54 pages • 1 hour read
The Shards: A Novel
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Chapter 25-Author’s NoteChapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: The section contains depictions of suicidal ideation, antigay bias, sexual violence, animal cruelty, animal death, substance use, graphic violence, graphic sexual content, cursing, illness, death, and emotional abuse.
Chapter 25 Summary
Bret believes Robert pushed Terry due to Terry’s unwanted advances. Terry undergoes several surgeries, and Liz and Debbie fight in the hospital. Debbie wonders why Bret keeps calling and not leaving messages, but Bret isn’t calling.
Debbie goes to Bret’s house and reveals that Susan told her that Bret was in Palm Springs. Bret asks about the 5th Dimension poster, and Debbie says she’s not sure how she got it; she normally receives free posters. Bret tells her the Trawler sends posters, but Debbie isn’t scared. She’s worried about Bret and thinks Bret should seek professional help. Bret mentions the “timeline” before apologizing and crying.
Chapter 26 Summary
Bret makes an appointment to speak to Dr. Croft about Robert. He assures Dr. Croft that he’s not on drugs. Bret tells Dr. Croft why he believes Robert is the Trawler, but Dr. Croft is skeptical. Liz called him and said Bret and Terry were in a relationship. Bret calls Liz a “sick drunk” and denies it. Robert has talked to Dr. Croft, and Robert claimed Matt and Bret had a relationship. Dr. Croft brings up an early draft of Less Than Zero that Bret shared with his English teacher. He thinks Bret is lonely and has a personal grudge against Robert.
