Rocky wakes to find Nick already up and reading The New Yorker next to her in bed. The two have a small spat, and although Rocky knows that her outsized emotional reaction to Nick at this moment is rooted in the volatility of perimenopause, she struggles to manage her anger. Nick responds with patience and kindness that Rocky reflects is characteristic of her husband, and she’s grateful to be married to someone who gives her so much grace. She recalls his reaction when she recently related a conversation she had with her aging father: Her father shared with Rocky that one of her children was his favorite, and Rocky was horrified. Nick had explained that people are imperfect and that her father’s imperfections weren’t “new information.” He told her that she could love him anyway, despite his flaws.

Nick and Rocky attempt makeup sex in the outdoor shower, but her menopausal body no longer responds to Nick like it used to, and she’s again frustrated with the aging process. He, however, makes light of their predicament and doesn’t allow it to darken their