Tears of a Tiger

Andy attends his fourth session with his therapist, who starts by asking how Andy feels about the cold. They discuss Andy’s fixation on death and his occasional suicidal thoughts. Dr. Carrothers assures Andy that his feelings are a normal part of the grieving process. He asks Andy to call him at any time if he feels the urge to take his own life.

Andy’s little brother, Monty, asks Andy questions about dreams, such as whether dreams are in color or not and if Black people dream differently than white people. After Monty is asleep, Andy calls Keisha and talks to her; she admits that she is worried about him, and he admits that he doesn’t see himself in the future anywhere. That night, Andy dreams about Robbie. In the dream, Robbie says that he’s waiting for Andy to join him soon because Heaven is lonely.

Andy writes a letter to Robbie’s family, discussing his happier memories of Robbie. He knows that Robbie’s family may not forgive him, but he hopes they will be able to remember Robbie with a little less pain.