Restore Me

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of mental illness, substance use, transgender discrimination, sexual content, bullying, death, and suicidal ideation.

In an excerpt from her journals, Juliette repeatedly writes the words “I am not insane” (275); all but the last sentence is stricken through. The repeated words fill an entire page.

Juliette wakes the next morning, suffering from the physical effects of her hangover and the embarrassment of asking Warner to shower with her. She still likes her haircut, however. It makes her feel confident, something that translates into her desire to dress for her own sake, not for others’ comfort.

Warner is greeting three other children of supreme commanders—twins Nicolás and Valentina from South America and Stephan Feruzi Omondi from Africa—when Juliette enters. He marvels at her bold new look. Lena joins them, leading Warner to note the many differences between the two women. Juliette rebuffs Lena’s efforts to upset her about her breakup with Warner.

Lena makes anti-trans comments about Valentina, who is a trans woman. Nicolás defends his sister, and Valentina insults Lena. Warner encourages Valentina to ignore Lena, framing Lina as ignorant. Nicolás teases Juliette about not speaking Spanish. Juliette observes that The Reestablishment supposedly wanted to craft “a single, universal language” (285).