Susie Salmon, narrating from the first person, tells the reader that she was murdered on December 6, 1973, "back when people believed things like that didn't happen". Susie is a typical 14-year-old girl from the suburban town of Norristown, Pennsylvania. Walking home after school, she takes a shortcut through the adjacent cornfield and is startled when she runs into George Harvey, her 36-year-old bachelor neighbor. Harvey invites her to come see a secret hiding spot he built under the cornfield. Although Susie is not comfortable around him, particularly as she notices him looking at her sexually, she has been told to be polite and friendly to adults and neighbors and so accompanies him. Inside, Harvey claims that he built the underground room as a clubhouse for the kids in the neighborhood. Susie doesn't believe him but decides to stay because she thinks he is sad and lonely.
Harvey gets Susie to take off her winter coat, and as she does, he compliments her looks, which gives her "what [she and her] friend Clarissa... dubbed the skeevies". Susie becomes uncomfortable and tries to leave, but Harvey blocks the exit. He forces her to the ground and begins raping her. As he does, Susie thinks of her only kiss, which she received recently from an English-Indian boy she has a crush on named Ray Singh. Susie pleads with Harvey to stop, but he silences her by shoving her hat into her mouth. After Harvey finishes raping her, he forces Susie to say she loves him, and then murders her with a knife. Harvey then cleans up the evidence, dismembering Susie's body and placing the pieces in a sack. However, her elbow falls out, which a neighborhood dog later finds.
Susie's soul ascends to what she describes as heaven, where she meets her intake counselor, Franny. Franny describes that here, "life is a perpetual yesterday for us", and the two watch the murder and the events afterward.
In the blissful realm of heaven, Susie encounters her roommate, Holly, a Vietnamese-American girl who tragically lost her life on the same day as Susie. Both girls perceive heaven as a utopian version of high school, free from the presence of teachers and the harassment of boys. They revel in the joy of attending classes they genuinely desire, with Susie indulging in her passion for artand Holly finding solace in Jazz Band. Within this celestial setting, Susie envisions an alternate version of herself, a perfected persona she could have become during her high school years.
Franny, the intake counselor in heaven, shares her own story with Susie and Holly. When alive, Franny worked as a church social worker, but her life was abruptly ended by a man searching for his wife. In heaven, Franny finds fulfillment in serving others and being rewarded with their gratitude. As part of her heavenly duty, she assists newcomers in acclimatizing to the afterlife. Franny enlightens Susie and Holly, explaining that in heaven, all they need to do is deeply desire something and understand the reasons behind their desires to obtain it.
Meanwhile, Len Fenerman, the detective assigned to Susie's case, contacts the Salmon family and delivers the disheartening news that only Susie's elbow has been recovered thus far. He emphasizes the uncertainty of the situation, a phrase that Jack and Abigail Salmon, Susie's parents, repeat repeatedly in the following days as they struggle to come to terms with the devastating reality. The next morning, Jack musters the strength to disclose the truth to his 13-year-old daughter, Lindsey. To protect their 4-year-old son, Buckley, from the harsh truth, the Salmon parents fabricate a story, claiming that Susie is on an extended sleepover with a friend.
The police establish a cordoned-off area around the cornfield where Susie was last seen and commence a thorough investigation, digging into the earth in search of clues. Traces of Susie's blood are discovered mingled with the soil, intensifying the sense of tragedy. Among the findings, the police come across Susie's biology notebook, which harbors a concealed love note from Ray, an affectionate gesture she never had the opportunity to read. Ray swiftly becomes the initial suspect, but his
alibi proves airtight - he was attending his father's academic lecture during the time of the crime. While Susie is aware that Harvey, her murderer, has hidden her body in his greenhouse, she remains unable to communicate with anyone and grows increasingly frustrated by her inability to guide the authorities in the right direction. In her afterlife, she yearns for her beloved dog, Holiday, lamenting the painful reality of never seeing her family again.
A week after Susie's disappearance, Fenerman visits the Salmon household, delivering Susie's hat - the very item used by the assailant to silence her. The sight ofthe hat triggers an overwhelming emotional breakdown in Susie's previously composed mother, Abigail. Fenerman solemnly informs the family that, based on the evidence collected, the authorities have concluded that someone took Susie's life. Overwhelmed by grief, Jack retreats to his study and seeks solace in the comforting presence of their dog's fur, allowing his tears to flow freely.
Meanwhile, Lindsey makes the decision to return to school for the final week before Christmas break. During this period, she is summoned to meet with the principal, Mr. Caden, who attempts to console her. However, Lindsey's demeanor is characterized by distance, detachment, and petulance. From her heavenly perspective, Susie yearns to communicate with Mr. Caden, wishing she
Following Susie's transition to heaven, her spiritual essence brushes against Ruth Connors, a classmate known for her artistic talents but who also exists on the fringes of social acceptance. The morning after Susie's untimely demise, Ruth privately confides in her mother about a dream she had, depicting a ghostly figure soaring out of the cornfield and ascending towards the sky. Ruth keeps this dream to herself, collecting photographs of Susie from old yearbooks and expressing her emotions through poetry dedicated to her. Susie attempts to establish a connection with Ruth, hoping to guide her towards the missing charm bracelet, as Susie's mother, Abigail, possesses detailed knowledge of its intricacies. However, this communication remains unfulfilled, as Harvey has claimed the bracelet as a gruesome trophy.
In the final week leading up to Christmas, Susie watches her best friend, Clarissa, engage in an intimate encounter with a classmate named Brian in the school parking lot. Susie has always admired Clarissa for embodying qualities and engaging in activities that she herself couldn't partake in, such as wearing makeup, lightening her hair, donning platform shoes, and even smoking cigarettes. Ruth happens upon the scene, clutching a stack of feminist literature borrowed from the library, inadvertently overhearing Clarissa and Brian's plans to meet in the cornfield. After school, Ruth surreptitiously breaks into Clarissa's locker, pilfering her scrapbook and seizing Brian's stash of marijuana. Later that evening, Ruth smokes marijuana for the first time, immersing herself in the photographs of Susie within Clarissa's possession.
Meanwhile, from her vantage point in heaven, Susie observes these clandestine events unfold, watching over them from a self-created gazebo. Drawing on her own aspirations of becoming a wildlife photographer, Susie recalls her 11th birthday,when she received an Instamatic camera and film. On that momentous day, she captured a photograph of her mother, Abigail, revealing a side of her that only existed before the camera's shutter startled her into assuming the role of a birthday girl's mother. This precious picture, the only one where Abigail truly appeared as herself, remained hidden and unseen by anyone.
