Hanna made a significant choice two years ago when she deceived her family by claiming she was going on vacation with Laura. Instead, she took a trip to Marquette to have her tubes tied, determined to avoid the fate of her mother, who struggled with raising too many children in a cramped living environment. This decision reflects her desire for control over her life and circumstances, seeking to break a cycle of poverty and overcrowding.

However, despite her efforts to change her circumstances, Hanna’s reality has not improved. She finds herself in a situation similar to the one she wanted to escape: living in a small house with numerous people and facing food scarcity. This outcome serves as a painful reminder of the challenges and inequalities that persist, illustrating the broader themes of hardship and the struggle for a better life depicted in Roxane Gay's "Tales of Two Americas."