By the story's end, a picture emerges of those affected by suicide, both of the difficulties they face (a woman who was widowed by her husband's suicide was "so distraught ... she ended up in a psychiatric hospital for five days, diagnosed with grief-induced psychosis") and of their triumphs (a man who turned to alcohol and drugs after his mother killed herself "cleaned himself up and ... is in the process of becoming a facilitator for a suicide support group").
Perhaps even more powerful than the story itself in illustrating the impact of suicide on those left behind are comments from a dozen readers who also have lost loved ones to suicide. One reader writes,I lost my identical twin to suicide on August 7, 2009, and my life will be forever changed ... The pain and questions left to the remaining family members and friends to go over and over in our minds is almost unbearable. We feel angry because it seems like such a selfish act. We are guilty because we couldn't help them. We are sad and lonely for what we have lost ... Life goes on, the future is always brighter. However, that dark cloud will always hover.