Chapter 38: Best Friends Forever (Lizzie) – Summary & Analysis
Warning: This page contains spoilers for Releasing 10 (The Boys of Tommen). Read at your own risk.
Summary
On June 24, 1995, over a month after the funeral of Joe and Bethany, eleven-year-old Lizzie feels the weight of grief still pressing on everyone. She wants to help Gibsie but doesn’t know how. When her sister Caoimhe goes to babysit at the Biggs’ house, Lizzie accompanies her. Instead of going to Claire’s room, an unexplainable pull leads her to Hugh’s door. She slips inside and finds him hiding under his duvet, crying. Without a word, she climbs into bed beside him. They lie face to face, and Lizzie touches his cheek. Hugh, still tearful, tells her he loves her for the first time. Lizzie responds that they will be best friends forever, no matter what. The moment cements their bond in the shadow of tragedy.
Key Events
- Lizzie accompanies her sister Caoimhe to the Biggs’ house for babysitting.
- She feels a strong, unexplained urge to go to Hugh’s room instead of Claire’s.
- She finds Hugh under his duvet, weeping in the dark.
- Lizzie climbs into bed with him and comforts him wordlessly.
- Hugh confesses “I love you” aloud for the first time.
- Lizzie vows they will be best friends forever, no matter what.
Character Development
Lizzie: Demonstrates remarkable emotional intuition for her age. She overrides her usual pattern (going to Claire) and follows an inner compass toward Hugh. Her willingness to sit in silence, share physical closeness, and offer a promise of permanence shows deep empathy and growing courage—she wants to be brave like Gibsie.
Hugh: Stripped of his usual composure and problem-solving nature. He cannot fix his father’s grief or his own loss, so he retreats. The simple act of letting Lizzie in and speaking his love reveals vulnerability and a need for connection. His fear of “what tomorrow could bring” shows how trauma has aged him.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Grief as a communal burden: The narrative describes sadness as “a monster” that consumes everyone. The funeral is not just a one-day event but a lingering presence that reshapes daily life.
Silent communication: Lizzie and Hugh often understand each other without words. This chapter emphasizes that presence and touch can convey more than speech, especially in raw grief.
Light and dark: Hugh cloaks himself in darkness, but sunlight still breaks through, symbolizing hope and the persistence of life. The “shiny hue” on him parallels the warmth Lizzie brings.
Forever promises: The phrase “best friends forever” recurs as a lifeline. In the face of death, a child’s vow of permanence becomes a powerful anchor.
Why This Chapter Matters
This flashback is a foundational moment for the Lizzie-Hugh relationship. It marks the first spoken “I love you” and establishes the deep trust that will carry them through future turmoil. For the reader, it humanizes both characters—showing Lizzie’s empathy in bloom and Hugh’s hidden fragility. The chapter also reinforces the long shadow of the Kenny tragedy and how it binds the children of Tommen together.
Study Questions & Answers
1. Why does Lizzie choose to go into Hugh’s room rather than Claire’s?
Lizzie describes an inexplicable inner feeling “telling me to go to the other door.” This intuition overrides her usual habit, highlighting a special connection with Hugh that she doesn’t fully understand yet. It signals that their bond operates on a deeper, almost instinctual level.
2. What does Hugh’s comment about “what tomorrow could bring” reveal about his mindset?
Hugh has been shaken by the sudden death of his best friend’s father and sister. He no longer takes tomorrow for granted. The fear of the unpredictable forces him to voice his love now, because he has learned that people can disappear without warning.
3. How does the physical setting of Hugh’s bedroom contrast with his emotional state?
Hugh’s room is tidy, structured, and “almost bare”—everything in its place. This orderliness contrasts sharply with the chaos of his grief. The sunlight that breaks through the duvet hints at hope, but Hugh’s choice to hide in darkness reflects his desire to block out a world that has become unsafe.