The Program

Sloane has a flashback to the weeks before Brady died by suicide. Brady took James and Sloane to the river one day because he wanted to teach Sloane how to swim. Sloane remembers how Brady stood at the top of one of the cliffs surrounding the river. Sloane did not think anything was wrong until Brady told them to take care of each other, then fell backward off the cliff into the water. Sloane ran into the water, but since she did not know how to swim, she could not get to Brady in time. James dove in after Brady, but he could not find him under the current. Brady’s body floated upwards, and James dragged him to shore, but it was too late. Overwhelmed with grief, Sloane ran into the river to drown herself, but James pulled her out.

At school, Sloane struggles with her grief over Miller’s death. She sees one of the handlers watching her again and knows that she must stay strong. After one of her classes, the handler approaches her to speak with her about Miller’s death. Sloane knows that this is protocol after a loved one dies by suicide, but she feels nervous.