An Interview with Rachel Zimmerman: Us, After

Women, Life and Science

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When a state trooper arrived at Rachel Zimmerman's doorstep to inform her that her husband had leaped to his death from a nearby bridge, she collapsed to the ground, struggling to comprehend the shocking news. How could her husband—a devoted father and an MIT robotics professor with no history of mental illness—commit such an act? How would she explain this tragedy to their young daughters? And could she have done anything to prevent it?As a seasoned journalist, Rachel delved deeply into her investigation, convinced that finding answers would help her endure. She interviewed doctors and suicide experts. She even spoke with a man who had survived a jump from the same bridge. While she uncovered many insights, the ultimate question of why her husband took his own life remained unanswered. Thus began her journey of learning to find peace with uncertainty.Us, After is a book that explores domestic turmoil and recovery, the tension between our public and private selves, the evolving nature of life, the challenges of motherhood, and the secrets we harbor. It confronts the unimaginable and finds solace in what remains.