The Second Life of Mirielle West

Days go by, and Mirielle and Irene do not speak. One evening, Mirielle decides to take a bath while everyone is viewing a movie but finds the hot water has been turned down. Mirielle wanders to the living room to play a record; Jean is there, sniffling in a corner. Jean was sent home from the movie viewing as punishment for telling another child that Santa Claus does not exist. Mirielle insists that he does exist, but Jean is doubtful, having never received any Christmas gifts at Carville. Mirielle suggests Jean write a letter to inform him that she is at Carville, and Jean brightens. Mirielle supplies stationery, and the next day they post the letter.

Mirielle writes to Charlie, requesting gifts be sent to the Carville children from Santa Claus. She is not certain that he will receive the letter before leaving for Switzerland nor is she optimistic that he will comply. Mirielle asks Frank whether there is a way to get Christmas gifts for the children; appeals Carville has made to charities in the past have gone unanswered, but Mirielle insists they should try again.

Mirielle sends requests for gifts to several charities and societies, then waits for a reply. She worries her requests will not be received in time and visits the canteen daily to check for mail.

On Christmas Eve, she works at the pharmacy. The work has been unpleasant since her fight with Irene. The women work in silence, tasked with inventorying pills. Some of the pills spill, and Sister Beatrice cautions them not to mix them up. Irene and Mirielle cannot help but laugh at the idea of a patient who believes they are consuming aspirin actually consuming laxative pills.

Suddenly, Mirielle is called away by Sister Verena, who wants her assistance in the operating room. Sister Verena explains Mirielle will be taking the place of an ill nun. Then, she is brought to a young woman in labor with a breech baby. The woman, Elena Remis, has been confined to the house where patients with mental illnesses are housed, while the baby’s father is in Carville’s jail.

By midnight, Elena has dilated only to six centimeters. Mirielle sleeps a little, and Sister Verena prepares for a cesarean section. Mirielle awakens to an exclamation from Elena; the baby has shifted so that its foot is presenting. Mirielle must help her deliver the baby by pressing on Elena’s abdomen with the next contraction. Sister Verena removes part of the baby’s body but its head remains lodged in the birth canal. With the next contraction, however, the baby’s head comes free.

The baby boy is pronounced healthy by Dr. Jack. Elena asks to hold the baby, but Dr. Jack refuses. Mirielle is confused, then realizes they are keeping the baby away from Elena because of her leprosy. She pleads with Dr. Jack that Elena should be allowed a moment with the baby, but he refuses. Mirielle finishes her assigned tasks, angry at the circumstances.

It is Christmas Day, but Mirielle is only angered by the Christmas music she hears playing everywhere. She wants to shower, but Jean brings her to the dining hall, where the children have indeed received gifts and candy. Mirielle is relieved. At house 18, Irene sits alone, the flowers gone. Mirielle apologizes, explaining that she was jealous that Irene’s son cared so much for her. Irene confesses that she sent the flowers herself. When Irene asks Mirielle what task Sister Verena needed her for the previous night, Mirielle begins to cry.

The chapter ends with a letter from Charlie in which he indicates that Evie enjoyed helping him choose the gifts for the Carville children and that he hopes they have arrived in time. He tells of their time in Switzerland, indicating that Mirielle is missed.

The Christmas decorations are put away, but Mirielle misses them. As Frank plans the Mardi Gras celebration, Mirielle jokes about the extent to which holidays are celebrated at Carville. She realizes that these celebrations bring a welcome distraction from the daily routine.

They discuss the fever therapy, about which Mirielle is still optimistic. Frank, on the other hand, notes that the disease’s stigma will continue to harm those whose limbs have been affected or lost. Mirielle kisses him on the cheek, vowing to keep working toward a cure.

The next day, Mirielle speaks with Sister Verena, determined to gain a place in the next fever trial. Sister Verena presumes Mirielle has come to ask after Elena’s baby. The women argue about what would be best for the child, who has been placed in an orphanage. Mirielle thinks of Felix, asserting that Sister Verena does not understand what it is like to be a mother. Sister Verena agrees.

Mirielle asks to join the next fever trial, but the trials have been discontinued. Not only did other patients besides Lula experience side effects, but there were no signs of improvement, and some patients’ conditions worsened. Mirielle is frustrated, but Sister Verena insists they must wait for God to reveal a cure.

Mirielle waits with Irene to receive the results of her skin test. She has had 11 negative tests, and a 12th one will mean she can be discharged from Carville. As they wait, they chat about the things that Irene will not miss about Carville. Finally, Dr. Jack reveals the good news: Irene’s 12th test is negative.

As they walk to house 18, Mirielle signals to Jean in the distance with a yellow handkerchief. This indicates Irene’s test results, and the women surprise Irene with a congratulatory party. They toast with Frank’s corn liquor, and Mirielle is happy for Irene’s good fortune.

During her next shift in the infirmary, Mirielle can’t help but notice the fever therapy machine—the very sight of it reminds her of her frustration. Nevertheless, she does her job, manicuring patients’ fingernails and taking temperatures. At the end of her shift, Mirielle is unable to resist kicking the machine but is only rewarded with a sore toe.

