Part Two: Eloise — Chapter 1

In summer 2001, Eloise Ambrose—an artist in Washington Heights—awaits jet-lagged husband Adam at their diner while news of Andrea Yates unsettles her pregnant mind. She works on a protective phoenix mosaic, reflecting on turning broken pieces beautiful. Flashbacks reveal her Alabama childhood: a domineering preacher father Ezekiel, medicated mother Euphemia, adored sister Adie, purity rites, and escalating abuse masked as piety. Art becomes Eloise’s hidden refuge.

After a vivid labor dream, Eloise delivers Molly precipitously. Early joy is followed by sleepless vigilance, intrusive fears, and hyperawareness. Alone while Adam travels, she spirals—paranoia about surveillance, obsessive safety rituals, and an injury with a craft knife. A midwife’s platitudes fail. Psychiatrist Dr. Kumon in the World Trade Center prescribes Zoloft; Eloise has a terrifying reaction and is hospitalized, then misattributed bipolar considered; later thyroiditis is diagnosed and Haldol stopped, but the accusatory inner voice returns.

Interwoven, Eloise discloses past trauma: as a teen she’s publicly humiliated by her father and later discovers he is sexually abusing Adie. Planning escape, Eloise steals church funds; Adie dies by suicide using their mother’s pills. With help from teacher Ms. Robichaud, Eloise runs, renames herself, and attends RISD, building a new life in mosaics.

Back in 2001, the voice pushes Eloise toward drowning Molly; friend Evie intervenes during a blackout-like episode. With Adam away again, Evie escorts Eloise toward a next-day psych appointment downtown. The morning of September 11, Evie keeps sick Molly uptown while Eloise’s cab nears the towers. Eloise witnesses both impacts, falling bodies, and the South Tower collapse. Concluding that leaving is the only way to protect Molly, she fades into the evacuee tide and disappears, effectively ending Eloise Ambrose while ensuring Molly remains with Adam and Evie.