The Book of Form and Emptiness

The narrative continues in the first person. After Benny approaches the nurse, she texts Dr. Melanie about Benny’s sudden vocalizations and ability to walk. Upon receiving the text, Dr. Melanie returns to the ward. Benny explains to her that he must go home. Refuses treatment and threatens to go on a hunger strike if they attempt to keep him in the ward. Benny has taken full responsibility for his own actions and knows that only he can help his mom. Dr. Melanie observes Benny for the next two weeks, then organizes a conference with Annabelle before discharging him. During this meeting, Annabelle suggests that the voices Benny hears may be trying to help. She supports Benny’s perception of the world and encourages Benny to join Mackson’s peer support group.

Through the support group, Benny and Mackson become friends. Neither has heard from Alice or knows where she is. Benny continues seeing Dr. Melanie. The objects’ voices have quieted somewhat, and the voice of the Book is less insistent. Benny believes that the holes he poked into himself with the thumbtack helped with regulating the presence of the voices in his mind.

When Benny returns home, he finds it mostly cleared out, but some things still need to be sorted and given to a new home. Mrs. Wong has returned from the hospital and is recovering. She prevents No-Good from evicting Annabelle and Benny.

Aikon’s book tour stops at the San Francisco library. Annabelle and Benny attend, and Cory is able to arrange a meeting with Aikon for them. Annabelle brings Kenji’s ashes and requests that Aikon perform a blessing over them. Aikon does this in the library. During the signing, Benny goes up to his study carrel on the ninth floor, where he falls asleep, thinking about his relationship to writing, the Book, and his impulse towards creative projects. 

Annabelle emails Aikon, thanking her for blessing Kenji’s ashes. She believes that both Kenji and the house, now fully cleaned out, are at peace. She tells Aikon how Benny is “taking responsibility for things and being so helpful” (543). Annabelle has started a part-time job at the craft store Michael’s, and Cory has been inviting Annabelle to read during the library’s Children’s Hour. Annabelle has plans to resume her pursuit of a library sciences degree.

The Book can now only communicate with Benny through dreams. It describes a dream of Benny standing amid beautiful natural scenery, thinking about “the girl of your dreams […] and she’s come to keep you from falling” (546). The dream ends with Benny and the beautiful girl, who is unnamed but described similarly to Alice, embracing each other.