The narrator reflects on how much horror the human mind can withstand and how horror seems to beget horror, until eventually the person begins to see his lot in life as rather funny, which is the point at which his sanity can break down. Louis no longer is able to think rationally after Gage dies in May and gets into a fistfight with Irwin on the afternoon of Gage’s funeral, where Rachel can only scream. Louis does not realize how distraught Rachel has become, and his friend, Masterton, looks after Rachel, who is close to losing her mind. Louis eats Gage’s favorite cereal while Ellie clutches a picture of her and Gage in her hand, mute. Masterton gives Rachel and Ellie sedatives to calm them. Jud makes the funeral arrangements, and Masterton tries to talk to Louis about how fragile his wife and daughter are at present, but Louis can’t process anything. Louis can’t think of anything besides Gage running down the lawn and getting run over by a truck, with Louis screaming and running after him, praying that he would fall down. Louis’s fingertips brush the back of Gage’s jacket just as he is hit by the truck.

On the morning of the viewing, Ellie plays Monopoly with Jud, the picture still clutched in her hand.