In the midst of these poignant memories, Susie's gaze shifts to her grieving father, Jack, as he cleans the study they once shared. It was in this very room that Jack and Susie used to build ships in bottles together, a cherished bonding activity. While tidying, Jack addresses Susie, engaging in a heartfelt conversation with her. In a moment of sorrow and catharsis, he begins smashing the ships, commencing with the one that had accidentally been destroyed a week prior to Susie's tragic fate. Through a twist of fate, Susie inadvertently casts her reflection upon the fragmented glass, momentarily appearing before her father. Witnessing this ethereal apparition, Jack is overcome with laughter, acknowledging the presence of his beloved daughter. Seeking solace, he retreats to Susie's room, on the verge of destroying it but ultimately succumbing to overwhelming grief, collapsing into tears. It is at this tender moment that Buckley, Susie's younger brother, witnesses his father's anguish and wraps him in an embrace, using the bedsheets as a makeshift hug. Jack struggles to convince himself that he must redirect his love towards the
living, yet he remains burdened by the weight of Susie's untimely demise.
Shortly after ruthlessly taking Susie's life, Harvey buries the hole he dug in the cornfield and conceals Susie's dismembered body within a sack. As he passesby a neighbor's house, the stench emanating from the sack attracts the attention of their dog, leading to the eventual discovery of Susie's severed elbow. Harvey proceeds to stash the sack in his garage, leaving a permanent stain on the ground as a haunting reminder of his heinous deed. While washing himself, he reminisces fondly about the perverse pleasure he derived from raping and killing Susie, preserving the book of sonnets he had read to her and the very knife he used as morbid mementos. Harvey places the sack inside a secure metal safe and embarks on a journey to a sinkhole located outside of town, an area commonly used by residents to dispose of unwanted items.Contemplating his actions during the drive, Harvey revels in his ability to avoid repetition, ensuring that each kill remains a surprise to himself - a twisted gift. Once at the sinkhole, he discards the safe, inadvertently realizing that he has kept Susie's charm bracelet. Seizing the opportunity, he pulls into an under-construction industrial lot and hurls the bracelet into a future man-made lake, keeping Susie's Pennsylvania keystone charm as a chilling trophy.
As the days draw closer to Christmas, an unsettling idea takes hold of Harvey's mind. Inspired by a book he is reading, he conceives the notion of constructing a ceremonial tent for his next victim. Unbeknownst to him, Susie observes these dark thoughts from her ethereal existence. Intrigued and desperate to communicate her knowledge of Harvey's true nature to her father, Jack, Susie watches in anguish as Jack notices Harvey erecting the tent in his backyard. Moved by an unexplained intuition, Jack decides to confront Harvey. Engaging in conversation, the two men find themselves laboring side by side, building the tent together - a haunting juxtaposition. Susie, yearning to convey her message, desperately tries to guide Jack's understanding. A sudden shock passes through Jack's body upon physical contact with Harvey, fueling his suspicions. Despite his inner turmoil, Jack finds himself unable to utter anything beyond the name "Susie" before retreating home,
leaving the truth hidden and unresolved.
Within Susie's heart, a part longs for her father, Jack, to transform into a man consumed by violent rage. However, the reality is that Jack succumbs to severe depression and perpetual guilt over the tragedy that befell Susie. Upon returning home from his encounter with Harvey, Jack seeks solace by writing down his suspicions in his notebook, sensing Susie's ethereal presence watching over him. His writing is abruptly interrupted when Lindsey, Susie's sister, slams the door upon her return.
Lindsey finds herself plagued by a phenomenon known as "walking dead syndrome" ever since Susie's passing. In the eyes of everyone, including herself, Susie's image replaces Lindsey's own reflection. This haunting experience compels Lindsey to avoid mirrors and shower in darkness. Jack, desperate to connect with his grieving daughter, attempts to engage her in conversation. However, Lindsey, yearning for solitude, asserts her desire to be alone. Though Jack himself struggles to bear his grief in isolation, he respects Lindsey's need for space. Meanwhile, Abigail, Jack's wife, seeks solacein the bathroom, indulging in macaroons while ignoring Buckley, their youngest son, who tearfully cries out for "Momma," a term that Abigail despises. Lost in her own thoughts, Abigail stares blankly into the sink. Jack, hearing Buckley's pleas, descends to the scene. In an attempt to shield his young son from the painful truth, Jack assures Buckley that they will visit the zoo the next day, unable to bring himself to utter the devastating reality that his sister has passed away.
Following Jack's call, Len Fenerman pays another visit to Harvey for further questioning. During their initial interaction, Harvey appeared to be an eccentric widower who crafted dollhouses, led a reclusive life, and garnered sympathy from the neighborhood. The police initially deemed him peculiar and melancholic but not a murderer. This time, Harvey fabricates a story about the tents, claiming that he erects them annually to honor his deceased wife, Leah. Sensing the private nature of Harvey's rituals, Fenerman refrains from prying further.
Later, Fenerman updates Jack, admitting that although Harvey strikes
him as odd, the police have yet to discover anything suspicious. However, when Fenerman mentions Harvey's late wife, Jack is struck by the realization that her name was Sophie, not Leah. Unbeknownst to Jack, this small detail inadvertently marks the beginning of a list in his notebook, documenting Harvey's deceased victims.
On Christmas day, Samuel Heckler, a boy who captures Lindsey's heart, arrives with a gift for her while the family engages in a game of Monopoly. When Buckley once again inquires about Susie's whereabouts, Jack explains that Susie always played with the Shoe game piece, likening her absence to the piece being taken away. Although Buckley's understanding of death remains limited, he places the Shoe game piece on his dresser, cherishing it for years until it mysteriously disappears one day.
Seizing a moment of privacy, Lindsey and Samuel retreat to open the gift. To Lindsey's surprise, the present reveals half of a heart, while Samuel discloses that he wears the matching half around his neck. A flush of emotion colors Lindsey's face(as well as Susie's from her heavenly vantage point), and in a tender moment, she shares her first kiss with Samuel, enveloped in the bittersweet joy of a budding romance.
Two weeks prior to Susie's tragic demise, she arrives late to school, prompting her to sneak in through the back door of the stage to avoid punishment.Above her, Ray is perched on the scaffolding and compliments Susie, calling her beautiful. Susie reveals that Ray had moved from England a year before her death but was originally from India, and the two had developed a mutual crush on each other. Intrigued by Ray's invitation, Susie hesitates briefly before joining him on the scaffolding, relishing in the rebellious act of being a "bad kid" for a day.
