Iano insisted that Willa return to Ivins to complete her biology degree, but Willa began to realize that Tig was not complying with his orders. Tig had informed her parents about her decision to avoid bank loans, especially since tuition exchange was no longer available. Moreover, she felt she had already learned enough about a damaged ecosystem and was disillusioned with the state of the world.

This understanding of the environmental crisis weighed heavily on Willa. She noticed that Tig processed the harsh realities of human selfishness more deeply than her peers, including those studying history. Willa recognized the unique burden Tig carried as she confronted the truth about the world's deterioration.