Sopeap’s depiction of the old woman providing comfort and companionship in the elephant’s last moments reflects how, though Sang Ly did not realize it, she too offered the first companionship and love Sopeap received in decades. To some degree, this eased Sopeap’s fear and pain of facing her looming mortality, since at least she did not have to face it entirely alone—even if she struggled to let Sang Ly see her fear and pain. The old woman’s return to the camp seems to be a message to Sang Ly to keep hoping and working for the “benefit” of the world around her.