That evening, she joins the others for a movie viewing. It is a more recent film than is typical, and the romantic scenes between the lead actor and actress cause Mirielle to imagine kissing Frank. He has told Mirielle that he has a surprise for her after the film, and she is uncertain what to expect. When everyone has left, Frank pulls out another film. It is The Perilous Pursuits of Pauline—the film that caused Mirielle to fall in love with Charlie. When he appears on the screen, Mirielle rushes out.

Mirielle remains upset about the film. She is unsure whether it was the sight of Charlie or the presence of Frank that causes her angst. She also worries about fitting into her old life upon release from Carville. Irene has no fear about returning home, insisting that she is the same person she was five years ago when she left. Mirielle thinks of how she has not told Charlie of her friendships at Carville.

Suddenly, Jean interrupts, telling Mirielle that she missed only one word on the day’s spelling test. Mirielle agrees to give her money for candy in celebration. Then, Jean hands Mirielle a letter. Mirielle immediately thinks of Charlie but soon sees it is actually a letter to Irene from her son.

The day of the Mardi Gras celebration arrives. Mirielle watches the parade with the others, especially enjoying the children’s beehive float, which she helped to make. The women dress for the party, with Mirielle choosing one of her fancier dresses. Irene enters in a blue dress she has saved up to purchase. She gifts Mirielle her own ruby ring, and the two head to the party.

At the party, the band plays and everyone dances, many dressed in costume. Mirielle spots Frank beside the punch bowl and decides to apologize for running out on the private film showing. Before she can reach him, she is asked to dance, and one dance leads to another. When she breaks free, Mirielle cannot locate Frank and is told that he has gone home.

There, Mirielle apologizes for her behavior at the film, explaining that the reminder of her life at home was “jarring” (275). Frank moves closer, and Mirielle prepares for a kiss, but they are interrupted by a drunken group returning from the party. Frank asks Mirielle to stay, but she decides against it.

Mirielle is busy at the infirmary, as influenza spreads through Carville. As she is rushing around, she spills a pitcher of milk on her uniform and goes to house 18 to change.

In her room, Mirielle hears a scratching sound. She follows the sound to Irene’s room; despite her departure day being tomorrow, Irene has not packed and remains in bed. Mirielle calls out and offers to help her pack and discovers that the source of the scratching sound is the phonograph needle: Irene has moved the machine from the living room into her bedroom. Mirielle approaches Irene again, but Irene does not move. Mirielle spots a bottle of Lysol and knows that Irene has died by suicide.

Mirielle attends the small funeral for Irene, saddened that the cemetery headstone does not bear Irene’s true name. She recalls Irene giving her the ring and realizes Irene may have been contemplating death by suicide for some time. Indeed, Mirielle discovered a letter from Irene’s son alongside her body in which he expressed his desire for Irene not to return home. Mirielle knows the stigma of the disease is powerful, no matter Irene’s negative test results.

That evening, she sits with Jean as Jean plays her harmonica. Frank arrives to offer Mirielle company, and she tells him her real name (she has been going by her alias Pauline Marvin the whole time). The sound of her name causes her to break down, and she cries in Frank’s arms. Then, the two kiss.

The next morning, Mirielle oversleeps and is late for her skin test; Irene’s death clouds her mood. Mirielle anticipates her 10th negative skin test, bringing her one step closer to returning home, but she has mixed feelings about seeing Charlie again.

After the test, Mirielle has lunch, then returns to work in the infirmary. When Dr. Jack and Sister Verena ask Mirielle to see them privately, she discovers her skin test is positive. Mirielle insists the test is wrong, but Dr. Jack shows her the slide. She flees in a rage, knowing she will spend another year at Carville.

Frank attempts to comfort her, but Mirielle pushes him away. She insists Frank has caused her disease to return because he touched her with his hands. Frank explains that this is not true, stressing that the stigma of leprosy will plague them both by those outside of Carville.

The chapter ends with three brief letters from Charlie, all indicating that Mirielle is no longer replying.

Mirielle wallows in her room in the week following her positive test. She skips breakfast and eats supper in her room, refusing to join her housemates. Jean tries to rouse her by bringing Mirielle a movie magazine to read, but Mirielle refuses. Jean plays her harmonica, but Mirielle yells at her to leave. Finally, Jean yells back and leaves Mirielle alone.

Mirielle is awakened by someone in her room and discovers it is Sister Verena. She sternly orders Mirielle from bed, noting that her clothes and bedding are unwashed, and her hygiene is neglected. When Mirielle does not respond, Sister Verena asks about Felix, telling her that she too lost a son.

Mirielle learns a young, unwed Sister Verena was forced to release her newborn son into adoption, much like Elena. Sister Verena insists life must go on, but Mirielle retorts and orders the Sister to leave.

Suddenly, Mirielle feels as if she were underwater. Sister Verena has doused her with water from a mop bucket, demanding Mirielle clean up or be forced to.