Chapter 27 of All the Colors of the Dark presents Saint as she faces the harsh realities of winter, wandering down Main Street, where the coldness seems to mirror the starkness of life around her. She observes Dick Lowell and others recovering from the Super Bowl, their hangovers a fleeting escape from the emptiness they experience. The gray, lifeless winter atmosphere prompts Saint to reflect on how little hope there seems to be for the people in her town. Her grandmother, Norma, suggests taking up hobbies or therapy to fill the void, which leads Saint to try her hand at knitting. As she spends her evenings creating scarves and hats, she begins to connect with memories of her grandmother’s past, reflecting the warmth that once was in her life but now feels distant.

One Saturday, Saint’s monotonous routine is disturbed by the arrival of Jimmy Walters, much to her dismay. Although she is initially annoyed by his presence, her grandmother warmly welcomes him inside, and they sit together on the back porch, drinking hot chocolate. Jimmy’s enthusiasm for local wildlife, including his excitement over the possibility of seeing a turtle, brings a fleeting sense of normalcy. Saint, however, struggles to conceal her own sorrow, remembering the times she and Patch visited the marshland, where they once sailed paper boats together. His memories weigh heavily on her, making her smile feel forced as she hides her sadness beneath polite conversation.

Later that day, the family gathers to watch a boxing match between George Foreman and Ron Lyle. Norma, with her usual sense of humor, becomes fully engaged in the fight, creating a light-hearted contrast to the tragic news of tornadoes that soon dominates the screen. Saint watches as her grandmother reflects on the devastation of the storms, the scale of loss and destruction deeply affecting her. Yet, as Norma switches the channel to a Golden Globe awards show, it becomes clear that she turns to pop culture as a form of escape from the harshness of real life, seeking solace in the glitzy distraction it offers. This shift in focus highlights the contrasting ways in which people cope with sorrow and tragedy—through either confronting it head-on or momentarily retreating into the comfort of entertainment.

As the snow blankets the town, a sense of stillness settles over Saint’s life. Jimmy, determined to bring a small spark of joy, presents her with frost flowers tied with purple ribbons. However, Saint remains hesitant to embrace his gesture, still burdened by her emotions and unwilling to let go of her sorrow. Norma insists that Jimmy’s unwavering optimism and resilience represent the hope that still exists in the world, although Saint finds herself conflicted. On a snowy walk, Jimmy teaches her about the survival of plants, their ability to endure the harshest conditions reflecting the strength required to persevere through life’s difficulties. Although Saint acknowledges the beauty in the persistence of life, she struggles with her own inability to move forward, trapped in her own emotional turmoil.

This chapter explores themes of loss, resilience, and the difficulty of finding joy amidst despair. As Saint navigates the complicated emotions surrounding her relationships, she contemplates the weight of her memories and the challenges of moving forward. Despite the attempts of those around her to bring light and hope into her life, Saint remains caught between the desire for escape and the need to face the reality of her situation. The narrative shows how the passage of time, while it may bring small moments of connection and comfort, also forces individuals to confront their deepest fears and regrets, all while searching for meaning in an often indifferent world.