Chapter 22 Epilogue 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

The epilogue jumps forward an unspecified amount of time. Annie now lives permanently in Aster. She leaves her house wearing a crown of yellow freesia and walks through the local farmers market, eating a crisp pink apple. She carries a second apple in her pocket and plans to save the seeds for their magical uses. Locals greet her, and she responds only to those she likes.

A woman named Madison Thorpe calls out “Miss Crane,” a name Annie hasn’t used in a long time. Madison was one of Annie’s former students. Annie remembers her pale blue eyes and excessive black eyeliner, now settled into crow’s-feet. Madison shares that she earned her bachelor’s at Sarah Lawrence, moved to California, and hoped to pursue a PhD but is now back in Aster living with her parents after separating from her partner. She is forty-two and unmarried, which her parents find horrifying. Annie recalls that Madison once defended her when other students mocked her, and she used to wear pins on her backpack.

Madison comments that Annie hasn’t aged a day, and Annie becomes interested in the conversation. Annie sees the pain radiating from Madison. She offers her the spare apple from her pocket, and Madison accepts. When Madison suggests getting coffee, Annie agrees and asks if she can bring a friend — a clear reference to Rowan. The chapter closes with the two women sharing a moment of genuine connection.

Key Events

Annie wears a crown of yellow freesia and walks through the farmers market, eating an apple and saving the seeds.
She selectively returns greetings, speaking only to people she likes.
Madison Thorpe, a former student, recognizes Annie as Miss Crane.
Madison recounts her life: college, a move to California, a separation, and a reluctant return to Aster at age forty-two.
Annie recalls that Madison once stood up for her against teasing students.
Annie offers Madison an apple, and they agree to meet for coffee.
Annie asks if she can bring a friend, implying Rowan.

Character Development

Annie has fully transformed. She no longer corrects people who call her by her old name, Miss Crane — she simply answers to it, signaling that she has integrated her past identity with her present one. Her habit of wearing flowers in her hair and saving apple seeds shows her embrace of the witch’s lifestyle. She is selective about social interactions, engaging only with those she finds worthwhile. Her ability to see Madison’s pain — “billowing up past the treetops” — reveals her deepened magical perception. Most importantly, Annie extends kindness to a former student, both by offering the apple and by accepting the coffee invitation. This indicates that she is building genuine community in Aster rather than isolating herself.

Madison Thorpe appears as a mirror of Annie’s former self. She is disillusioned, in debt, and living at home after a failed relationship. Yet she retains the innocence that Annie noticed years ago. Madison is open about her struggles and eager for connection. Her comment that Annie hasn’t aged hints at the supernatural changes Annie has undergone.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Transformation and Reinvention stand at the chapter’s center. Annie has become someone who confidently wears flowers and saves seeds — small magical acts that signal her new identity. The epilogue shows that transformation is not a single event but an ongoing process.

Community and Connection replace the isolation of Annie’s earlier life. The market greetings, the reunion with Madison, and the planned coffee date all emphasize relationships built on mutual choice and respect.

Apple Seeds serve as a symbol of potential and new beginnings. Annie saves them because “they have many uses,” aligning with the witch’s ability to create magic from ordinary things. The apple she offers Madison is a gesture of care and an invitation into her world.

Kindness as Power is illustrated when Annie uses her abilities not for harm but for connection. She sees the pain around Madison and responds with a simple gift, proving that the witch’s power can be gentle.

Why This Chapter Matters

The epilogue provides emotional closure for Annie’s arc. It shows that she has fully integrated into Aster and no longer feels the need to hide or pretend. The encounter with Madison validates that Annie was a meaningful presence in at least one student’s life, even if she felt she was only an average teacher. Annie’s offer to bring a friend (Rowan) confirms that her relationship with Rowan continues and that they now share a life. The chapter leaves the reader with a sense of peace and possibility, suggesting that Annie’s story is still unfolding but that she is exactly where she belongs.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Annie save the apple seeds, and what does this action reveal about her new life?
Annie saves the seeds because they “have many uses,” which hints at her magical practice. The act shows that she is thoughtful, resourceful, and in tune with the natural world — qualities she has embraced since leaving her old teaching career.
How does Annie’s interaction with Madison differ from the way she interacted with people earlier in the novel?
In the early chapters, Annie was anxious, apologetic, and eager to please. Here, she is calm and selective. She only returns greetings to people she likes, and she engages with Madison on her own terms. She offers the apple and agrees to coffee as an equal, not from desperation.
What does Annie’s request to bring a friend (“There’s someone I’d like you to meet”) imply about her relationship with Rowan?
It strongly suggests that Rowan is still a part of Annie’s life and that she considers Rowan a close companion. The request implies that Annie is building a new family of choice and wants to integrate her past (Madison) with her present (Rowan).