Chapter 118 of All the Colors of the Dark unfolds with an intense and contemplative atmosphere as Saint embarks on a journey down Highway 177. She drives eighty-five miles, heading toward the Chase County Courthouse, but the road itself, long and quiet, only adds to the weight of her thoughts. Upon reaching the small town of Cottonwood Falls, she parks in front of the First Kansas Bank, immediately attracting the curious gaze of the locals. As Saint walks inside, she meets Dawn, a young woman who is unwrapping a sandwich at the counter. Dawn’s bright red nails and lips catch Saint’s attention, and the lighthearted banter between them gives a brief, much-needed respite from the underlying tension. Dawn jokes about how her sandwich keeps sticking to the roof of her mouth, an innocent moment of humor that offers a temporary break from the seriousness of their meeting.

However, their lighthearted exchange soon takes a somber turn. A tall man enters the bank, hands Saint a tape, and quickly exits without much ado. His brief and mysterious presence prompts Dawn to share a personal story, one that she has kept close to her heart about a boy who had attempted to rob the bank in the past. She recalls him in vivid detail, describing his presence with an intimacy that reveals how much his visit had impacted her. Dawn recounts the moment when he approached her at the counter on a quiet Wednesday, a day that began like any other, but soon became forever etched in her memory. Instead of acting aggressively, as one might expect from someone attempting to rob a bank, he simply showed her a beautiful gun hidden in his jacket. His calm demeanor, far from threatening, stands in stark contrast to the situation at hand, making her even more intrigued by his character.

As Dawn continues her recollection, the layers of her emotions and experiences unfold. She describes how the boy, despite his initial intent to rob the bank, decided not to take the money after all. Instead, he left the cash on the counter and walked out without causing harm, leaving Dawn with a strange feeling that she couldn’t quite place. Her description of the event hints at the complexity of human nature and the unpredictable ways people behave in moments of crisis. Dawn reflects on how the boy listened to her attentively, unlike many others, making her feel seen in a way that she had not experienced before. This moment of connection between them, despite the robbery attempt, highlights the nuance of their interaction, where, even in the face of potential violence, something more genuine seemed to emerge. It is a moment that lingered in Dawn’s mind long after, creating a bond of understanding that neither of them expected.

The chapter progresses as Dawn reveals that she had no intention of reporting the robbery attempt until it became a necessity due to the surveillance footage. Saint, now deeply invested in the story, follows Dawn to the back office where they prepare to review the surveillance tape. The quiet tension of the moment is palpable as Saint watches the footage, the images on the screen triggering memories of the boy who had affected both Dawn and herself. As the footage plays, Saint is struck by a sense of surprise, realizing how much the boy’s actions, though seemingly insignificant, had left a lasting impression. The moment becomes heavier with meaning as Saint reflects quietly on the boy’s decision to walk away, leaving both the money and Dawn behind. This realization sparks a deeper introspection, not only for Saint but also for Dawn, as they both begin to piece together the significance of the boy’s behavior. It becomes clear that the impact of this strange encounter runs deeper than either of them could have anticipated.

Through this shared experience, a subtle but powerful narrative begins to take shape, one marked by unexpected connections and the lasting effects of past actions. The chapter explores themes of human complexity, revealing how brief interactions can leave lasting impressions, even when those encounters are fraught with tension and potential violence. As the story unfolds, the reader is led to consider the ways in which lives intersect, leaving behind marks that cannot always be fully understood. The narrative speaks to the subtle power of small moments in shaping individuals and their futures, suggesting that sometimes, the most profound connections are made in the most unlikely circumstances. In this chapter, the interplay of light and dark, humor and seriousness, creates a powerful commentary on the nature of human connection and the mysterious ways in which people’s lives become intertwined.