Chapters 6 and 7 Summary

Styron had kept a diary of sorts for a few years and knew that when he reached a point when he wanted to throw the book away he would be near to his own demise. The author remembers the night when the destruction of the book came true during a dinner party at his home one night in December. No longer able to participate in the conversation, Styron wrapped his book in plain paper and put it in the garbage.

From that night, Styron began the process of preparing to die by revising his will and even making attempts at writing a goodbye letter. Finding no words to adequately convey his feelings, Styron tore up all drafts of the letter. One night soon after the destruction of the diary, Styron was spending another sleepless night watching a movie in which the...