Summary

The epilogue opens with Crispin reflecting on a morning in February, presumably the February before the events of the novel, when he returned to his New York home from a trip to the Philippines. Upon his return, Crispin discovered a letter which explained that his student, Miguel, had drowned. This letter makes it clear that the events of the novel are entirely fictional even within the universe of the novel, as Miguel was the one found dead, not Crispin.

Crispin reflects on his relationship with Miguel, since they were not very close during Miguel’s life. Despite their distance in life, Miguel’s death impacted Crispin deeply, leading him to at first return to his manuscript with renewed fervor. Later, though, Crispin decided that his unfinished and unnamed manuscript was futile and would not benefit any future generations. He burned the manuscript and instead...