The Final Goodbye

The boy's farewell to his father and his decision to join the new family.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Vigil

The Three Days The Grief The boy sits beside his father's body, weeping. He holds his hand and says his name over and over. He cannot leave. The Decision After three days, he walks out to the road. He is cold and hungry. He knows he must go on. The Waiting He stands in the road, the pistol in his hand. He is ready to trust or to die.

The New Family

The Embrace The Meeting The good man appears. The boy asks if he is one of the good guys. The man says yes. He asks if the boy is carrying the fire. The boy says yes. The Goodbye to the Father The boy goes back into the woods to say goodbye. He kneels beside his father, wrapped in a blanket. He whispers that he will talk to him every day and won't forget. The New Beginning He returns to the road and goes with the man. The woman embraces him. He is safe. He is loved.

after the father's death

immediately after