Chapter 21 Summary

As Astrid gets up and goes about the day, she believes Claire to be asleep, but, after a while, realizes that she's no longer snoring or moving. Astrid tries to shake her awake. Claire has taken many sleeping pills and is dead. Astrid screams and throws things until she is exhausted. Claire's hand is so cold.

Astrid dresses Claire and arranges her carefully on the pillow. After a while of remembering the times with Claire, she finally calls Ron's pager. Ron sits next her on the bed, blaming Astrid. "You were supposed to watch her." "You were the one who left," counters Astrid. He breaks into long, shuddering sobs, and, in spite of her self, Astrid feels sorry for him. They hold each other in shared grief. Ron tells her that he has been dreading this for years and that he loved Claire...