Summaries Our Infinite Fates Laura Steven

Chapter 12 (France): Summary, Key Events, 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.

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Spoiler Notice: This chapter contains major spoilers for the plot and character fates.

Read at your own risk.

Now, the summary and analysis.

Summary

In 1915, the narrator—Evelyn—serves in the trenches of the Western Front, having lied about her age to enlist despite her pacifist leanings. She reflects on the surreal beauty of a sunset over the carnage, noting that nature remains indifferent to human suffering. The trench life is described as dehumanizing: barbed wire, mud, rats, and the constant threat of death. Evelyn's reasons for enlisting are twofold: she cannot die by enemy bullet (due to her immortality), so she feels obligated to contribute her unique ability to the war effort; and she hopes that Arden, who is reborn in a male body as Henri, will not find her in the trenches. But Arden does find her, having searched the front lines for months. When he appears, Evelyn feels an overwhelming need for him, despite knowing he is there to kill her. They talk and hold each other between battles, sharing details of their pasts—Arden's life in Lille, his father's woodworking shop, his mother's cooking, and his twin brother's death; Evelyn's farmer parents, her sisters, and her friend Anais Lamunière.

Weeks later, during a lull after days of enemy fire, they sit together, pinkie fingers entwined, watching the sunset. Evelyn asks Arden if he can find anything poetic to say about the war. He admits it's awful, and they share a moment of vulnerability. Evelyn tells him that his words have always brought her solace and that he has the soul of a poet. Arden asks what else she loves about him, and she confesses that she loves his dark humor, his brightness, his depth, and his connection to nature. She fantasizes about growing old together in a cottage by the sea, but Arden says that can never be. Evelyn explains her belief that big joy and small joy are the same—that a tennis victory feels no different from a warm croissant or a bedtime story—and that this is how she maintains hope. Arden asks her to trust him, insisting that his actions are meant to protect her, and that he would lay his body over hers life after life. They exchange threefold declarations of love: “I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you,” repeated by both.

Suddenly, artillery fire erupts. As soldiers scramble, a white-haired woman in a horizon-blue uniform appears, walking toward them. Evelyn feels a deep, inexplicable recognition—she knows this woman, though she cannot place her. The woman says, “This has gone on long enough,” and Evelyn demands to know who she is. Arden pulls the pin on a grenade and throws it at the woman. Evelyn, desperate for answers, runs toward the woman, shaking her by the shoulders and asking again who she is. The woman grins, and the grenade detonates, tearing Evelyn apart. She experiences blinding pain and then death.

Key Events

  • Evelyn lies about her age to enlist in the trenches, despite her pacifism.

  • Arden, in the male body of Henri, finds Evelyn on the front line and they reunite.

  • They share intimate details of their pasts and develop a deep emotional bond.

  • During a lull, they discuss love, hope, and the impossibility of a shared future.

  • Evelyn explains her philosophy that small joys equal big joys.

  • Arden pleads for her trust, claiming his actions are protective.

  • They exchange threefold declarations of love.

  • An artillery attack begins, and a mysterious white-haired woman appears.

  • Evelyn feels a profound recognition and runs toward the woman to learn her identity.

  • Arden throws a grenade at the woman; Evelyn is caught in the blast and dies.

Character Development

  • Evelyn: Her pacifism conflicts with her sense of duty, but she enlists because she cannot die. She shows remarkable hope and tenderness even in the midst of war, maintaining faith in humanity and cherishing small joys. Her love for Arden is both existential and deeply human. Her curiosity about the white-haired woman overrides her survival instinct, leading to her death.

  • Arden (Henri): He is protective and desperate, insisting that his actions—presumably killing Evelyn—are for her own good. He struggles with the pain of their eternal cycle, unable to fantasize about a future because it hurts too much. He shows a poet's soul, quoting Keats, and expresses his love in a threefold declaration. His decision to throw the grenade at the woman suggests he knows more about her than Evelyn does.

  • The White-Haired Woman: She appears as a mysterious figure, seemingly aware of Evelyn and Arden's fates. Her casual demeanor and cryptic words (“This has gone on long enough”) hint at a deeper connection to their immortality. Evelyn feels a visceral recognition, but the woman's identity remains unknown.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • War's Dehumanization: The trench environment strips soldiers of individuality, as seen in Evelyn's discomfort with the uniform and the sense of being expendable.

  • Nature's Indifference: The sunset and birdsong continue despite the carnage, highlighting the universe's lack of concern for human suffering.

  • Immortality Across Lifetimes: The chapter reinforces the cycle of death and rebirth, with Evelyn and Arden meeting again in new bodies.

  • Eternal Tether Between Lovers: Evelyn describes an undeniable pull toward Arden, a connection that transcends lifetimes.

  • Love as Palimpsest: The threefold declaration feels like a memory of past declarations, suggesting their love is written over and over again.

  • Small Joy vs. Big Joy: Evelyn's philosophy that small joys equal big joys is central to her hope and resilience.

  • Trust Between Immortal Lovers: Arden's plea for trust underscores the tension between his actions and Evelyn's understanding.

  • Mystery of the White-Haired Woman: Her appearance introduces a new enigma, suggesting a deeper layer to the immortal curse.

  • Impossible Domestic Future: The cottage by the sea symbolizes a normal life that can never be attained.

  • Poetry as Solace: Both Evelyn and Arden find comfort in poetic language, even amid horror.

  • Sacrifice to Uncover Truth: Evelyn's decision to run toward the woman, sacrificing her life, shows her desperate need for answers.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the narrative. It deepens the emotional bond between Evelyn and Arden, revealing the intensity of their love and the pain of their eternal cycle. It also introduces the white-haired woman, a mysterious figure who seems to hold the key to their fate. Evelyn's death at the end of the chapter underscores the cyclical nature of their existence and sets up the central mystery that will likely drive the rest of the novel. The chapter also explores themes of hope, trust, and the search for meaning in a world of suffering, making it a poignant and pivotal moment in the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Evelyn enlist in the war despite her pacifist beliefs?

Evelyn enlists for two reasons: she cannot die by enemy bullet due to her immortality, so she feels obligated to use that ability for her country; and she hopes that Arden, who might be born on the German side, will not find her in the trenches. Her pacifism is overridden by a sense of duty and a desire to avoid Arden.

2. What does Evelyn mean when she says “big joy and small joy are the same”?

Evelyn explains that a major victory, like winning a tennis tournament, feels no different from simple pleasures like a warm croissant or reading a bedtime story. This philosophy allows her to find hope even in the darkest times, because she can always access small joys, which are just as meaningful as large ones.

3. Why does Evelyn run toward the white-haired woman instead of away from the grenade?

Evelyn is overwhelmed by a deep, inexplicable recognition of the woman. She feels that the woman is connected to her twisted fate and is desperate to finally understand the mystery that has evaded her for centuries. Her need for answers overrides her survival instinct, leading her to sacrifice herself in the blast.

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