As Susie and Ray lie together on the scaffolding, they become witnesses to a confrontation between two teachers and Ruth, who is reprimanded for a charcoal drawing she created depicting a reclining nude woman. The drawing had been illicitly copied and circulated throughout the school. The teachers sternly instruct Ruth to draw only what she is told, leaving her in tears. Susie descends from the
scaffolding and approaches Ruth, who shares her sketchbook. Susie recognizes Ruth's exceptional artistic talent, realizing that Ruth's true subversiveness lies not in her provocative drawings but in her superior skills that surpassed those of her teachers. Susie recounts that although she didn't kiss Ray on that particular day, they share their first and only kiss later that week in front of their lockers.
Following the police's abandonment of the investigation in the cornfield, Ruth begins traversing through it every morning after her father drops her off early for school. One morning, Ray joins her, and together they wait in the cornfield until school commences. This becomes their daily ritual, spending mornings conversing and sharing moments of solace in each other's company. Ruth, despite initial skepticism from Ray, confesses her belief in heaven and expresses relief that at least Susie has escaped the confines of their distressing reality. Susie watches Ruth during these moments and feels a profound connection between them.
Jack pays a visit to the Singh household, where he is greeted by Ruana, Ray's mother. Apologizing for the police's false accusation against Ray, Jack expresses gratitude that Susie had the company of a kind-hearted boy who cared for her enough to write a love note. He also confides in Ruana, disclosing his knowledge of Susie's killer and his personal pursuit of gathering evidence. In response, Ruana candidly admits that if she were in Jack's position, she would confirm her suspicions and then take matters into her own hands.
Meanwhile, Fenerman, the detective assigned to Susie's case, pays a visit to the Salmon family home. Fenerman reassures Abigail, Susie's mother,that he remains optimistic about the eventual capture of Susie's killer. While observing Abigail play with Buckley, Fenerman opens up about his own personal tragedy - his wife's death shortly after their marriage. Susie notices a stack of photographs in Fenerman's wallet, each depicting women whose murder cases he had investigated, with solved cases marked by dates on the back. Among these photographs, Susie realizes that both her picture and that of Fenerman's late wife are included, devoid of any written notations.
Buckley, accompanied by his best friend Nate, engages in play at the Salmon residence when Jack returns home. Captivated by a grave rubbing that Susie and Lindsey used to employ for make-believe games, Buckley reveals that Susie visits him in his dreams and leads Nate into Susie's room. Curiosity piqued, the two boys crawl under Susie's bed, discovering a secret storage space beneath the box spring.To their surprise, Buckley retrieves a handkerchief containing a twig stained with blood. This discovery triggers a flashback for Susie, recalling a memory of Buckley and Nate playing in the backyard. The Salmon parents often entrusted Susie with the responsibility of looking after Buckley. In the midst of applying nail polish, Susie hears Nate's desperate cries for help as Buckley chokes on a swallowed twig. Acting swiftly, Susie carries Buckley to the back seat of Jack's Mustang and drives him to the hospital, ultimately saving his life.
As the memory fades, Susie experiences a momentary faintness and is suddenly confronted with the sight of a grand, dark Victorian building she has never before entered. Initially mistaking a row of crows for women, she realizes they are clutching twigs and follows her as she walks back home. Uncertain whether Buckley has truly seen her presence(as Susie has been attempting to conceal herself to protect him) or if he has been telling "beautiful lies," Susie is left pondering the complexities of their connection.
Following Susie's murder, Harvey experiences recurring dreams of buildings for three months. His favorite dream, which he had the night after killing Susie, features the Church of the Transfiguration in Vologda, Russia. These dreams bring him a sense of peace, contrasting with the "not still dreams" that eventually return - dreams involving women and children, unsettling and disturbing in nature.
Susie reflects on Harvey's childhood, recalling a time when his father constructed shacks outof broken glass and old wood in the desert. During this period, George, Harvey's father, imparted his knowledge of constructing sturdy buildings to him. As Harvey's unsettling dreams resurface, he seeks solace in his father's sketchbooks, hoping to find
love in the pictures of the places he drew, thus enabling him to reclaim the serenity he finds in dreams of buildings.
One night, after perusing his father's sketchbook, Harvey dreams of the last day he saw his mother. In this memory, his father had abandoned his mother on the side of a road in New Mexico following a heated argument. As they drove away, George and Harvey observed his mother chasing after them. Prior to the incident, his mother had given him an amber necklace containing a preserved fly, a memento he has kept until the present day.
The evening before Susie's memorial, Abigail's mother, Grandma Lynn, arrives. Abigail has a strained relationship with Lynn, viewing her as an eccentric and embarrassment due to her alcoholism, reliance on Benzedrine, and peculiar behavior. Despite her idiosyncrasies, Lynn brings a renewed sense of light into the household.
Upon Lynn's arrival, she questions Abigail about Jack's unwavering belief that Harvey is responsible for Susie's death. Lynn warns Abigail about the potential legal ramifications of accusing Harvey, as he could sue them for defamation. Unbeknownst to Lynn, Lindsey secretly listens to their conversation from the top of the stairs. Later that evening, Lynn offers to help Abigail, and instead of assisting with the dishes as Abigail assumes, Lynn proceeds to give her a makeover. Buckley expresses curiosity about makeup, and Lynn happily indulges his request. As Abigail undergoes her transformation, a smile returns to her face. Lynn astutely notices Lindsey's romantic involvement and excitedly announces it to the entire family, bringing a smile back to Jack's face as well. That night, as Lynn becomes intoxicated, along with Jack, who had abstained from alcohol since Susie's death, Lynn proceeds to give Lindsey a makeover too. Susie observes this moment of shared happiness within her family, noting that her mother, for once, leaves the dirty dishes in the sink before retiring to bed.
Once everyone is asleep, Lindsey admires her reflection in the mirror, seeing a mature individual capable of taking care of herself. She appreciates how the makeup enhances her features, making her appear
more attractive and grown-up. Consciously wanting to preserve themakeup, Lindsey sleeps on her back to avoid smudging it.
On the day of Susie's memorial, Lindsey stays hidden in her room until the last possible moment, reluctant to wash off the makeup. She enters Susie's room to select one of her dresses to wear. Inside, she notices that visiting family members have disturbed Susie's room while searching for keepsakes, but the family attributes any disturbances to the dog. As Lindsey searches for an outfit, Lynn enters and requests help with zipping up her dress. She then assists Lindsey in choosing an outfit, opting for a dress that originally belonged to Clarissa. Lynn also helps Lindsey apply her makeup.
