Chapter 120 of All the Colors of the Dark follows Patch as he wanders through the elegant mansions of Charleston, taking in the intricate details and vivid colors of the buildings. His mind drifts to a letter he had received years earlier from a girl named Mya Levane. During his walk, he encounters a housekeeper who reveals the unsettling news that Mya’s body had been discovered six months ago. When Patch presses her for more details about Mya’s fate, the housekeeper, although softening a little, refuses to provide specifics, only mentioning that Mya had been in Mexico when she died. The conversation leaves Patch with more questions than answers, heightening his sense of unease and confusion regarding Mya’s tragic end.

The narrative shifts as Patch visits the Bank of South Carolina, withdrawing a thousand dollars, most of which he generously distributes to homeless people by the Ashley River. He keeps only two hundred dollars for himself, donating the rest to those in need. One particularly moving moment occurs when a young girl, no older than fourteen, embraces him tightly, deeply moved by his act of kindness. This interaction highlights Patch’s own emotional complexity, as his small gesture has a profound impact on the girl, underscoring the often-overlooked beauty of compassion and human connection in a world overshadowed by hardship.

That evening, Patch boards a bus, beginning a long journey where the landscape shifts from the sunset over the Blue Ridge Mountains to the encroaching darkness of the hills. Throughout the ride, Patch remains awake, his hand often resting on his scar as he reflects on his past lives and experiences. The flashing lights of passing trucks serve as a constant reminder of his tumultuous journey, and Patch begins to contemplate the ending of his search and the inevitable passage of time. As the journey progresses, he reflects on Eloise Strike and her father, Walter, sensing a connection that hints they might be on similar paths, driven by a shared quest or loss tied to Mya Levane. This chapter explores themes of memory, loss, and the ongoing search for understanding as Patch wrestles with the echoes of his past, the lessons learned, and the painful truths still yet to be uncovered.

Throughout this chapter, the juxtaposition of Patch’s external journey and his internal reflection reveals a deepening sense of unresolved grief and emotional complexity. His encounter with Mya Levane’s death and the mysterious circumstances surrounding it sets the stage for further exploration of his past and the unresolved connections that continue to haunt him. The contrast between the beauty of Charleston’s mansions and the hardships of the homeless people he encounters serves as a powerful metaphor for Patch’s internal battle—caught between moments of generosity and kindness and the weight of past trauma. Patch’s journey on the bus, marked by his reflections and contemplation, underscores the idea that time and experiences shape one’s path, yet the past continues to hold an inescapable grip on his future decisions.

The recurring themes of memory and loss in this chapter are intricately woven into Patch’s personal narrative, as he begins to piece together the connections between his own search for answers and the mysteries surrounding Mya Levane. The parallel between Patch and the figures of Eloise and Walter suggests that they are bound by a shared sorrow or pursuit, pushing him further into the depths of his personal investigation. The complex emotions Patch experiences during this chapter reveal the internal struggles that often go unnoticed by others but shape his actions and decisions. This chapter emphasizes the significance of understanding one’s past in order to move forward, while also acknowledging the emotional weight carried by individuals who have been touched by loss, further drawing readers into Patch’s multifaceted journey.