Ghosted

In a letter addressing Alex as “you,” Eddie explains his experience of returning to the UK, hearing about how difficult a time that their mum had without him, and his mixed feelings about having left Sarah. He continues to try and convince himself it was the right thing to do. He describes feeling trapped in his life, and imagines how he would feel if Sarah died. Eddie is emphatic that he would regret his decision.

In the waiting room at a psychiatrist’s office, Carole expresses paranoia and Eddie tries to comfort her, feeling guilty for lying to her about his trip. He thinks about a funeral procession that he’d seen heading toward Frampton Mansell earlier that morning. Eddie’s mother expresses the hope that it was for Sarah, and Eddie continues to try to convince himself that he did the right thing by leaving and that they could have no future together.

Concerned for his close friend, Alan brings Eddie to a pub in Bisley, which he remembers is close to where Hannah lives. Alan asks if Eddie is getting over it, and while he says that he has no choice as it would “finish Mum off” (270), he isn’t really.