In 1969, immediately after Chase Andrews assaults her, Kya speeds her boat toward her lagoon and limps to the shack, bruised and terrified he might follow. Convinced the law and locals would not believe the Marsh Girl over Chase, she gathers food and slips through the gale to Tate’s refitted reading cabin to hide.

At the cabin she scans the creek, watching a small herd of does spook and drift away, deepening her isolation. Exhausted, she eats without appetite and berates herself, sure townspeople would blame her. She finally crawls into Tate’s bed and sleeps fitfully, waking to listen for approaching footsteps.

By morning her injuries worsen, and clarity arrives: Kya understands why her mother left and vows never to live waiting for the next blow. She returns home but avoids Jumpin’ to conceal her battered face. On the porch she observes a female praying mantis consume her mate during copulation, thinking that female creatures know how to deal with their lovers.

Over the next days, Kya explores remote reaches of the marsh that Chase wouldn’t know, but painting is hard while her eye remains swollen and her body aches. Hyperalert to every sound, she studies bird calls and continually maps escape routes, determined to survive and not be victimized again.