Summary

In Chapter 21, Violette believes memories are the only things that keep the dead people “alive.” She talks about the group of teens who were spending hours in the cemetery one summer. They were drinking beer and “using the potted plants as ashtrays” (84). Violette created an elaborate costume and frightened the group so badly they did not return.

Chapter 22 continues in 2017. In Violette's mind, Philippe is the same as dead. Julien says Philippe has a garage and lives just 100 kilometers away. Julien heard from Violette's neighbor that Philippe has been missing. The neighbor used his role as a detective to find Philippe. The chapter ends with Violette saying she had not intended to find him.

Chapter 23 returns to 1986. Violette remembers a caseworker saying that “Girls in (foster) care are happy with very little” when she was just seven (89). On the day Violette and Philippe...