Summary

Chapter 16 opens with the claim that for those who are grieving the second year is often worse than the first. This is said to be the case because it is not until the second year that the permanence of loss can truly be felt. Sue recalls that period in her life and describes how some days “it felt like a war was taking place inside of me” when she would think about the hateful Dylan from the basement tapes against her own memories of the child she had loved. (242). But rather than allow herself to fall deeper into the grief, Sue realized that she needed a change and writes, “survivors. First, I found community and then I found a way to contribute” (242).

Much like humans go into shock, so do communities and the town of Littleton was no exception. IN the months following Columbine...