The Wonder

Content Warning: This chapter contains depictions of an eating disorder.

On Saturday evening, Wright learns from Kitty that the last thing Anna consumed before her fast was the wafer she received at her first communion. Wright names constellations for Anna, and tells her that the constellations in the Southern Hemisphere are different. The next afternoon, Wright takes Anna out for a walk and is disturbed by her slow pace. She tells Anna about the tree tied with rags; Anna explains that the tree is near a holy well, and that dipping a rag in the well and tying it to the tree will heal ailments. Wright finds a bush full of red currants and encourages Anna to eat. Anna refuses, but holds berries in her hands for birds to eat.

That evening, Wright regrets her haste in running away from Byrne, and wishes she could get his opinion on Anna’s health. She slips a note under his door early on Monday morning. When she arrives at the cottage that same morning, Wright asks Kitty whether Anna has confided in her about the fast. Kitty feels attacked and Rosaleen intervenes. Before leaving, Sister Michael tells Wright that the community have spotted her out hiking. The O’Donnells leave to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, bringing food offerings.

As soon as the family leaves, Wright takes Anna to a meadow where Byrne is waiting, as Wright’s note instructed. Anna and Byrne discuss local flowers and birds, and she tells him the riddles she has learned from Wright. As they talk, it is revealed that Byrne was previously engaged and that he has thought about moving to Australia. Byrne describes emigration as a kind of death. Privately, Byrne tells Wright that he believes Anna is dying, citing his experience with starvation as a reporter in the Great Famine. A few hours later, Byrne slips a draft of his article under Wright’s door at the spirit grocery. The article affirms Anna’s piety, but explicitly states that she is dying of starvation. The article also implies that her situation has grown dire as a result of the watch.

On Monday afternoon, Sister Michael is telling Anna a story about a miracle when Wright arrives at the cottage. Wright tries to confront her about their role in Anna’s health, but Sister Michael leaves. Anna says she feels like she is floating, and hears bells. She tells Wright that she says her devotional prayer to the cross 33 times a day. Sister Michael returns and explains to Wright that the story she was telling Anna was about the importance of confession. Wright realizes that Sister Michael also believes Anna is lying, and asks for her help confronting Dr. McBrearty. Sister Michael refuses. Wright confronts her again at the next shift change, but their argument is interrupted by Rosaleen and Anna.

On Tuesday morning, Wright visits McBrearty to tell him that she thinks Anna is dying. McBrearty dismisses her concerns and shares his research about medieval fasting saints; he is beginning to believe that Anna, like the saints, is one of the chosen that can survive without food. He tells Wright that Anna represents freedom from need. When Wright protests, he accuses her of overstepping her boundaries, and of giving in to maternal instinct. He suggests that the loss of her own child is preventing Wright from remaining neutral, but agrees to visit Anna in the afternoon.

When Wright arrives at the cabin, Anna is very sick: There is blood in urine, her adult teeth are falling out, her vision is fading, and she is too weak to move. McBrearty arrives with a wheelchair and examines Anna, but dismisses Wright’s concerns again, claiming that her physical symptoms are signs that she is changing systemically because she no longer relies on food. Wright demands that he stop the watch. McBrearty replies that doing so would be admitting the family was lying, and storms off. Wright knows she should leave the watch, but can’t bring herself to do so.

That night, Wright visits Byrne’s room and admits that he is right about the watch’s impact on Anna. Byrne tells Wright that she has no loyalty to anyone but Anna, and the time for neutrality has passed: She must urge Anna to eat. On Wednesday morning, Wright confronts Anna with a mirror to show her how sick she looks. Anna asks Wright how she started a new life after her marriage ended, and tells her about the war. Wright uses biblical quotes to try to convince Anna that she needs to eat and tries to explain nutrition. Anna responds that she was fed manna from heaven for months. The conversation is interrupted by Rosaleen, who is furious after reading Byrne’s article. Wright affirms that Anna is dying, and accuses Rosaleen of being complicit. Rosaleen, devastated, responds that she did everything she could, and fed Anna as long as she would let her.

In the afternoon, Wright takes Anna out in the wheelchair and they again meet Byrne. Byrne tells Wright that he has learned that a mission Anna mentioned was run by Redemptorists, priests sent from Rome to reaffirm church orthodoxy and revive church membership. After an upsetting sermon on fornication, the parish experienced a rush of confessions and confirmations, including Anna. That night, Wright realizes that Anna’s earlier comment was an admission: For four months, that is, since her first communion, someone was feeding her.

Wright reviews her notes and realizes that Anna’s health began to decline after Anna refused her mother’s morning greeting. When Wright confronts her, Anna admits that her mother was bringing her the manna from heaven in a holy kiss. Wright tells Anna that her mother has been feeding her regular food, and that because she’s refusing it, she will die. Anna nods and smiles.