My Dark Vanessa

Late one morning, Vanessa wakes up, reads a text from her mother, and checks various Facebook accounts belonging to former Browick classmates like Jesse Ly and Jenny Murphy. She also Googles a former professor of hers from Atlantica College named Henry Plough. Later, Strane calls Vanessa as she walks to the hotel, and his tone is celebratory as he tells Vanessa that he is “vindicated” (106) and that he will be back teaching the following day. Vanessa feels disappointed by this news, and then guilty about her disappointment. She suggests they go out to dinner to celebrate, and Strane turns her down. Vanessa hangs up and goes into the hotel to start her shift and to check Facebook again. A new post from Taylor implies that the announcement that Browick has found Strane innocent of abuse charges is only the beginning of her quest for justice.

Two adolescent girls ask Vanessa for a cigarette during her smoke break. Vanessa reflects on how closely she identifies with the teenagers, even now as an adult, and checks Taylor’s Facebook page. Nothing new appears, and as Vanessa prepares to return to work, she reflects on Strane’s