Facing Loneliness and Transformation

The author Helen Garner reflects on her solitude while living adjacent to her family after they go on holiday. At 82, she contemplates the growing distance from her grandchildren, realizing she is on the brink of loneliness reminiscent of her past. In a moment of catharsis, she violently prunes a bush in her garden, expressing a need for destruction that signifies her inner turmoil and the confrontation of her changing familial dynamics. This act of 'purposeful destruction' highlights her understanding that creating space can also lead to personal transformation.