The Immortalists

The novel moves back to the time just after Daniel’s death. Varya visits Mira in Kingston and sees all of Daniel’s research in his study. Varya tells Mira the story of Bruna Costello and cautions against sharing it with Gertie. Varya notes, “The truth might change Gertie’s perception of her children, children who weren’t alive to defend themselves” (290). We also learn that Eddie is cleared of all charges in relation to Daniel’s death. 

Varya reveals that she did not have to attend a conference during that Thanksgiving. Instead, she stayed away because she knew Daniel’s prophesied death date was approaching, and “She did not know what would happen that day, did not think she could stand to witness it” (290-291).

Varya thinks back to her history with mental illness. It was not until she was 30 that she was diagnosed with OCD. She had always been anxious, but all of her rituals and fixations became worse after visiting Bruna. 

During graduate school, she sleeps with a visiting professor and becomes pregnant. She mentions planning to get an abortion at Planned Parenthood, and the text does not make it clear whether or not she goes through with the procedure.