Rusted Robots launches to enormous fanfare. Zelu's family, who previously dismissed her writing, are now reading and discussing it; her mother forwards every review, including harsh ones. Tolu calls constantly with reactions, and strangers begin recognizing Zelu in public. Despite the success, Zelu feels overwhelmed and scrutinized, spiraling into self-criticism about past life choices and wondering if the negative reviews capture some truth about her.

Seeking escape, Zelu takes an autonomous vehicle to Lake Michigan, where she fantasizes about wheeling off the pier and swimming away forever. She reflects on her childhood as a competitive swimmer before the accident and how water rehab saved her. An older Black man recognizes her, praises the book, and tells her it's a victory she allowed herself to write it, calling her smart and angry.

Folashade calls asking Zelu to cat-sit Man Man, Tolu's huge Maine Coon. The autonomous vehicle reroutes erratically, nearly crashing, then offers a free ride and a Sorry screen which Zelu accepts. At Tolu's house, while petting Man Man and watching The Martian, Zelu receives an email from Dr. Hugo Wagner, an MIT biomechatronics researcher and amputee himself, offering to build her lightweight plastic-polymer exoskeletons that would let her walk and run without invasive surgery.

Zelu verifies his credentials, watches his TED Talk, and tearfully replies. Wagner immediately responds, arranging to fly to Chicago in two days to meet her in Orland Park. Zelu spends the evening watching exoskeleton videos, sobbing with an emotion she cannot name—not joy or sadness, but motion. At home, her mother serves beans and plantain and warns her about Man Man, joking she can't run away; Zelu privately reflects that the future may change that.