The survivors have all returned to the room. They may be a group, but they are alone with their thoughts. The door is opened by Ms. Whale. Jackson's mother and father lead a group of parents into the room. Each moves with grief, yet relief to their child. Barbara Jackson grabs hold of her son and holds him tight. The mother begins to cry. Ken Jackson, eyes welling with tears, grabs Jackson's hand and squeezes. Jackson does not cry. While holding his mother, he watches the others.
Both Nathan and Taylor's parents are concerned, but do not demonstratively show affection. Nathan appears as if he wants to hug his mother, but he can't bring himself to betray his self-image.
His eyes move toward Melissa. She is alone and hurt that no one has come to take her home.
Jackson's eyes find Lex's father. Jerry holds his son, both of them releasing anguished tears. Through his grief, however, Jerry stares at Jackson with an expression of anger and accusation.
Jackson hears a crack of thunder.
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Jackson sits in the backseat of the car, leaning against the door, looking out the window at the store. Melissa Wu is pressed against the other door. Everyone is silent. Outside, the storm angrily rages. Jackson is unaware that Melissa is watching him, searching for some answer that she won't find.
She looks up. "Here's good."
The car pulls over.
"Thank you for the ride." She opens the door and flashes one more look at Jackson, but he appears unaware. She exits the car and shuts the door behind her.
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Jackson goes to his room, his parents following him. He clicks on the light, sending a soft, safe, orange glow across the room.
Jackson stands in the threshold of the doorway. His mother places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
He looks at the pennant on the wall. Mt. Abraham High School Fighting Colonials.
Looking at the pennant, reality finally sinks in. And the tears finally come. He begins crying, sobbing, as his mother and father hold him.
Outside, lightning flashes, and thunder rumbles in the sky.
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CNN broadcasts video footage of the disaster. Seat cushions and personal belongings float in the harsh floodlights.
It is late and dark. Only the pale light of the television spills across the living room. Ken and Barbara have fallen asleep, but their son remains awake.
Jackson's red eyes are locked on the screen, mortified. He hears a vicious crack of lightning and immediate thunder, as if call him to the window. He remains fixed on the television.
Jackson watches an image of Hell as jet fuel burns on the ocean. As if furious at the sight, thunder bangs.
He turns, stands, and moves to the window, pushing the curtains aside. It is as if nature is angry. Lightning bolts spider web across the sky. Thunder booms. A shard of lightning breaks across the front yard. Oddly, it does not make contact. In the split-second strobe of lightning flash, the bolt abstractly appears as if it were a hand pointing directly at Jackson.
Jackson, horrified, lurched away from the window considering what he has seen. Again, he hears the roar of thunder.