Content Warning: This guide section depicts physical and emotional abuse against children and self-harm. It also references death by suicide and suicidal ideation, sexual assault, animal violence, and the use of biased language against people with intellectual disabilities.

Nell thinks people are separated by their experiences, which they try to bridge through language. She initially thought that empathy was the key to connection, but now she feels “translation” is the best way to describe any connection attempt.

During her first year at Trinity College Dublin, Nell formed a small group of friends—Lily, Shona, and Malachy. Nell’s anxieties manifested as a concern for the disappearance of small things, like the nightjar bird species. Watching online videos of nature eased her anxiety.

Now, Nell works as a travel and lifestyle content writer. She values her independence from her mother, Carmel, who often denies the pain of others because she believes they are self-obsessed. Nell tries to make sense of why she feels so sad, writes poetry, and posts it on Instagram.

Nell meets a man named Felim at a nightclub. He comes from a farming family. Several days later, Nell bumps into Felim at a magazine stand. They start texting.