The narrator shares how her mother's self-esteem was shattered after her father left due to her aging appearance.

• The narrator's father left her mother because he found her old and wrinkled.
• This event deeply affected her mother's self-esteem and perception of her own looks.

The mother's insecurity leads to a strained relationship with her daughter, who is criticized for her appearance.

• The narrator's mother becomes overly sensitive about looks, criticizing her daughter's makeup and naturally thin figure.
• She accuses her daughter of trying to seduce boys and becomes jealous of her.

The mother's behavior deteriorates further, as she gains weight and forces her daughter to do the same, then loses weight dramatically.

• The mother starts overeating and gets angry at her daughter for being thin, pressuring her to gain weight.
• After the narrator complies, the mother goes on an extreme diet, eating only sunflower seeds and lemonade, losing 120 pounds to compete with her daughter.

The narrator faces social isolation because of her weight and writes hurtful things about her mother in her diary, which her mother later discovers.

• Due to weight gain, the narrator's friends abandon her, and she writes in her diary that her mother is ugly and can't find a new partner.
• Her mother discovers the diary entry and becomes furious, leading to further conflict.

The mother reacts by removing the narrator from school to homeschool her, which leads to a rebellious act by the narrator.

• The mother homeschools the narrator as punishment, but the narrator rebels by inviting her boyfriend over while the mother is away.
• When the mother discovers this, she breaks into the room with a sledgehammer, and ties her daughter to her with a rope.

The narrator devises a plan to escape her mother's control by getting a job and moving in with her mother's boss.

• The narrator secures a job as her mother's boss's assistant and begins a flirtatious relationship with him.
• She moves in with him after quitting her job, and they agree to date once she is no longer an intern.

The narrator reflects on her current life, attending university and being supported by her mother's boss, now her boyfriend.

• The narrator is now 20, studying at university, and living a more stable and happy life away from her mother's negative influence.
• Her mother continues to work for her boyfriend, who is now supporting the narrator's education and living expenses.