Me Before You

Louisa briefly meets with Patrick to inform him that she will be working late and won’t be able to attend his triathlon meeting. He remarks on how little time they spend together. Working overtime, Louisa saves money and goes to the library to use the computers. After Will mentions his embarrassment over needing someone to write for him, she researches a voice recognition device that he can use to write. He sends her a letter in the mail thanking her.

Over the following weeks, Louisa takes a more relaxed approach to her plan to save Will. On days where Will seems up to it, the pair picnic outside in the warm weather. Louisa also invites him to her birthday dinner at her family home. At the dinner, Patrick becomes upset over the intimacy between Louisa and Will as she feeds him. The tension between Louisa and Patrick grows when she scolds him for advising Will to exercise to improve his physical condition. Louisa then opens her presents: She receives a photo album from her parents, a necklace that does not match her unique style from Patrick, and a pair of yellow-and-black striped tights like her childhood pair from Will.

After Will leaves for the evening, Patrick confronts Louisa about the intimacy of her work with Will. He alludes to her early struggle to be intimate with him; they then have sex for hours. While Patrick sleeps, Louisa opens Will’s birthday card and discovers a stack of money.

Louisa and Will continue their outings. The news features various stories of others like Will who seek the help of Dignitas to die by assisted suicide, including a young football player named Leo. Louisa’s father loses his job and struggles to find a new one. Louisa and Treena’s nephew, Thomas, returns from university for a visit. On one of their outings, Louisa asks Will about his favorite places in the world; he shares his love for Paris. When Louisa suggests going to Paris, Will clarifies that he does not want to ruin past memories with the reality of his current condition. He suggests they go to the castle maze and notes Louisa’s refusal.

As the end of her six months with Will approaches, Louisa grows more anxious. Camilla encourages her to take Will abroad. Louisa wonders if her time with Will has helped him. The chapter ends with reports of football player Leo’s assisted suicide at Dignitas. Although Leo’s family faces criticism, Leo’s mother remarks on how peaceful Leo was in the end.

When Will jokes with Nathan about how boring Louisa’s life is, she becomes upset. She and Will again argue over her unwillingness to challenge herself and explore. A few days later, Will is hospitalized with an infection. During her time off, Louisa discovers a chatroom for those with spinal cord injuries and their caregivers. In a post, she asks for advice on how to convince Will to live. One reply makes her consider Will’s reasons for wanting to die.

After Will returns from the hospital, Louisa initiates her series of adventures; most of these outings prove unsuccessful. Some, like a wine tasting, prove more successful. As they return home from a wine shop, Louisa comments on a local tattoo shop and her curiosity about getting a tattoo of a bumblebee. At Will’s urging, they both get tattoos. Louisa gets a bee tattoo on her lower hip while Will chooses a small rectangle with the words “Best before: 19 March 2007”—the date of his accident (214).

On the weekends, Louisa struggles to sleep due to the shift in sleeping arrangements needed to appease her nephew, Thomas. While she attempts to sleep at Patrick’s house, she feels uncomfortable as he continues to spend all his spare time training for his triathlon. When Will confronts her about her fatigue, he offers her his guest bedroom on the weekends.

Louisa continues to compile a list of activities to do with Will. She becomes increasingly disillusioned by how many places have limited accessibility. Louisa’s father informs her that he has been hired by Will’s father to be head of maintenance at the local castle. Confused, Louisa calls Will to thank him for recommending her father. Will wishes for Louisa to leave her hometown and explore now that her father’s income is stabilized. Uncomfortable, she finds Patrick at the local pub and attempts to escape her anxiety over Will’s death. After Louisa shares Will’s offer for her to move in on the weekends, Patrick asks her to move in with him instead.

Louisa shares her plan to move in with Patrick, and Will begins to act distant. A man from London visits Will and speaks with him for an hour. Curious, Louisa looks up his name at the library and discovers he is an estate attorney. Later that evening, she moves her belongings into Patrick’s apartment.

In the weeks that follow, Louisa and Will keep their distance while continuing to be cordial. Concerned, Louisa calls Camilla and asks to meet at the local café. At the café, she updates Camilla on Will’s meeting with the attorney. Camilla urges her to find a destination to take Will and promises to fund the trip. Louisa shares that she moved in with Patrick, and Camilla disapproves of her telling Will about the move. Irritated, Louisa confronts Camilla, who abruptly leaves the café.

The next day, Will suggests he and Louisa take a walk around the castle after hours. As they walk around the castle and chat, Will implores Louisa to go into the maze. Reminded of her sexual assault in the maze, Louisa refuses but changes her mind after Will mocks her resistance. She enters the maze but soon becomes triggered. Distressed, she calls out to Will, who finds her and guides her out of the maze. Louisa struggles to tell Will what triggered her. To help her feel more comfortable, Will shares his fears about his condition worsening and the effect it will have on his family. Louisa finally details her assault, and Will assures her that it was not her fault.