The author relates the story of her father’s life and suicide. Her father had had an addictive personality – he was an alcoholic, took barbiturates & was a heavy smoker. He also had money problems & was harrassed by the FBI because of his support for various radical causes. The suicide of Bosworth’s 18-year-old brother was an event from which their father never recovered; he blamed himself entirely for the suicide. Bosworth speaks of her own delayed mourning & the therapeutic value of writing.