Spells for Forgetting

August returns to his favorite beach to say goodbye before he leaves. On returning home, he sees Emery waiting for him. She confronts him with her knowledge of his lies and asks him for the truth. August relents and tells her that he didn’t kill Lily, but he did set the fire.

Shortly before the fire, August finishes work at the orchard, preparing to attend the graduation party outside. He’s elated because he and Emery will be leaving the very next day. August’s grandfather appears and confronts him about his choice; he met a neighbor at the pub who sold August his tickets. August attempts to deflect, but Henry sees through it and tells him that he can never leave. If he does, Henry will take away his mother’s home and her job. August knows that he is beaten and feels ashamed for letting Emery down. After his grandfather leaves, August smashes a lantern and sets the orchard on fire.

In the present, August invites Emery in to finish their conversation. He tells her that he felt trapped and scared and acted instinctively. He admits that he never asked Dutch to lie to him; instead, he learned that Dutch had already lied and followed his story.