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Chapter 26
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in It Ends with Us, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Cycles of Abuse
Naked Truths
Good and Evil
Chosen Family
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Lily goes into the shop to get some work done. She’s terrified that Ryle will be waiting for her. He is nowhere to be found physically, but the building is filled with memories of him. She makes it through most of the morning without hearing from him. When she speaks to Allysa on the phone, she can tell that Allysa doesn’t know about their fight. Right before Lily gets ready to leave for the afternoon, Ryle appears. Her body boils with anger and fear, but Ryle only places his keys to the apartment on the counter and tells Lily that he’s getting on a plane to England for his Cambridge program. Before he leaves, he tells her that she can go home. He promises he’ll give the space she needs.
Lily’s day of rest provides her with the bravery to return to her life—even though that will likely mean facing Ryle and others. First, Lily speaks with Allysa; it is both a relief and sign of cowardice that Ryle hasn’t told his sister about what he has done to Lily. This allows Lily to share her experience on her own terms, but it is also another instance of Ryle shirking the consequences of his actions. Ryle appears, but only long enough to explain that he is relinquishing the apartment to her and leaving the country. He may not address what he did, but he does at last give Lily the space she needs to process.
Themes
Lily notices that Ryle doesn’t say he’s sorry, as if he realizes it’s useless at this point. As he walks out the door, Lily stops him. She tells him that if he had just asked her for a naked truth when he read the journals, they’d still be together. Because he didn’t come to her before blowing up, they’ll both have to deal with his choices forever. When Ryle tries to respond, she tells him to leave. Though he is torn, he goes. Lily locks the door behind him, then she crumples to the floor. She knows she’ll have to tell him about the baby soon.
While Lily may be relieved that Ryle has nothing left to say and isn’t trying to manipulate her with apologies, she realizes she hasn’t said all the things that she needed to say. Lily speaks without an agenda—she doesn’t want to push him further away nor help him understand his wrongdoing so they can reconcile—she merely wants to share her truth with him; it is a powerful affirmation of her agency and self-awareness.
Themes
