Chapter 40: Normal

Summary

• Elizabeth confesses that she thinks about death a lot during a conversation with Wakely.
• They ponder the concept of "normal," with Wakely questioning whether it truly exists and noting it isn't found in the Bible.
• Wakely explains his belief focuses on hope and fighting darkness rather than the literal events in the Bible.
• Elizabeth reveals she read private letters between Wakely and his friend Calvin, discovering Wakely indirectly influenced Calvin's decision to work at Hastings.
• Wakely feels responsible for Calvin's death, as Calvin moved for the "best weather" only to die there, but weather conditions weren’t as Wakely had described.
• Elizabeth expresses her own guilt by mentioning she bought the leash, hinting at involvement in an accident or incident.
• Madeline, inside watching TV, sings along, reminding Wakely of a surprising claim she made about her dog.
• Elizabeth shares she had a brother who died by suicide, hanging himself when she was ten.
• She also discloses a personal, near-death experience and the guilt of being unable to save her brother.
• Wakely realizes Elizabeth blames herself for her brother's suicide, although she couldn't swim and wasn't responsible.
• They end the conversation in silence, Elizabeth feeling hopeless and Wakely at a loss for words until Six-Thirty, the dog, comes to Elizabeth for comfort.
• Wakely tries to help Elizabeth find forgiveness and acceptance, contrasting her scientific mindset driven by change and questioning with the need to accept unchangeable events.
• Elizabeth confesses understanding her brother's decision to leave life and occasionally shares that desire to escape, to which Wakely responds that her true issue is wanting to be part of life again.