Summary

Chapter 38 switches to Ben’s perspective, as he waits at the post office for Arthur. Both of them think about and talk about what they could have done differently the first time that they were there together, and how much easier things could have been right from the beginning. Ben is holding a box for Arthur, and it is not a breakup box, but a best friend box. It has pictures and souvenirs for Arthur to keep. Ben and Arthur walk it to the front counter and ship it to Arthur’s house back home. They take one last picture outside, then walk to Ben’s school building. They share a tearful goodbye, and Ben goes inside to take his exam while Arthur leaves to go to the airport.

Fifteen months later, Arthur is in Middletown, Connecticut at Wesleyan. He calls Ethan...