own journey toward self-discovery and understanding. The opening of the novel presents an introspective Agnes, who grapples with her memories of her parents' marriage and the impact it has had on her life. She reflects on her mother's beauty and vitality, contrasting it with the profound sadness that her father's mental struggles have brought to their family. Agnes paints a vivid picture of her upbringing, detailing the joy and burdens of growing up in a household marked by love, creativity, and sorrow. This rich tapestry of familial relationships and Agnes's internal conflicts lays the groundwork for her development, as she begins to confront her own feelings and aspirations amidst the backdrop of her mother's sacrifices and her father's turbulent legacy. (This is an automatically generated summary.)