After Bride confesses what she did as a child, she feels “newly born,” meaning that, for the first time in a long time, she feels innocent, unmarred by the psychological bruises and scars the world has thrust on her. This feeling of innocence is especially notable, as it comes after Bride returns to one of the sources of her childhood trauma and guilt—falsely testifying against Sofia. When she opens up about that false testimony, instead of finding Sweetness’s capricious affection, she finds Booker’s unconditional love, a love that helps Bride embrace and accept herself despite her faults.