The Living

When Shy wakes the next morning, William Henry is gone, having left his life jacket behind. Shy realizes that the hug and strange conversation the night before were William’s way of saying goodbye. To combat the wave of despair that rises up in the presence of yet another death, Shy becomes more determined than ever to catch a fish, telling Addison, “Even if I have to dive my ass in there and choke one out with my bare hands” (198).

A few hours go by before Shy notices something in his pocket: William’s seven-carat diamond ring. Shy realizes that William must have slipped it into his pocked when he hugged him. He considers dropping the ring into the ocean but changes his mind and puts it back in his pocket. A short while later, he finally feels a bite on the fishing line. He reels in the fish and clubs it to death with the oar, and then realizes he doesn’t know what to do with it. Then, Addison simply tears the fish apart with her bare hands, offering half to Shy.

As the sun sets, Addison and Shy discuss David Williamson’s suicide again, trying to figure out why Addison’s father would have been so focused on Shy’s involvement.