Irene’s Recovery and Reunion

The Sun is Also a Star

Irene’s life changes from isolation to purposeful care, and her eventual encounter with Natasha reconnects two outcomes of the same day.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

A Lonely Guard A Lonely Guard from "The Sun is Also a Star". Contact Desired Work as Connection Irene depends on interactions with applicants to feel seen and connected to the world.

A Lonely Guard from "The Sun is Also a Star". Contact Desired Work as Connection Irene depends on interactions with applicants to feel seen and connected to the world.

Contact Desired Work as Connection Irene depends on interactions with applicants to feel seen and connected to the world. Hidden Crisis Her apparent scrutiny of their belongings conceals a loneliness severe enough to make life seem unbearable.

A Suicide Note A Suicide Note from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Plan Formed Music and Identification Irene listens to Nirvana and finds language for her own despair in Kurt Cobain’s voice.

A Suicide Note from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Plan Formed Music and Identification Irene listens to Nirvana and finds language for her own despair in Kurt Cobain’s voice.

A Plan Formed Music and Identification Irene listens to Nirvana and finds language for her own despair in Kurt Cobain’s voice. Imminent Danger She writes a note and intends to die before the day ends.

Thanks Arrive Thanks Arrive from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Message Reaches Her An Unasked-for Gesture Natasha leaves a voicemail asking Lester to thank the security guard who delayed her that morning.

Thanks Arrive from "The Sun is Also a Star". A Message Reaches Her An Unasked-for Gesture Natasha leaves a voicemail asking Lester to thank the security guard who delayed her that morning.

A Message Reaches Her An Unasked-for Gesture Natasha leaves a voicemail asking Lester to thank the security guard who delayed her that morning. A Changed Direction The message reaches Irene just in time to interrupt her suicidal plan.

A Life of Service A Life of Service from "The Sun is Also a Star". Leaving the Security Post Treatment and Change Irene receives help through a hotline, therapy, and medication, then leaves her job at USCIS.

A Life of Service from "The Sun is Also a Star". Leaving the Security Post Treatment and Change Irene receives help through a hotline, therapy, and medication, then leaves her job at USCIS.

Leaving the Security Post Treatment and Change Irene receives help through a hotline, therapy, and medication, then leaves her job at USCIS. New Work As a flight attendant, she turns attention toward passengers who travel alone in grief or fear.

Recognition in the Air Recognition in the Air from "The Sun is Also a Star". The Past Returns A Face Remembered Irene recognizes Natasha among the passengers and tells her that her earlier thanks helped save her life.

Recognition in the Air from "The Sun is Also a Star". The Past Returns A Face Remembered Irene recognizes Natasha among the passengers and tells her that her earlier thanks helped save her life.

The Past Returns A Face Remembered Irene recognizes Natasha among the passengers and tells her that her earlier thanks helped save her life. The Two Reconnect Daniel is on the same flight, and Natasha recognizes him as their separate paths abruptly meet again.

before Natasha’s final USCIS visit

lunchtime on the day Natasha visits

later that same afternoon

roughly two years after the USCIS crisis

ten years after the message, aboard a plane