Celeste goes to a domestic violence counseling office on the Lower North Shore despite having intended to cancel. She chose the distant, modest practice because she did not expect to attend and wanted to avoid anyone from Pirriwee, but she forces herself inside after imagining Perry’s contempt and admitting that their behavior is the shameful thing.

In the session, counselor Susi asks standard risk-assessment questions about weapons, pets, and violence. Celeste reacts defensively, trying to distinguish her life from the stereotyped image of an abused woman and insisting that her relationship with Perry is merely “toxic” and mutually violent because she hits him back and sometimes provokes fights.

Susi steadily reframes Celeste’s explanations as abuse by asking whether Perry fears Celeste and whether Celeste has ever feared Perry. Celeste first denies serious fear, then recalls a time Perry pressed Celeste’s face into a couch so that Celeste thought she might suffocate. Celeste admits she packed a bag afterward but stayed because the boys were very young and Celeste was exhausted.

When Susi asks about the children, Celeste panics that authorities might take Josh and Max away and insists Perry has never hurt them and is a wonderful father. Celeste recounts the miscarriages, the twins’ premature birth, and Perry’s devotion during their difficult infancy, explaining to herself that this shared history and Perry’s love for the boys make leaving feel impossible.

Susi asks why Celeste came now, and Celeste remembers the athletics carnival, Perry’s amused reaction to Josh noticing a mark, Celeste’s envy of her laughing cleaners, and Celeste’s impulsive large charitable donation. Celeste says Perry’s violence has not escalated, admits she misses Perry and does not miss Perry when he travels, and rejects Susi’s warning that domestic violence can be fatal by insisting Perry will not kill her.

Celeste then explains the cycle of her marriage as a seesaw: after Perry hurts Celeste, Perry feels guilty and Celeste has temporary power; as bruises fade, Perry’s guilt lessens, Celeste walks on eggshells, resentment builds, and another violent incident follows. When Susi says Perry will hit Celeste again, Celeste accepts it, and Susi shifts the session toward making a safety plan for next time.