Noah’s heart stops in the helicopter. The paramedics shock him twice, and he revives. At the hospital, the doctors put him in a medically induced coma to ease the swelling in his brain. Adrianne does not leave Noah’s side. Over the next couple of days, Noah is taken off meds slowly, so he wakes up. He appears fine but speaks very little. Doctors plan to shift him to the psychiatric ward for his physical rehab and mental recovery. Before that, Adrianne goes home to get Noah’s things. She finds a note from Noah in his room, intended as a farewell message.

In the note, Noah apologizes for his death by suicide and prays Adrianne is not the one who finds him. He tells her she is not to blame for what happened to him. Taking his life is his choice. He is ending things because he knows he is a pedophile. He has known his truth since seventh grade. He knew he would be causing Maci and Bella harm by touching them, but he could not help himself. Now he is consumed by guilt, feeling sick every time he experiences his desires. His desires are hard-wired and will never go away, even if he refuses to act on them.