To Jack's surprise, hefinds the memorial day to be somewhat pleasant, as he no longer has to pretend to be normal and can openly express his grief. However, he can no longer see his wife, Abigail, as the same person he knew before Susie's death. During the memorial, Grandma Lynn arrives with Ruth's father and expresses horror at Lindsey's appearance, as she does not believe women should wear makeup. Ray, on the other hand, does not attend the memorial but bids farewell to Susie in his own way. He places the studio photo she had given him as a gift into a volume of Indian poetry where he and his mother press flowers.
During the memorial, everyone speaks kindly about Susie while the family sits in a state of numbness. As the attendees rise for the final hymn, Lynn leans over to Lindsey and points out that Harvey, whom Jack believes is responsible for Susie's death, is standing by the door. Lindsey locks eyes with Harvey and then faints. The family rushes to attend to Lindsey, allowing Harvey to slip away unnoticed by anyone else.
Lindsey, Samuel, and Ruth go to the statewide gifted symposium, where gifted middle-school students get together for a four-week retreat in the woods. Samuel has an intuitive understanding of how things work, and he idolizes his older brother, Hal, who runs a motorcycle repair business that serves everyone from the Hell's Angels to old ladies. Ruth has to be driven to the symposium after missing the bus due to an attack of gastritis caused by the vegetarian diet she adopted after Susie's death.
Lindsey hides her surname as best she can at the camp, trying to hide her connection to Susie. She has been wearing the half heart thatSamuel gave her all spring, but aside from sitting together at lunch and walking home after school together, "they melted into the gender-subdivided world of their peers". But upon arriving at the camp, Lindsey and Samuel pair off, unchaperoned, and Susie feels the lust grow between them. Lindsey is also attracted to Samuel because he sees her for who she is and doesn't press her about Susie like the adults and other kids. However, they only kiss, not wanting to run afoul of the counselors. In addition, Samuel wants their first time having sex to be perfect and special, whereas Lindsey just wants to get it over with so that she can achieve adulthood.
Susie watches Ruth write down everything in her journal - how she felt Susie's spirit passing her by, how she dreams about Susie, and how she thinks about wanting to free them both. Whenever Ruth imagines Susie watching her, she feels better and less alone. Susie peers back into Ruth's past, where a 3-year-old Ruth watched her female teenage cousin undress and take a bath and felt a desire to touch her. Later, Ruth developed crushes on her female teachers: "It was not so much, she would write in her journal, that she wanted to have sex with women, but that she wanted to disappear inside of them forever. To Hide"(118). One night, Ruth creeps into Lindsey's dorm and asks to get into bed with her, which Lindsey accedes to. Ruth tells Lindsey about a dream she had about being inside the earth and having Susie walk over her in the cornfield.
Susie begins spending less time watching from the gazebo, and instead watches as she walks through the fields of heaven. She wonders if other people's heavens are worse than hers, as she feels solitary watching her living peers grow and do things she wished she could have done. Susie thinks that if this were truly heaven, all her ancestors would be there, and she would feel only joy and not have a memory of her death. Franny tells her that she can't have that yet, as she must first stop desiring certain answers:
'If you stop asking why you were killed instead of someone else, stop investigating the vacuum left by your loss, stop wondering what everyone left on Earth is feeling,' she said, 'you can be free. Simply put, you have to give upon Earth'.
The final project of the symposium turns out to be "How to Commit the
Perfect Murder." Lindsey, now recognized as Susie's sister, shuts off the entire world, including herself, in response. Samuel takes Lindsey away to talk in the afternoon, and as it starts to rain, they lie down on the ground underneath a rowboat. As they lie together, Samuel gets an erection and apologizes. Lindsey then tells him that she is ready, and the two have sex. Susie watches from heaven: "At fourteen, my sister sailed away from me into a place I'd never been. In the walls of my sex there was horror and blood, in the walls of hers there were windows".
Susie says that they frequently play the "perfect murder" game in heaven, and that she thinks the perfect murder would be to kill someone with an icicle.
Encounter As the summer of 1974 unfolds, there are no new developments in Susie's case. Jack maintains his suspicion towards Harvey, but whenever he brings up something that contradicts the police theories, Abigail dismisses it, citing Len's opinion that it holds no significance. She places her trust in the police investigation to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, Jack has lost faith in the authorities and relies on his gut instinct, firmly believing that Harvey is responsible for Susie's death.
Susie observes Harvey inside his meticulously organized house, which bears a striking resemblance to the Salmon residence. Harvey spends his time constructing dollhouses, listening to the radio, and sketching blueprints for his future locations of murder. While he maintains a regular routine to avoid arousing suspicion, late at night he counts the trophies he has taken from his victims, treating them like beads on a rosary. Among his possessions, Harvey cherishes his deceased mother's amber pendant. Although he doesn't remember all the names of the girls he has killed, Susie, in her heavenly perspective, witnesses the exact moments of their deaths and knows their identities. Susie also discovers that Harvey has killed numerous neighborhood animals, counting their bones in an attempt to suppress his fantasies of killing another teenage girl. Susie realizes the struggle within Harvey, as he resorts to taking the lives of lesser beings to quell his urge to harm a child.
In August, Jack's persistent calls to the precinct prompt Fenerman to establish boundaries for the sake of both their sanity. Fenerman visits
theSalmon household and advises Jack to stop contacting them regarding Harvey. Although Fenerman acknowledges Harvey's peculiarity, he claims there is no evidence linking him to Susie's death. Fenerman informs the family that due to the lack of new leads, the investigation is being halted. Jack observes Abigail's reaction to this news and realizes that she believes Fenerman over him.
That night, Jack remains alone in his study, engulfed in despair, as he pours his thoughts into his journal while his world crumbles around him. At work, he becomes increasingly prone to making mistakes and fears the possibility of being fired. He also notices Abigail withdrawing from him, growing distant whenever he tries to touch her. However, he witnesses her blossoming in the presence of Fenerman. Just as Jack is about to retire for the night, he catches sight of a flashlight moving towards the cornfield. Believing it to be Harvey returning to the scene of the crime, Jack grabs a baseball bat and heads out, turning off the porch light that has been left on every night since Susie's disappearance.
Following the light into the cornfield, Jack proclaims that he is there to put an end to it. However, he discovers that the person is Clarissa, who calls out for Brian. Jack drops the bat and, in the darkness, collides with Clarissa, causing both of them to fall. In the midst of confusion, Jack calls out Susie's name. Hearing this, Brian, who was heading to meet Clarissa in the cornfield, rushes towards them, believing Susie is present. He beats Jack with his flashlight, mistaking him for Susie's assailant. Brian seizes the bat and continues assaulting Jack, ultimately breaking his knee. Helpless, Susie can only watch as she snuffs out the candle that remained lit in the study.
