Chapter 6 Summary – Stevie Faces Two Years of Lost Memories

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The next morning, Dr. Reicher shows Stevie a 3-D image of her skull, explaining she has a cranial fracture on the back left side and significant brain bruising. The doctor describes a ventriculostomy—a temporary catheter inserted to relieve fluid buildup and pressure—and notes that the small scalp incision will heal within two weeks. Dr. Reicher then tells Stevie she is experiencing retrograde amnesia, meaning she cannot recall events before the injury. While some memories may return in days or weeks, permanent loss is possible. In Stevie's case, the missing time spans nearly two years, which the doctor calls extremely rare.

Stevie is overwhelmed. She hears only "two years" before her mind goes numb. Her mother holds her hand, and her father thanks the doctor. When left alone, a desperate need to escape grips Stevie. She tries to stand but collapses, crawling toward a bathroom door. Her parents try to help, but she shakes them off and locks herself inside. Curled in the corner, she closes her eyes and tries to remember. She flashes to a school bathroom memory: Savannah at the sink, Rory bursting from a stall to suggest ditching lunch for Taco Bell. It feels like yesterday, not two years ago.

A knock from her mother interrupts the memory. Stevie tells her to stay out, then feels her scalp and finds the line of stitches, confirming the injury is real. When her father enters and touches her shoulder, Stevie smacks his hand away and yells at him. Seeing him shrink back, she immediately regrets it, realizing she has never yelled at her father before—at least not in the life she can recall. She admits she is scared, and her mother gets down on the floor with her, holding her arms. Stevie weeps and asks how she can be eighteen when she feels fifteen. She says she doesn't know who she is supposed to be. Her mother cradles her in her lap, reassuring her that she and her father expect nothing and will help her figure it out. Stevie takes her father's hand and feels his familiar calluses, allowing herself to believe that the world might make sense again—at least for now.

Key Events

Dr. Reicher explains Stevie's cranial fracture, brain bruising, and the ventriculostomy procedure.
The doctor reveals that Stevie has retrograde amnesia and has lost nearly two years of memories.
Stevie experiences a temporary memory of a school bathroom with Savannah and Rory.
Stevie crawls to the hospital bathroom in distress and examines her stitches.
She lashes out at her father when he tries to comfort her, then feels immediate remorse.
Her mother holds her in the bathroom and calms her down, promising family support.

Character Development

Stevie: Shows raw vulnerability as she grapples with the loss of self. Her frantic attempt to remember and her outburst at her father reveal deep fear and confusion. The chapter also hints at her pre-amnesia personality from the memory flash—a typical teenager with close friends.
Mom (Mrs. Calla?): Portrayed as steady and nurturing. She instantly adapts to Stevie's needs, getting on the floor and physically comforting her, demonstrating unconditional maternal support.
Dad (Mr. Calla?): Initially tries to help but is rebuffed. He shrinks back at Stevie's anger, showing his gentleness and desire to protect, even when he doesn't know how. By the end, Stevie takes his hand, repairing their connection.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Memory and Identity: The central crisis—if Stevie cannot remember two years, can she still be the same person? She directly asks, "I don't know who I'm supposed to be," linking memory to selfhood.
Fear of the Unknown: Stevie's panic stems from not knowing what happened in the missing years and not knowing if she will ever recover them.
Family as Anchor: Her parents' physical presence and reassurance act as the only stabilizing force. The motif of touch—hand-holding, cradling—emphasizes their role in grounding her.
Cranial Fracture as Metaphor: The literal crack in Stevie's skull symbolizes the broken timeline of her life; the ventriculostomy (draining pressure) parallels her emotional release through tears.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes the central plot driver: Stevie's two-year amnesia. It forces both the protagonist and the reader to confront the scope of what she has lost. The emotional intensity here deepens our investment in Stevie's recovery and sets up the mystery of what those two years contained—including, likely, her relationship with her girlfriend (based on the book's premise). The family dynamics also come into sharp focus, showing that Stevie's parents will be key allies in her journey.

Study Questions and Answers

What medical procedure did Stevie undergo, and why? She had a ventriculostomy, where a temporary catheter was inserted into her skull to drain fluid buildup and relieve pressure on her brain caused by the cranial fracture.
Why does Stevie yell at her father, and how does her reaction affect him? When her father touches her shoulder while she is already overwhelmed, Stevie smacks his hand away and yells, "Don't touch me!" She immediately regrets it because she has never yelled at him before, and she sees him shrink back into a smaller version of himself.
How does Stevie's mother reassure her at the end of the chapter? Her mother gets onto the bathroom floor, holds her, and says she and her father know Stevie better than anyone and will help her "figure this out." She promises they expect nothing from Stevie and are there for her.