Picture Us in the Light

Content Warning: The following Chapter Summaries and Analyses mention suicide—with the Chapter 7 Summary being the first mention of it.

During lunch at school, Regina’s friends from church, Grace and Mina, approach Danny’s table to ask Regina how she’s doing. Regina hasn’t been participating in church events anymore, and Grace and Mina are worried about her.

Danny’s past friendship with Sandra (first mentioned in Chapter 3) soured during freshman year, when he became friends with Harry despite having told her that he didn’t like him. However, Sandra remained close to Regina. During junior year, Sandra tried to make amends by asking Danny to design their grade’s float in the Homecoming parade—but he refused. At the time, she had also been running for Class President against Harry. Danny had helped count votes for the election, and even though Harry lost, he lied and pretended Harry won.

In March of their junior year of high school, Sandra died by suicide. In the aftermath of her death, Danny continues to worry about his role in Sandra’s depression; Harry also feels guilty, having been the last person to speak to Sandra before she died.