The sound of police sirens awakens Abigail and the children at home. Lindsey goes to wake Jack but finds his chair in the study vacant; it has become his bed. Abigail realizes that Jack has gone after Harvey and landed himself in troubleMeanwhile, Lindsey expresses her desire to go out and find him, but Abigail insists that they stay at home and wait. When the police call with news about Jack, Abigail rushes to the hospital, instructing the children to stop there. However, Lindsey sends Buckley to
stay with his friend and manages to secure a ride to the hospitalfrom Samuel's older brother, Hal. Arriving at Jack's room, Lindsey finds that Abigail is not there. She softly sings a song to Jack, a melody he used to sing to her and Susie when they were children.
At Abigail's request, Fenerman arrives at the hospital, and the two share a tender touch of hands. They step outside to smoke, finding solace in each other's company while Jack undergoes surgery. Abigail takes the opportunity to ask Fenerman about how his wife died. He reveals that she took her own life shortly after they were married, leaving him without knowledge of her reasons. Abigail pulls Fenerman closer, initiating a kiss and guiding his hands over her body. They engage in a sexual encounter against the wall as Abigail seeks a way to exorcise the pain caused by her daughter's death.
Susie reflects on the time when Abigail, who held a Master's degree in English and aspired to be a teacher, used to talk about mythology while bathing Susie and Lindsey. However, Abigail's dreams faded when she unexpectedly became pregnant with Buckley, causing her to suppress the more enigmatic aspects of her personality. Susie realizes that Abigail has always been lonely, noting that it was Jack who grew closer to them over the years, while Abigail grew distant.
After Abigail returns inside, Hal informs her that Lindsey is with Jack to give her some time to compose herself. Abigail sees Lindsey sleeping in a chair with her hand resting on Jack. She recognizes that her daughter and husband have become intertwined, becoming a united entity, and she feels a sense of relief.
As Fall 1974 begins, Lindsey returns to school carrying the burden of being not just the sister of a murdered girl but also the daughter of a mentally unstable father. Brian and Clarissa, now in high school, use the story of Susie's death to enhance their own social status. Buckley has started kindergarten, and the teachers, unaware of the tragedy that has befallen the Salmon family, treat him differently. Susie observes that, despite the chaos, everyone she knew is growing up. By October, Jack begins to regain the ability to walk. Abigail fulfills her duties as a wife
and mother, but she becomes increasingly distant from her family and often thinks of Fenerman.
In November, Jack watches Buckley play and is haunted by the fear that someone could take hisson away from him as well. Jack continues to postpone his return to work but decides to go back after Thanksgiving to distract himself and distance himself from Abigail. Grandma Lynn is expected to arrive for Thanksgiving, and Lindsey diligently follows the beauty routine that Lynn set for her. Abigail continues her affair with Fenerman, not because she loves him, but because being with him is the quickest way for her to forget her pain.
Two weeks before Lynn's arrival, Jack gives Buckley a piggyback ride around the house, despite his own physical pain, seeking a moment of normalcy as father and son. They encounter Lindsey shaving her legs in the bathroom, and Jack experiences a twinge of sadness, realizing that not only is his daughter growing older, but Susie never had the chance to experience such a coming-of-age milestone. Jack sends Buckley away and retrieves a fresh razor for Lindsey, believing that it should be Abigail who guides her in this rite of passage. Lindsey asks Jack if he still believes that Harvey killed Susie, and he assures her that he has no doubts. Lindsey suggests that if someone were to find something of Susie's in Harvey's house, the police could arrest him. Jack hesitates before stating that breaking into Harvey's house would be illegal, claiming that he had never considered it. However, Lindsey sees through his lie and realizes that Jack needs someone to do it for him.
Upon Lynn's arrival, she immediately senses that something is amiss with Abigail and insists on taking her for a private walk, despite their distant relationship. Lynn reveals that Abigail's father had a long-term affair with another woman, and Abigail never properly mourned his death. Lynn confronts Abigail about her affair, to which Abigail denies the accusation but asks if she can use her father's cabin as a getaway if the need arises. Abigail catches a whiff of foreign cigarettes and follows the scent, distancing herself from her mother. She discovers Ruana Singh smoking in her backyard while her husband hosts a dinner party inside. The two women share a cigarette together.
As Lynn walks home alone, she purposefully passes by Harvey's house. She senses an aura of malevolence emanating from the house, confirming Jack's suspicions that Harvey killed Susie. Lynn realizes that she can only sympathize with Abigail's pain and decides to offer her the
use of the cabin whenever she needs it.
Harvey is aware that the Salmon family is investigating him, as similar suspicions have arisen in other towns where he has resided. However, he has practiced his fabricated narrative with the police and found that pretending to be a widower, using the name of one of his previous victims, helps him avoid suspicion. Every afternoon, Harvey visits a local park where he watches school children on tours of George Washington's log cabin. When questioned, he invents storiesabout an imaginary family, claiming that he met his wife there or used to bring his children to the park.
Throughout the year, Lindsey has been training with the boys' soccer team, preparing herself for a chance to qualify for the all-male high school soccer league. For a week, she has been using her neighborhood runs to observe Harvey's house. On November 26, while running and pretending to have a menstrual cramp, Lindsey slips into Harvey's yard, maneuvering between the trees. She breaks the window that leads to the basement and lowers herself inside. Quietly climbing the stairs to the main floor, she notices that Harvey's house feels much emptier than hers. In the dining room, Lindsey catches a glimpse of someone who resembles Susie, and Susie exerts all her strength to send a signal to her sister. However, Susie fears that her attempt to help may unintentionally harm Lindsey.
Lindsey musters the courage to enter Harvey's room on the upper floor, where she discovers his sketchbook. Just as she starts going through the sketches and notes, she hears Harvey's car pulling into the driveway. With Harvey now inside, preparing something to eat, Lindsey hears the creaking boards above her and realizes that someone else is in the house. Filled with a sense of urgency, she rips out the sketch of the hole beneath the cornfield, shatters a window, and rolls off the roof, landing in the bushes below. Harvey reaches the upper floor just in time to catch a glimpse of Lindsey fleeing, dressed in her soccer shirt with her number prominently displayed.
When Lindsey returns home, she finds the Salmons gathered together
with Samuel. Despite being covered in cuts, she bravely admits to breaking into Harvey's house and presents the sketch to Jack as evidence. Abigail refuses to look at it and leaves the room. Lindsey confides in Jack, assuring him that she is certain Harvey killed Susie but suspectsthat Harvey saw her when she ran away.
