The Last Word

Before the next chapter begins, Adams inserts a post from Kane’s website. He writes in the first person about being able to handle negative reviews. When he reads negative reviews of Deacon Cowl’s book, he is reassured that even the best writers must endure people’s criticism of their work. He reasons that Deacon is not invincible.

In Emma’s perspective, she has a memory of Shawn scolding her for driving while distracted. In the memory, Shawn warns her that she is going to kill someone. One day, while she is driving, she keeps checking her phone in hopes that she will get a message from work that will allow her to spend less time with Shawn’s family. When she looks away from the road for a moment, an 18-wheeler veers into her lane.

The narrative returns to the present moment. Emma apologizes to Deek for stabbing him. She tries to staunch the bleeding with her sweatshirt, then finds some tape to cover the wound. She longs to drown herself in the ocean and compares this desire to her mother’s decision to drown herself in alcohol.