: Her disappearance is eventually revealed to be a mental health crisis —a "nervous breakdown"—that Toby uncharitably dismisses as her abandoning their children to be with another man.
While the first three-quarters of the story focus on Toby's perspective as a newly divorced doctor navigating dating apps after his ex-wife disappears, the final act pivots to reveal Rachel’s experience. Fleishman Is in Trouble
: Rachel’s "trouble" is rooted in a traumatic birth experience involving an unconsented medical procedure. This leads to postpartum PTSD and a profound sense of isolation that Toby fails to recognize. : Her disappearance is eventually revealed to be