In the last chapter, we fast-forward to a year after Reese's release. It's a relief to see all the things he's doing right: He's living at home, he's still in school, and he's still working at Evergreen. It's also a little sad to see the things that haven't changed: His mom is still a drug addict, his brother's back in jail, and poor young Toon, whom Reese has kept in touch with, still seems super depressed.
This year's worth of success has given Reese the courage to have a little hope about his life. "The longer I stay out of trouble, the more I'm beginning to believe in myself, too," he says. "It's like, okay, something good could happen" (35.12). Still, though, he's not quite secure enough for us to comfortably call "happily ever after" on his story—life definitely remains tenuous. "I know in my heart that my life could still end up in the gutter or in jail" (35.13), Reese says. But like us, Reese is going to hope for the best.