Black Girls Must Die Exhausted: A Novel

Although Marc didn’t give Tabby the answer she wanted during their last date, she is thankful for his honest answer. Tabby looks forward to a relaxing date with Marc, hoping to get her mind off of work problems and fertility issues. Tabby walks to a nearby restaurant for the date and realizes that Marc looks nervous. Tabby assumes that work stress has caused Marc’s anxiety, especially since his calls and texts have come more infrequently over the past two weeks. However, Marc tells Tabby that he is ending their relationship. He confesses that he has been unsure about Tabby for some time, and their conversation about Tabby’s fertility issues has accelerated his feelings.

When Marc explains that he wants to live a bachelor lifestyle indefinitely, Tabby feels angry that he would waste 18 months of her thirties, knowing that she wants marriage and children. She feels heartbroken, and Marc’s abandonment reminds her of her father’s betrayal. When Marc drops her off at her apartment, he moves to hug her goodbye. She gingerly receives the affection, distancing herself from Marc as much as possible because she does not want to touch him. Tabby cancels Sunday dinner plans with her father, feeling unable to handle the emotional turmoil of a meal with Diane and the girls.