Sopeap’s wry comment suggests that she, too, is trying to maintain her good humor, even though she is dying, demonstrating that a sense of humor can go a long way in helping one cope, even with death. This is particularly important, since Sopeap’s admitted confusion about the afterlife suggests that she finds no comfort there. Even while Sang Ly is about to make an excursion based purely on the hope that the Healer can cure Nisay, Sopeap recognizes that hope can also betray, and that life does not always follow the path one hopes for, tempering the novel’s optimistic depiction of hope thus far.