Chapter 118: The Boy Who Stayed – Lizzie’s Anchor in a Storm
⚠️ Spoiler Notice
This summary and analysis contains detailed information from Chapter 118 of Releasing 10 (The Boys of Tommen). If you have not yet read the book, proceed with caution.
Summary
Lizzie recounts the summer after Hugh Biggs moved into her bedroom on a blow-up mattress. He cared for her through nightmares, mood swings, her mother’s chemotherapy, and her father’s stress. Hugh never wavered, staying by her side for five weeks except for two dinners a week at home. They talk about starting school in August—Hugh at Tommen, Lizzie stuck at Sacred Heart for two more years. Hugh notices fresh cuts on Lizzie’s wrist; she lies and says she’s fine. Inside, Lizzie struggles with confusing desires: the very physical acts her abuser forced on her are now what she craves with Hugh. She feels trapped by her past, but Hugh’s loyalty keeps her fighting to stay alive.
Key Events
- Hugh arrives the morning after their phone call with a duffel bag and PlayStation, setting up camp on a blow-up mattress in Lizzie’s room.
- He adapts to the household chaos: learns about Lizzie’s medications from her father, endures her mother’s illness, and waits outside psychiatric appointments.
- Over five weeks, their bond deepens; Lizzie’s love grows as strong as the roots of an oak tree.
- On a Friday evening while washing dishes, Hugh mentions his mother collected his Tommen uniform; they both lament that Lizzie cannot attend secondary school yet.
- Hugh spots self-harm marks on Lizzie’s wrist; she tries to play it off as nothing.
- Internally, Lizzie reflects on the “bad touch” and feels confused that she now wants Hugh to do the very things her abuser did.
Character Development
Lizzie Young Lizzie’s internal world is laid bare. She is fiercely attached to Hugh, yet paradoxically feels unworthy of him. Her trauma manifests as a “hunger” for physical closeness that terrifies her because it mirrors the abuse she suffered. She learns to hide her self-harm from Hugh, showing a protective instinct—but also a dangerous habit of secrecy. The chapter reveals how her love for Hugh is both a lifeline and a source of painful confusion.
Hugh Biggs Hugh is depicted as remarkably steady. He doesn’t flinch at the severity of Lizzie’s situation—the mother’s cancer, the father’s moods, the revolving nurses, or Lizzie’s psychiatric care. His decision to stay of his own free will contrasts with Lizzie’s past experiences of being abandoned or controlled. When he finds the cuts, his reaction is not anger but fear and concern, underscoring his genuine care.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Staying vs. leaving The chapter’s title “The Boy Who Stayed” is the central motif. Hugh’s faithfulness stands in stark opposition to the “monster” who violated Lizzie. His presence becomes a symbol of safety and unconditional support.
The oak tree roots Lizzie compares her love for Hugh to the deep roots of an oak tree in the meadow. This symbol suggests permanence, stability, and a nourishment that reaches far below the surface, mirroring how Hugh has taken hold of her heart.
The monster and the body’s betrayal A powerful theme emerges: trauma can distort desire. Lizzie longs for intimacy with Hugh but feels shame because her body craves actions that once caused her pain. This confusion is a realistic depiction of how abuse survivors sometimes struggle to separate love from past harm.
Silence and survival Lizzie hides the self-harm from Hugh, claiming she is “okay again.” The motif of silence—her forced smile, the internal echo of her sister’s voice—shows how survivors often pretend to be fine to protect themselves or their loved ones.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 118 is a crucial emotional anchor in the book. It solidifies Hugh’s role as Lizzie’s primary protector and illustrates the intense complexity of a teenage relationship built on trauma and healing. The chapter directly confronts the aftermath of sexual abuse without graphic detail, instead focusing on the internal conflict of wanting love while fearing one’s own body. It also advances the timeline toward the school year, hinting at the separation that will test their bond.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does Hugh’s behavior in this chapter challenge Lizzie’s expectations of people? Hugh refuses to run away from Lizzie’s problems. He actively learns about her medications, endures the chaos of her home, and waits outside doctors’ appointments. This contradicts her belief that she does not deserve a friend like him and provides a model of loyal support she has rarely experienced.
2. Why is Lizzie confused by her physical attraction to Hugh? Lizzie’s abuser taught her that certain touches are “bad” and caused her pain. Now that she feels romantic love, her body responds with the same desires she associates with trauma. She cannot reconcile wanting Hugh to do the very things that once made her cry, which creates intense shame and confusion.
3. What does the discovery of the cuts on Lizzie’s wrist reveal about her relationship with Hugh? It shows that Hugh is observant and deeply worried about her well-being, not angry or judgmental. It also reveals Lizzie’s ongoing struggle with self-harm and her tendency to downplay her pain. The moment underscores the fragility of her recovery and the challenge Hugh faces in trying to help someone who hides her suffering.