Chapter 33: Honor Laps and Hopeful Stars – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Seven weeks after the trip, Savannah attends Cael’s first hockey game at Harvard. He is visibly nervous before the game, confiding that he wishes his brother Cillian were there. To honor Cillian, the announcer dedicates the game to him and Cael takes a solo lap around the rink, wearing a black armband and his brother’s old number, 33, on his jersey. Savannah watches, overcome with emotion, as Cael skates in tribute. The entire team joins the honor lap. After the game—which Harvard wins thanks to Cael’s four goals—Cael is given the game puck. He kisses it and holds it up for Cillian. Savannah meets Cael’s parents for the first time; they warmly welcome her, and his mother thanks Savannah for helping save Cael. The chapter ends with Cael reflecting on how the trip and Savannah have healed him, and he vows to honor his brother always.

Key Events

Cael confides to Savannah before the game that he is nervous and misses Cillian; she points to the stars, reminding him his brother is there.
The announcer dedicates the game to Cillian Woods and asks Cael to take a solo tribute lap.
Cael skates around the rink wearing number 33 (Cillian’s number) and a black armband; the whole team joins in.
Savannah watches, crying with pride, and touches the glass as Cael skates by.
Cael scores four goals and Harvard wins.
In the locker room, Coach gives Cael the game puck; Cael holds it up to the heavens.
Savannah meets Cael’s parents; his mother hugs her and thanks her for helping save Cael.
Cael internally reaffirms his love for Savannah and their shared healing journey, with their lost siblings guiding them.

Character Development

Cael: Shows vulnerability by admitting his grief before the game. His decision to wear Cillian’s number and take the honor lap demonstrates growth in openly honoring his brother rather than hiding his pain. He plays with purpose, feeling Cillian’s presence.
Savannah: Stepping into Cael’s world of big crowds and hockey tests her introversion, but she supports him fully. Her tears reflect deep empathy, and she articulates that Cael helped save her too, showing her own healing.
Cael’s parents: Their first appearance here reveals a warm, supportive family. His mother’s words to Savannah confirm that the recovery community’s trip and Savannah’s love have been pivotal for Cael.
Cillian (deceased): Though absent, his memory drives the chapter. Cael hears his imaginary voice, and the team’s tribute shows how loss continues to shape the living.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Honor Laps and Jersey Numbers: The solo lap and the change from number 87 to 33 symbolize more than a jersey switch—they represent Cael taking on his brother’s legacy and publicly honoring him.
Stars as Connection: Savannah points to the stars before the game, reinforcing the motif that the deceased are still present and watching. Cael later holds the puck up to the heavens.
Healing Through Community: The team’s participation in the tribute, Coach’s gesture, and parents’ presence all illustrate that grief is carried collectively.
Parallel Healing: Both Savannah and Cael have “saved” each other, as his mother notes. Their relationship is framed as mutual restoration.
Water / Ice: The ice rink becomes a sacred space where emotion and sport merge; Cael’s tears on the ice mirror earlier crying scenes in the novel.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks a major milestone in Cael’s grief journey: he moves from private mourning to public tribute. The game and the introduction to parents solidify his new identity as a college athlete who can channel loss into performance. For the couple, meeting the Woods family signals deepening commitment. The chapter also brings back the theme of sibling loss, tying Cael’s story to Savannah’s in a hopeful parallel. It sets up a new phase in the narrative where both characters actively honor their loved ones while building a future together.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Cael choose to wear number 33 instead of his usual number 87 for the game?
Number 33 was Cillian’s jersey number. Cael wears it as a tribute to his brother, showing that he wants Cillian’s presence felt on the ice and that he is now carrying his brother’s legacy forward.
How does Savannah’s reaction during the tribute lap reveal her own healing process?
Savannah cries and touches the glass, feeling both sorrow and pride. Earlier in the novel she struggled to engage with her own grief; here she fully empathizes with Cael’s loss, demonstrating that she has grown more comfortable with emotional vulnerability and shared pain.
What does Cael’s mother mean when she thanks Savannah for “helping save my son”?
Cael’s mother recognizes that the healing trip and Savannah’s love have pulled Cael out of deep despair after Cillian’s death. “Saving” implies emotional rescue—Cael was able to open up, process grief, and find hope again, largely through his bond with Savannah.