guitar tied to her past with Ash; family photos; and signs of shared interests and travel. Viewing herself in the mirror—healthy, grounded—she recognizes a balanced identity. She concludes this is a good, sustainable life she could embrace.