From her vantage point in the gazebo, Susie feels relief knowing that her sister is safe. As she walks home, Franny hands her a folded piece of paper, instructing her to open it when she is stronger. Two days later, Susie follows the map drawn on the paper, leading her to a field she has never seen before. In the clearing, she encounters another young girl named Flora. Introducing themselves, they share a profound connection as both victims of Harvey's heinous crimes. Susie finds solace in the company of Flora, knowing that others like her will soon join them.
Susie reminisces about taking numerous pictures with her camera, leading Jack to ask her to select which rolls he should develop.
In the summer of 1975, Abigail and Jack have sex, and the following day, Abigail leaves for her father's cabin in New Hampshire. In the fall, Lynn contacts Jack, offering to help him care for the children and even considering cutting back or quitting drinking. Jack accepts Lynn's offer, and she moves into Susie's room. During the winter, Lindsey visits the police station to inquire about the investigation. While waiting, she notices a scarf on Fenerman's desk that belongs to Abigail, leading her to realize that Abigail and Fenerman had an affair.
A family with five girls moves into Harvey's old house, and Jack keeps the windows shut even on hot days to avoid hearing the sounds of the young girls playing. Buckley, now seven years old, builds a fort, a project he had always planned to do with Susie. Inside the fort, he reads comic books and yearns for more time spent with Lindsey and Samuel. However, he suppresses his longing for Abigail, hardening his heart to withstand the pain: "When he felt his heart hurt, he turned into something stronger than a little boy, and he grew up this way. A heart that flashed from heart to stone, heart to stone".
In the fall of 1976, Fenerman reexamines the evidence from Harvey's house. Although no human bones or bodies were found on the property,
the police discover a coke bottle in the cornfield with the fingerprints of both Harvey and Susie. This confirmation strengthens Fenerman's belief that Jack had been right all along. Despite Harvey's disappearance, Fenerman holds onto hope that they may catch a break due to ongoing developments inthe area. He carries a heavy burden of guilt for failing to solve the murder and allowing Harvey to escape while he was with Abigail at the mall. Fenerman looks at photos of his unsolved cases and writes "gone" on the back of each, acknowledging that he may never find all the answers he seeks.
Abigail's stay in New Hampshire lasts only one winter before she decides to move to California to work at a winery. She embarks on a cross-country journey, sending postcards to Lindsey and Buckley along the way. When she finally reaches the ocean in California, she becomes fixated on the idea of immersing her feet in the water, seeking a sense of pure baptism. As she descends to the water's edge, she spots a baby left alone on the beach, realizing that people on the cliffs are filming an advertisement. Abigail laughs, recognizing that even with preparations, no one could save the baby from a freak accident. Abigail secures a job at a winery but never pursues her dreams of teaching.
Every year, Jack organizes a memorial for Susie in the cornfield, though fewer people attend over time. On what would have been Susie's graduation day, Lynn gives Buckley a book on gardening, and she begins teaching him the names of plants. Susie observes Ray blossoming into a handsome adult and yearns to touch and hold him. Ray graduates from high school early and goes on to study medicine at Penn State. Before his departure, Ruana hides a book of Indian poetry containing Susie's picture in his luggage. Ruth moves to New York City immediately after graduation, finding employment at a bar and spending her free time walking around the city, convinced that women are being murdered wherever she goes. Ruth believes she possesses a second sight to see dead women and children, diligently taking notes whenever she has a vision.
Harvey continues to travelup and down the East Coast, occasionally returning to Norristown, which has seen significant residential development. In December, Fenerman receives a call from a detective in Delaware who has discovered a murdered girl connected to several other killings, including Susie's. Hal, utilizing his biker connections, has been investigating Harvey's whereabouts. One evening, a man informs Hal
about a dollhouse builder who murdered his mother, prompting Hal to contact Fenerman.
Susie watches as the years pass, dreaming about the life she could have had. However, she remainsfixed on observing Jack in his study every night, capturing snapshots of these moments to preserve their significance. One evening, Susie encounters Holiday, who had remained faithfully by Jack's side, watching over Buckley. Overjoyed to see Susie, Holiday becomes so excited that he accidentally knocks her over in heaven.
Exactly one year from Susie's death, Dr. Singh calls Ruana to tell her that he will not be home for dinner. She knows it's not an affair that is making him late more often: "It was something she too ... had severed herself from after having been injured long ago. It was ambition". As she does Yoga and wonders about what she will do with Ray soon to leave and her husband working more, Ruth rings the doorbell to see Ray.
Because they have been spending so much time together, the other kids at school labeled Ruth and Ray as a couple, "despite all evidence to the contrary". They have started kissing as an experiment - since Ray had only kissed Susie, and Ruth had kissed no-one - but don't feel anything when they do. During one of their experiments, Ruth morbidly jokes that they should both pretend they're kissing Susie instead.
Ruth enters while Ray is dancing to music in his room. She tells him that she wants to light candles in the cornfield to say goodbye to Susie. As they walk there, they notice that Samuel and Hal are already at the cornfield. Word spreads, and eventually much of the neighborhood heads to the cornfield for an impromptu memorial. Abigail, reading literature and philosophy she hasn't touched since her university, says she isn't interested in attending. Lindsey, "sure there was something on the other side of the icy surface"(204), stays with Abigail and watches out the window. Abigail tells Lindsey she is going to honor Susie's memory by becoming more than a mother and promises she won't leave them, but inside Abigail wishes she was a free girl who dreamed of Paris, like she used to be.
By the evening, most of the people Susie ever knew are gathered for a
candlelight vigil, and rumors swirl that Harvey, who has disappeared, was Susie's killer. Jack, who has not seen his neighbors for months, joins the memorial. His heart warms when he realizes people he didn't even recognize loved Susie.
Lindsey and Samuel graduate from Temple Universityand decide to ride back to Norristown on Samuel's motorcycle. As they approach their destination, rain begins to pour, prompting them to take shelter in the forest until the storm subsides. Susie, who has watched Lindsey grow up and yearned to experience the things she could never do, realizes that Samuel is "her one and only". They stumble upon an abandoned Victorian house hidden within the underbrush and seek refuge inside. Samuel, with his newfound fascination with carpentry, marvels at the house's construction and expresses his desire to purchase and restore it. Inside the house, Lindsey and Samuel make love, and Samuel proposes to Lindsey. Overjoyed, Lindsey accepts his proposal, prompting Susie to ecstatically dance in heaven. Aware that Jack will be concerned about their prolonged absence, Lindsey and Samuel decide to run the eight miles back home through the storm in their t-shirts and underwear. Susie realizes that Lindsey is no longer running towards or away from her, signifying that after eight years, the wound of Susie's death has finally healed for Lindsey.
