Summary

“After the Last Circle” begins with Missy, one of the travelers, having a breakthrough. As with the other travelers, Kate has worked to help her along her spiritual journey. The chapter flashes back to an earlier day in which Missy faints. When she is awakened by Kate, Missy begins telling her the story of her childhood.

Missy tells Kate that she was raised by her mother and her grandfather, a man named Timmy Wimmins. When Missy was very young, her grandfather began sexually abusing her. When Missy’s mother found out about this, Missy was already ten. Missy and her mother left Timmy, but they all continued to miss each other. Eventually, Timmy died. As an adult, Missy struggled to cope with this childhood experience. She became addicted to drugs.

The...