Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses suicide and a forced sexual encounter, in addition to strong psychological manipulation.

Protagonist Jessica Farris opens the narrative by challenging the reader to reconsider their preconceived judgments of people who appear to be making poor or selfish choices in their lives, including herself. She hints at the study in which she is about to participate, noting that she was paid to reveal secrets about herself and that along the way, she lost track of the reasons she agreed to do so.

Jessica, a makeup artist, finishes off her workday on Friday, November 16, as she answers her last call from two college girls. Jessica, who is 28, notes that her job allows her to transform women, but only temporarily. On the way to the appointment, she gets a call from her mother, who happily announces that Jessica’s younger sister, Becky, zipped her own jacket. At 22 years old, Jessica’s sister needs care for life due to a brain injury she sustained as a child. Jessica feels guilty that she isn’t around her family in Pennsylvania more often but is also grateful to be in New York, away from that stress.