Chapter 19 Summary and Analysis

James, anxious and fearful, reads his confession aloud to a Priest. Once his is finished reading, James steels himself to tell the story that he has never told anyone else. Before coming to the Clinic, James violently beat a French priest who molested him as James was contemplating suicide. He feels shame, guilt, and rage when he confesses the story, but after he finishes, he walks away with a lightness that he has never known. He will be leaving the Clinic the next day, so he makes arrangements for his brother to pick him up in the morning.

James sees that Lilly has finished her detoxification period, and that she has rejoined her unit at the Clinic. The mere sight of her buoys his spirits even more. Even though he will be going from the Clinic to County lockup in Ohio...