Chapter Thirty-one

Summary

• The narrator is returning to the office after a two-week absence due to their father’s death and dreads the first day back.
• The narrator experiences anxiety and prays for the strength to get through the day, but receives no immediate sign of divine reassurance.
• Although the narrator’s mother sends a supportive message, the narrator is skeptical of relying on her for comfort.
• The narrator encounters a colleague, Tina, and exchanges a brief greeting before separating.
• Early at the office, the narrator is greeted by Kathy and receives a sympathetic head tilt, prompting a response of feeling "fine."
• Kris, presumably a manager, welcomes the narrator back and offers the option to go home if it becomes overwhelming.
• The narrator desires to avoid attention but feels overwhelmed by colleagues' concern, causing physical stress symptoms.
• After a challenging day, the narrator skips lunch and prefers to focus on work rather than engaging with others.
• The narrator’s to-do list is long and contains a variety of tasks, from checking publishing materials to handling financials and organizing administrative work.
• Having planned the next day's work, the narrator finds themselves alone in the office at day's end.
• Contemplating whether to eat dinner, the narrator finally turns off the lights and leaves the empty office to go home.