Fragile as Glass focuses on Kim Segal, as an 18-year-old and then a teacher, living the onerous effects of emotional and sexual abuse. It takes witnessing a Kindergarten student experiencing a similar agony for Kim to gain the understanding and strength necessary to stand up for the child and, finally, for herself. Seeking to connect with her remaining parent, after her father’s death, Kim agrees to vacation in Jamaica with her pseudo-family: Mother Renata, her boyfriend Alfie, and his thirteen-year-old son Justin. The vacation intensifies Kim’s anguish: Alfie had sexually abused her months earlier, and Renata—who Kim believes must know what happened—ignores that and always takes Alfie’s side. During the vacation, spending time away from awful images raised by the family, Kim meets the horseback riding instructor, Hal. He’s gentle, interested, and they form a relationship—if non-sexual. Ultimately, they marry—still non-sexual, and not for lack of love or passion, but because of Kim’s fears. Whenever Kim and Hal mutually begin making love, she withdraws in an emotional pain she cannot control. The story goes back and forth between Kim’s vacation flashbacks and the present. As a teacher, Kim has a student with pronounced social anxiety. One small step at a time, Kim’s actions involve her in the student’s family situation until Kim decides to break through her reticence and take a stand both for the student and herself. Courage gained from that experience allows Kim to confront her mother and Alfie together. Even that becomes painful but, no matter their denials, Kim’s emotional shift finally allows her to cast away her demons. Oh, but does she surprise Hal.