Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Marjane is distraught. In her mind, Markus is the only person who’s cared about her in the last four years. As Marjane cries in her room, Frau Doctor Heller steps in and accuses her of stealing a brooch. Marjane cries more, wondering where her mother, father, and grandmother are—they’re not here to comfort her. Since everything in the room reminds her of Markus, Marjane gets dressed; puts her passport, plane ticket home, and some money in a bag; and leaves. She ignores Frau Doctor Heller’s threats on the way out. Marjane spends her 18th birthday on a bench. When it gets dark, she remembers her grandmother saying, “night brings good counsel.”

Suddenly, Marjane understands that Markus is a jerk. He made her buy drugs, knowing she might get arrested. He didn’t take Marjane’s side when his mother insulted Marjane. Marjane also suspects that his mother didn’t actually cut off his allowance—he just wanted to use Marjane’s money. In retrospect, Marjane bears no ill will toward Markus. She realizes she wanted him to be everything to her, a big task for a boy of 19. Marjane spends that night lying on a bench. In the morning, Marjane boards a tram and sleeps above a heating vent. She spends the next month this way. It doesn’t take long for her to run out of money and lose her dignity. She digs for food in the trash and smokes others’ cigarette butts. Eventually, tram operators refuse to let her board. Sleeping on the streets is frightening.

Marjane knows she can’t go back to Zozo or Ingrid, and she has no interest in returning to evil Frau Doctor Heller. She sleeps on the streets for more than two months and slowly develops a cough. Her cough becomes constant and bloody until finally, she faints. When Marjane wakes up, she’s in the hospital. She knows that if she’d fainted during the night, she would’ve died. As Marjane slowly regains her strength, she thinks of all she’s lived through. Marjane muses that she survived a revolution and a war—and yet, love almost killed her.

When the doctor declares Marjane healthy, Marjane remembers Mom saying that Zozo owes her money. Marjane decides to pursue that money—it’s her only chance. Fortunately, Zozo hands over an envelope without a fuss. Zozo also says that Marjane’s parents are frantic. Just then, the phone rings. It’s Marjane’s parents. Marjane asks to come home and asks her parents not to ask about her absence. They promise. Then, Marjane stops at Frau Doctor Heller’s for her belongings. Frau Doctor Heller insists on keeping some things as payment for the stolen brooch. Knowing she can’t take everything back with her anyway, Marjane doesn’t argue. Even though the doctor forbade her to smoke, Marjane buys cartons of cigarettes and smokes most of them. She figures that putting her health in danger is easier than confronting her shame. Finally, Marjane dons her veil. She’s ready to go home.