Chapter 13

Summary
In chapter 13 Aaron experiences the stark reality of death as he sees Amanda Creen's decomposing body. He is forced to confront the ugly reality a life through his observations about the disturbing reality of death. He is also quizzed about his past and particularly the identity of Mam.

Characters
Aaron, John Barton and Amanda Creen appear in chapter 13

Plot
Aaron ties his own tie for the first time. Upon entering the cool room John and Aaron are confronted with the decaying body of Amanda Creen. Aaron observes that 'the beauty of the day before was gone' and the illusion of her 'perfect skin' was now 'blotched and discoloured,' she now existed as a 'wilted rose.'

John Barton leaves to convince Amanda's family to not have an open casket. He does not want the illusion of her 'perfect' life to be ruined by the reality of death.

Aaron starts cleaning the hearse and suggests that he was 'entertained... with the notion that [he] was scrubbing and polishing the shadows from his own mind.' Not only was he able to avoid the reality of his own life by completing the mindless task, but he also realizes that confronting the death is helping him slowly confront his grief. However, John Barton snaps him out of the illusion of 'sunshine' and forces him to confront reality by innocently asking him about Mam.

Themes
Chapter 13 demonstrates the reality of death and through drawing parallels with the living alludes to the idea that the living are often just as ugly 'sunken and black' but that the living are just better at hiding the ugliness.

Key Quotes
- The beauty of the day before was gone. Now she was the decomposing corpse of a person who had suffered a violent death.

-The beauty of the day before was gone.

- The dark side of what we do. It can be a little unhinging. Mess with your head... Some of the things we see are truly horrible.

-I entertained myself with the notion that I was scrubbing and polishing the shadows from my own mind.

- "Aaron Rowe! Are you related?" 'No.' I couldn't keep the sharpness out of my voice. I couldn't keep the syllable from sounding like the lie it was.'

Aaron is unable to accept the reality of the situation he is in. Confronting his past and the grief of the present allows him to embrace his present.