The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
by V. E. Schwab
Contents
Part Six: Do Not Pretend that This is Love — Chapter XX
Overview
In the aftermath of Addie’s bargain, Henry confronts her on a rain-soaked rooftop and tries to stop her from giving herself up. Addie explains that she did it as a thank-you for being seen and loved, and she urges Henry to live honestly and find people who truly see him. As Henry’s consciousness slips, Addie’s last request is that Henry remember her, and then she vanishes from his grasp.
Summary
On a storm-lashed rooftop in New York, Henry reels as Addie tells him he cannot stop what she has done. The clock has stopped, but the consequences have not, and Henry insists he will not let her go.
Henry demands to know why Addie would do this, and Addie frames it as repayment: Henry saw her, loved her, and gave her the experience of being truly seen. Addie insists Henry now has a second chance, but he must let others see him honestly and find people who truly see him.
Henry argues that Addie does not love Luc, but Addie answers with a sad acceptance that she has already had her share of love. As Henry’s vision blurs and darkness closes in, Addie urgently reminds him that life can feel long but passes quickly, and she tells him to live a good life.
Henry clings to Addie and refuses to release her, but Addie asks one last thing: that Henry remember. As Henry reaches to hold her and to promise, Addie’s features begin to smudge from his perception, and then she is gone.
Henry loses his grip on the moment and on his own body, and he falls into darkness as the rooftop and the skyline disappear.
Who Appears
- Henry StraussConfronts Addie, begs her to stop, then blacks out as she disappears.
- Addie LaRueAffirms her bargain is done; urges Henry to live well and remember her.
- EsteleMentioned as someone who once called Addie stubborn as stone.