At home, Jack anxiously awaits Lindsey and Samuel's return following their graduation. Buckley, now twelve years old, has matured into a responsible and considerate young boy, managing the household despite not being responsible for cooking or buying groceries. That year, Jack finally finishes developing the last of Susie's photographs. Whenever something tugs at his heart, he retrieves the photos to reminisce. Many of the pictures feature Abigail, and despite feeling like he barely knows her anymore, Jack finds himself falling in love with her once again. When Lindsey and Samuel return home, they joyfully announce their engagement. As the family celebrates, Buckley catches a glimpse of Susie standing in the living room for a fleeting moment.
In New York City, Ruth keeps Susie's murder and her supernatural encounters a secret, establishing an honor code with her journals and poems. She spends her time wandering the city, documenting in her journal the locations where she believes women or girls have died. In heaven, Susie observes that Ruth has become somewhat of a minor celebrity due to her abilities, with women lining up to seek her assistance in finding where they or their loved ones had been killed. The day after Lindsey's graduation, Ruth witnesses a nanny waking up just in time to prevent a little girl from wandering off. This triggers a vision for Ruth, revealingthe fate of another girl who had wandered into the bushes and disappeared. She diligently records this vision in her journal. Ruth's father calls her, informing her that the sinkhole has opened, and she decides to make a pilgrimage back home to witness it before it closes. The only person Ruth maintains contact with from Norristown is Ray, whom she meets whenever she visits home. She plans to bring him along for the visit to the sinkhole.
Buckley, now in seventh grade, develops a deep fascination with gardening, planting an assortment of herbs and vegetables in the entire garden. However, he neglects the advice from his books and overcrowds the plants. Lynn chooses not to point this out, as she no longer believes in verbal communication. One afternoon, Buckley retrieves a box of clothes from the basement to use for staking tomatoes. Jack realizes that the clothes belong to Susie, packed away by Lynn when she moved into Susie's room. Jack insists they save the clothes, and Buckley angrily questions why he can't use them, accusing Jack of acting as if Susie's belongings solely belong to him. As their argument escalates, Jack suffers a heart attack and collapses. In the hospital, Lindsey and Susie stand on opposite sides of Jack's bed, both longing for him to be theirs alone forever.
Susie walks aimlessly until the familiar landmarks of her heaven fade away, leaving nothing but a vast expanse of flat earth. In her wandering, she encounters her grandfather, and they begin to dance together, just as they did when Susie was six years old. When the music stops, her grandfather reveals that he is departing and that Susie is also close to her own departure. He walks away, disappearing into the void, leaving Susie to contemplate her nearing journey.
Abigail arrives at work at the winery only to hear about an emergency back home. Panicked, she starts making phone calls to hospitals in the area and eventually learns that Jack had a heart attack. The caretaker at the winery drives her to the airport, and she manages to catch the first available flight back home. During a layover, Abigail takes out a class photo of Susie that she keeps hidden and upside down in her wallet. She removes the picture and leaves it by a struggling tiny tree, a symbol of growth and resilience. Reflecting on her journey, Abigail, whileon the final leg of her flight, contemplates how she never wanted to be a mother and believes that losing Susie was a form of punishment for not wanting the baby in the first place.
Lindsey and Samuel meet Abigail at the airport, and as Abigail walks towards them, she realizes that Buckley, who refuses to look at her, is also present. When Abigail mentions that she will try to arrange for Buckley to see Jack, despite the hospital policy prohibiting his entrance due to his age, he responds with a harsh, "Fuck you." Abigail attempts to conceal her tears from the children, but Buckley remains resolute in his anger and resentment towards her, having stored up his hatred for her over the years.
Upon reaching the hospital where Jack is being treated, Abigail is overcome with memories of her affair, and she contemplates fleeing once again. Summoning her courage, she enters Jack's room and breaks down in tears while holding his hand.
Harvey makes his way to a small shack in Connecticut, the site of a previous murder where he killed a young waitress. Inside the shack, he discovers that the police have excavated the ground, and he lies down to sleep in the empty grave. In his dreams, he experiences a recurring nightmare where Lindsey runs away wearing her soccer jersey. It was the sight of her soccer shirt that caused his life to spiral out of control.
Fenerman has made significant progress in connecting Harvey to another victim and uncovering more of his aliases. He has also recovered Susie's Pennsylvania keystone charm from another crime scene. After hearing about Jack's heart attack from a nurse he previously
dated, Fenerman decides to give the charm back to Jack, even if it goes against the rules, viewing it as a talisman that could hasten Jack's recovery.
Meanwhile, Abigail, reluctant to return home, spends the night at the hospital, contemplating how long she will have to wait before she can leave again. She enters a diner, where she feels the gaze of suspicious individuals around her. Everywhere she looks, she sees reminders of Susie, including a man sitting at a booth across from her whom she perceives as someone who could have been her potential killer. Determined to spend a few more hours with Jack before leaving, Abigail plans to bid her farewell when he wakes up. As shewatches him sleep, their shared love and memories overwhelm her, and she eventually falls asleep while still holding his hand.
When Jack awakens, he finds Abigail sleeping beside him, holding his hand. Though he still loves her, he comes to the realization that he must let Abigail be herself. Susie, observing this, recognizes the unwavering strength of her father's love and devotion. As Abigail wakes up, Jack invites her to join him in his hospital bed, and she accepts. Jack expresses his love for Abigail, sharing that he fell in love with her while she was away. Abigail, unable to bring herself to say "I love you," assures Jack that she will stay with him for awhile. They share a passionate kiss, both of them overcome with emotion and tears streaming down their faces.
Susie leaves her parents in the hospital room and goes to watch Ray, her "might-have-been," whom she feels a strong connection to. She reminisces about their encounter on the scaffolding and her desire to kiss him, but her fear that it wouldn't meet the romantic expectations she had from reading magazines. Lynn, Susie's grandmother, had reassured her and encouraged her to pursue another kiss with Ray, a moment she has longed for ever since.
Meanwhile, Fenerman sits in the hospital parking lot, consumed by guilt over his affair and for not having more information to offer the Salmons besides Susie's charm. Eventually, he gathers the courage to
visit Jack's room, where Jack and Abigail are still holding hands. Fenerman presents Jack with Susie's charm and informs him that the police have connected Harvey to multiple murders, but they have yet to apprehend him or find Susie's body. Jack welcomes the reopening of the murder case, while Abigail, on the contrary, wishes to leave Susie's murder in the past. Doubtful, Abigail questions how they can be certain that Harvey is responsible for the other girls' deaths, to which Fenerman somberly replies, "nothing is ever certain." Abigail, reflecting on the phrase he used after Susie's disappearance to offer solace, now views it as a cruel phrase that preys on hope. Disturbed by his response, she asks him to leave.
