August paces while May is gone. After twenty-five minutes, she says they should go after May. Grabbing a flashlight, August sets out, and June, Rosaleen, and Lily follow, calling May's name. They don't find May, and August sends June to the house to call the police, and then says a prayer to Our Lady to protect May. Lily begins reciting the rosary out loud as they search. June returns with another flashlight and announces that the police are coming.
August and Lily find May dead in the river, with a huge stone on top of her to weigh her down. They pull her out and lay her on the riverbank. August and June are heartbroken, but after April's death and May's despair, they have expected it. Both sisters are devastated; Lily reaches for a tree limb and holds on tight.
The police question Lily while August and June accompany May's body to the funeral home. Lily tells the usual lies about her background. The police question her closely about why she is staying in a black person's home rather than going back home among white folk. Rosaleen lies and says she brought Lily here because she's the wife of August's first cousin. The policeman warns Lily to call her aunt right away, because she shouldn't lower herself to live with black people. After he leaves, Lily and Rosaleen sleep in May's room. Lily has a dream about Zach and wakes up with a heavy heart. She remembers the happiest parts of May, as well as the anguish that caused her death.
