Dying for Sex

Molly is introduced as being in a ten-year unhappy marriage with her husband Steve, a pompous journalist. She is also haunted by childhood trauma inflicted by her mother's boyfriend, which adds emotional complexity to her character. This background establishes her emotional state and underlying issues at the start of the story.

During a couples therapy session, Molly's doctor calls to inform her that a biopsy revealed Stage IV metastatic breast cancer that has infiltrated her bones, brain, and liver. She responds to the devastating news by leaving the session to buy diet soda and menthols, signaling her shock and initial coping mechanism.

Molly calls her friend Nikki to share the grim diagnosis, overwhelmed by the news. This marks the beginning of her seeking emotional support and new connections outside her marriage, as she prepares to confront her mortality.

Following her diagnosis, Molly's tamoxifen medication increases her libido, leading her to attempt to engage in intimate acts with Steve. However, her breasts remind him of her impending death, causing emotional distress and complicating their relationship.

Molly signs up for a dating app and is pleased to receive multiple photos. She experiments with meeting strangers for sex but initially backs out of most encounters, hesitant to reveal her mastectomy scars and fear intimate vulnerability.

Molly orders a vibrator, experiences orgasms inspired by movies and fantasy images, and begins to explore her sexuality privately. Her sexual experimentation becomes a key part of her coping with her diagnosis and emotional distress.

Molly is blackmailed by a man she encounters through her online sexual explorations, prompting her to call Nikki and Steve for support. Steve shames her, leading her to gather her belongings and leave him, subsequently moving in with Nikki.

Molly attends a kink-forward event and begins exploring submission and dominance, influenced by her therapist's suggestion. She submits to G, a woman who guides her into understanding her needs, and experiments with different sexual roles and fantasies.

Molly navigates various relationships, including her neighbor, with whom she explores intimacy amid her health struggles. This period shows her seeking genuine connection and asserting her wants despite her medical condition.

Molly suffers a deep-vein thrombosis, spends Christmas in the hospital, and on New Year's Eve, tries to achieve orgasm through extreme means. Her health deteriorates, leading to further hospital stays and medical interventions reflective of her progressing illness.

Molly collapses with a collapsed lung and is intubated. It is revealed that her cancer has spread to her spine, and she must enter hospice care. During this time, she shares intimate moments with Neighbor Guy, attempting to find closure and peace.

Molly spends her last weeks surrounded by Nikki, Gail, and caregivers, gradually accepting her mortality. She seeks to find pleasure and fulfillment, culminating in her moments of orgasm and emotional connection, embracing her life's final chapter.

Molly passes away peacefully, leaving behind her loved ones. After her death, Nikki rekindles her relationship with Noah, signifying a new beginning for those she cared about.