Sethe's devotion to Beloved grows

Convinced that Beloved is her returned daughter, Sethe devotes herself entirely to the young woman. She quits her job at Sawyer's Restaurant and spends all her time and money trying to please Beloved, buying her fancy clothes and food. Beloved, in turn, becomes increasingly demanding and possessive, draining Sethe of her energy and resources. The relationship becomes a consuming, parasitic one, with Beloved growing larger and Sethe shrinking. Denver watches in alarm as her mother wastes away, both physically and emotionally.