Susie then shifts her focus to watching Ruth and Ray, but instead, she spots Harvey driving a makeshift car. She realizes that he can no longer keep the memories of his victims at bay. In the carwith Harvey is his first victim - a high school classmate whom he raped, leading to her tragic death when her brother accidentally started a fire. Harvey drives to the Salmons' house, where Lindsey is home alone. Though the neighbors find his car suspicious, they fail to recognize Harvey. As Harvey sits and observes Lindsey, a police car arrives behind him. Feeling embarrassed for Harvey, the officer simply asks him to move along. Susie, observing the situation, knows that it was a stroke of luck that has kept her sister safe thus far.
Meanwhile, at the sinkhole, Ruth and Ray stand at the edge and witness an old stove emerging from the ground. Ruth ponders how each time she returns, something significant is missing, making it just like any other place. As Ray ventures off to search for wildflowers, Ruth senses Susie's presence and poses the question, "Don't you want anything, Susie?"
In the aftermath of the encounter with the police officer, Harvey drives to the sinkhole. As he passes by Ruth, all she can see are the women, signifying the victims he has harmed. Suddenly, Susie falls back to Earth.
Susie awakens in Ruth's body with Ray standing over her. She realizes that this was Ruth's wish - to give Susie some time on Earth. In heaven, Ruth is celebrated by her fan club, and Ray quickly notices something different about her. Following Susie's instruction, Ray kisses Ruth, and
they proceed to walk to the car, sharing another kiss along the way. This is precisely what Susie had yearned for in heaven - to experience real tenderness instead of the pain from her rape.
Susie instructs Ray to drive to Hal's nearby home, and as they embark on the journey, she contemplates the idea that if she had lived, she could have made choices to leave town and explore new places. She wonders if her longing in heaven stems from a desire for wanderlustand the freedom that comes with letting go.
At Hal's house, Susie invites Ray to join her in the shower, and as they do, Ray accidentally calls her Susie. She confirms her true identity, and they make love multiple times. Susie shares her experiences in heaven with Ray, explaining the constant presence of spirits and urging him to read Ruth's journals for further insights. Susie decides to call home but is abruptly switched back withRuth before she can say anything. Ruth wakes up, embracing Ray, and neither of them is ready to verbalize what just transpired. Ruth is filled with joy at being able to assist Susie, while Ray becomes more open to the possibilities of life beyond death.
Ruth and Ray wake up together at the Singhs' house. In the middle of the night, Ray reads Ruth's journal, discovering her visions of the murdered women and girls. Ruth awakens as he reads and expresses her eagerness to share everything with him. Ruana, upon witnessing Ray and Ruth sleeping together, contemplates the possibility of divorce, a thought she has avoided for years. The next morning, she invites Ray and Ruth to accompany her in delivering a pie to the Salmons. However, Ruth insists on going somewhere alone.
Meanwhile, Jack is discharged from the hospital, and Susie observes her family leaving together, recognizing that they are meant to be there, united as a foursome. Although Jack's birthday is still weeks away, Hal and Samuel surprise Buckley with a drum set while the family is returning from the hospital. Lynn, Jack's mother, briefly catches sight of Susie standing outside by Buckley's garden shed but decides not to share this with anyone. Susie has grown to love her grandmother even more in death and realizes that her grandmother's legacy of inebriated support is a positive one.
Susie continues to observe as the family arrives home, contemplating if this is what she has been waiting for - their return, not to her, but to each other. Abigail ponders whether she can survive being home with her family again. Lindsey questions Abigail about hurting Jack again, hinting at her knowledge of the affair. Abigail responds that she will do everything she can but makes no promises this time. Upon returning home, Abigail immediately goes to Susie's old room, where the furniture remains unchanged except for the addition of Lynn's recliner. Finally, Abigail says the words Susie had unknowingly been waiting to hear from her mother: "I love you, Susie." Susie is taken aback by the realization that she had been yearning to hear those words from her mother.
Abigail notices that Lynn has framed the secret photograph Susie took of her. She acknowledges Lynn's efforts in maintaining the household during her absence and regrets her scorched-earth policy towards her mother. Susie, observing this, also comes to accept that whilethings may not be perfect, she no longer needs to yearn for her family's yearning for her. As Abigail returns downstairs, Susie witnesses the beautiful connections that have formed in her absence.
Later, Ray and Ruana come to leave a pie on the Salmons' doorstep, and they are invited inside. Abigail engages in a conversation with Ruana, inquiring about her husband's employment status, and the two make plans to smoke cigarettes together again. In the evening, Samuel talks about the house he and Lindsey found and wish to restore. Ray realizes that Ruth's father owns the property and has started a business aimed at buying and restoring old homes before they are destroyed by rapid development in the area.
Susie watches as Ruth returns to the cornfield, realizing that Ruth will always carry the memory of her but that there is nothing more she can do. Susie understands that Ruth will forever be haunted, first by accident and now by choice. With that, Susie disappears from her heaven.
"Bones": Life Goes On
Susie transitions to another part of heaven, which she calls the "wide-wide Heaven." Here, she experiences comfort and joy, the small pleasures that were unimaginable in her small-heaven.
Years later, Grandma Lynn passes away and spends her time in heaven drinking with celebrities. Lindsey and Samuel get married and move into their dream house, which Mr. Connors agrees to sell to them under the condition that Samuel contributes his labor as the first employee of Mr.
Connors' restoration business. Despite lacking modernamenities like plumbing and electricity, they happily reside there while Mr. Connors restores the house with the help of Samuel and Buckley. Lindsey pursues graduate school to become a therapist and later becomes pregnant with a daughter. Abigail and Jack remain together, donating Susie and Lynn's belongings to Goodwill. Ray becomes a doctor, maintaining his belief in the supernatural even in the presence of serious surgeons and scientists. Ruth stays in New York City, continuing to record her visions, determined to make people aware that the dead communicate and laugh alongside the living.
On a winter day, Susie observes the Earth and witnesses Harvey's arrival from a Greyhound bus. He enters a diner and spends hours watching a teenage girl. When the girl leaves to smoke behind the bus station, Harvey follows her. However, as he attempts to pursue her, an icicle falls, causing him to lose his balance and fall intoa ravine. His body remains undiscovered for several weeks.
Many years later, Susie watches Lindsey with her ten-year-old daughter, Abigail Suzanne. Lindsey has finally embraced the memories of Susie, placing her where she belongs. A couple who recently moved to a new Norristown development finds Susie's old charm bracelet. They contemplate the girl who once wore it, realizing that she must be grown up by now. With that, Susie concludes the book by wishing the reader "a long and happy life."