At the end of the story, Rye adopts two children—a toddler boy and girl—whose parents are dead and who are miraculously able to speak. Initially, when Rye sees these children, she wants to leave them to fend for themselves, but she realizes that she wouldn’t be able to live with that decision. Then, by accident, she learns that they can speak. This makes Rye wonder if perhaps the illness has run its course, and she vows to protect and teach these children. She brings them home with her, and the story implies that this has given Rye a reason to live.