Chapter 31 Summary – Abby Supports Morgan After Her Abortion
⚠️ 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
After returning from the hospital in the rain, Abby stops at a drugstore to pick up supplies. She receives a reassuring text from Kayla about Morgan’s safe arrival at the hotel. When Abby’s mother texts from the spa, Abby updates her and thanks her, receiving only a thumbs-up emoji in reply. At the hotel, Abby showers and changes into dry clothes, then visits the room Morgan shares with Lily. Morgan looks pale and distressed, and Abby confirms that she knows about the abortion appointment. Abby provides a heating pad, snacks, and emotional support, sharing the story of her friend Marissa’s abortion to normalize the experience. Morgan explains she must take two medications, with the final stage occurring tomorrow. She declines Abby’s offer to stay but appreciates the support. Abby suggests Andy could keep her company, but Morgan says she needs to stay away from boys for a while. Abby reassures Morgan that she and Kayla are available for anything she needs. After leaving, Abby orders Chinese food and lies in bed, feeling energized rather than exhausted. Her mind dwells on Sebastian—their kiss in the rain, the feeling of weightlessness and power, and a sense that nothing can hurt her.
Key Events
- Abby stops at a drugstore for snacks and a heating pad on the way from the hospital.
- Abby texts Kayla and her mother, receiving brief confirmation from her mother.
- Abby showers, changes, and visits Morgan’s hotel room.
- Morgan reveals she knows Abby is aware of the abortion; Abby confirms she does and offers support.
- Abby shares that her friend Marissa had an abortion and was fine afterward.
- Morgan explains her two-day medication regimen; tomorrow the abortion will happen.
- Morgan declines Abby’s offer to stay but accepts the supplies; Abby suggests Andy as company, but Morgan says she needs distance from boys.
- Abby returns to her room, orders food, and feels exhilarated thinking about Sebastian.
Character Development
Abby demonstrates deep empathy and discretion. She proactively supports Morgan without judgment, using her own friend’s experience to comfort her. Abby also becomes a secret-keeper for both Morgan’s abortion and her own romantic entanglement with Sebastian. Her shift from exhaustion to exhilaration after the day’s events shows a reawakening of her capacity for joy and risk.
Morgan is vulnerable but resilient. She manages the logistics of her medication, articulates her needs (a nap, distance from boys), and accepts help. Her wish to be home in her own bed underscores her isolation within the bike tour community.
Kayla and Andy remain offstage but are referenced as part of the support network Abby describes.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Support networks: Abby repeatedly emphasizes that multiple people (herself, Kayla, Andy, and even Jasper) are ready to help Morgan. This contrasts with Morgan’s perception of being alone.
Secrecy and trust: Abby keeps both Morgan’s abortion and her connection with Sebastian hidden. The chapter explores the weight of holding others’ secrets.
Care as gendered labor: Abby assumes a nurturing role, buying supplies, sharing personal stories, and checking in—a parallel to the emotional work often done by women.
The rain and renewal: The kiss in the rain gives Abby a sense of flying and invulnerability, standing in stark opposition to Morgan’s physical and emotional pain.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter humanizes the experience of a medication abortion, showing Morgan’s fear, her preparation, and the quiet support she receives. It also deepens Abby’s character arc: her ability to help Morgan comes from her own history (the mention of Marissa) and her current emotional openness after the kiss with Sebastian. The juxtaposition of Morgan’s struggle and Abby’s elation highlights the range of experiences women navigate simultaneously.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Abby normalize abortion for Morgan, and why is that significant?
Abby mentions that her friend Marissa had an abortion and was fine after the cramps passed. This normalizes the experience for Morgan, who likely grew up in a conservative environment where abortion was stigmatized. It shows Abby using her own network to reduce Morgan’s shame.
2. Why does Morgan decline both Abby’s and Andy’s company, and what does that reveal about her emotional state?
Morgan says she wants to be alone and needs to stay away from boys “for a little while.” This reveals her need for control and privacy after a physically and emotionally invasive procedure. It also suggests she associates the pregnancy with her encounter with Andy, even though the chapter does not name him as the father.
3. What does Abby’s re-energized feeling after the day’s events tell readers about her internal transformation?
After a day of physical exertion, rain, and emotional stress, Abby feels capable of a marathon. The memory of Sebastian’s kiss gives her a sense of weightlessness and power. This marks a turning point: she is embracing risk and joy, emerging from a period of emotional numbness.