Fly Away

Marah recalls moving to Los Angeles. She longs for her familiar house, furniture, and friends, making no effort to fit in or make friends at her new school. Marah goes through the motions of school, content to be invisible to everyone, including Johnny. She remains close to Tully, feeling that Tully is the only one who is honest with her about the pain Kate’s death has caused. In her depression, Marah begins cutting herself with a small knife. On the day of her commencement ceremony, she cuts too deeply and reveals her wound to her father and Tully. Johnny is confused, but Tully understands instantly what Marah has been doing. Tully plans to take Marah to Seattle to be seen by a psychiatrist Tully knows.

Tully takes Marah to the psychiatrist—Dr. Harriet Bloom—speaking with her about her own grief over Kate’s death as they walk. Tully shares with Marah her use of pills and alcohol as coping mechanisms. Marah does not speak much during the session. The doctor speaks briefly of Marah’s cutting and encourages her to attend a grief support group for teens that she runs. On the way out of the office, Marah has a brief conversation with a troubled-looking teen who ends up being Paxton, her roommate in the present timeline.

Marah does not wish to speak about the session with Tully, but, when she recognizes that Tully is hurt, agrees to attend the teen grief sessions. She retreats to Tully’s guest room where she cuts herself. The next morning, Marah’s three best friends from her Seattle school arrive, having been invited by Tully as a surprise for Marah. Marah spends the day with them but realizes they have drifted apart and now live very different lives.

Before Marah leaves for the group session, Tully dresses her in a fitted blouse. Tully insists that Marah has been trying to hide, and Marah admits to herself that this is true. At the session, Marah shares that her mother died, but not much else; it seems most of the teens are reluctant to speak. Paxton is there, in attendance after a court order due to the death of his sister.

Paxton speaks briefly with Marah after the session has ended, revealing the scars on his hand to show her that he too cuts himself. Dr. Bloom cautions Marah to be careful around Paxton.

Back at Tully’s condo, Marah explains that she does not wish to return to either the sessions or to meetings with Dr. Bloom, feeling as though neither will help her. Tully emphasizes her promise to Kate to care for Marah.

Johnny arrives the next day, and Marah begs to stay in Seattle with Tully. Johnny reveals that he plans to move back to Seattle and meant to surprise Marah with this news. Reluctantly, he agrees to let Marah remain in Tully’s care.

The chapter ends with Marah at a session with Dr. Bloom. After the session ends, Marah encounters Paxton in the waiting room. He asks Marah to meet him at midnight.

Marah meets Paxton at Pioneer Square, an area of the city where homeless individuals congregate. He takes Marah via bus to a gasworks factory where he has hidden a bottle of absinthe. As they drink, they talk about Paxton’s sister’s death and Marah’s certainty that no one truly cares how she is doing. Paxton suggests they take drugs to forget their grief and Marah agrees.

The narrative returns to the present as Marah’s plane lands in Seattle. Marah meets Johnny and her grandmother—Kate’s mother—at the hospital, then Johnny leads her to Tully. Being in the hospital causes Marah to recall Kate and the numerous visits she made when Kate was receiving chemotherapy. Seeing the condition Tully is in causes Marah to feel remorseful for selling the story about her to Star magazine; Marah is certain that whatever has happened to Tully is a result of the article.

As Marah apologizes, the point of view shifts to Tully, still in a half-alive state where Kate is present with her. Tully recalls a time in June 2008, just before Marah’s high school graduation. She has finally been given a chance at another television job by an ABC affiliate with whom she worked decades ago. He reminds her, however, how she selfishly looked after only her own interests during her career. Tully is upset, but knows she has little choice but to take the job.

The narrative continues from Tully’s point of view in 2008. She researches the eighteen-year-old host of the new teen show she will co-host, then arrives on the set early the next morning. The teen host, Kendra Ladd, is not happy to see Tully, insulting her about her weight. Tully leaves the studio and has a panic attack, then hails a taxi to rush her to the hospital.

She is seen by the same doctor as before, who unwillingly agrees to refill Tully’s Xanax prescription and encourages her to undergo testing for perimenopause and therapy for her depression. Tully waives him off. As she leaves the hospital, she passes a bookstore and is struck with an idea: she calls her agent, telling him she wishes to write a memoir.

That night, Tully sits down to begin the book, but has difficulty getting started. She decides to look through the things from her childhood which she has stored away. In the storage unit, memories of her grandmother and her mother—who later abandoned Tully—come flooding back and Tully quickly leaves the storage unit.

Tully recounts Marah’s graduation day and the first few visits Marah has with Dr. Bloom. Tully feels strongly about keeping her promise to Kate to take care of Marah. She tries to coax Marah into talking about her grief but knows that she too has failed to deal with her grief in a healthy way. During Marah’s first few days at Tully’s condo, Tully’s agent calls with a book deal offer, and, though it is less money than Tully would have made on an advance in the past, she accepts the offer.

A few nights later, Tully decides to work on the memoir when she cannot sleep. She decides to return to the storage unit to dig through the mementos for the purpose of research. The items bring back memories of her mother and Tully wonders if the memoir is a good idea.

Marah continues therapy sessions as she lives with Tully. Tully tries to work on her memoir but wants to know more about the details of her past. She discovers her mother is still living in the house Tully owns in Snohomish and goes to visit her. Tully waits for her mother, but their meeting is short when her mother finally arrives. Tully returns to Seattle, distracted. She heads to a bar after texting Marah, who tells Tully she is home in bed.

Back at her condo, Tully discovers Marah is missing. She soon stumbles in, having been drinking. She tells Tully she has been hanging out with the members of the support group, including Paxton. Tully agrees not to tell Johnny about Marah drinking or spending time with Paxton.