Chapter 55 of All the Colors of the Dark opens with Chief Nix driving the police car, with Patch and Saint sitting in the back. Patch can feel Saint’s gaze, heavy with scrutiny, as she attempts to decipher any hint of his involvement in the mysterious disappearance of Grace, the girl Patch had screamed for at the hospital. The memories of his last moments with Grace remain frustratingly elusive, clouded by the lingering effects of pain and medication. This state of emotional disarray leaves Patch feeling disconnected from both the past and the present, struggling to piece together the fragmented images of his interactions with Grace. His mind, foggy and unclear, exacerbates the tension in the car as he’s acutely aware of Saint’s desire for answers, making the ride feel more like a journey through uncertainty than a simple trip to the police station.

As the car moves through the streets, Patch voices his urgency to find Grace, but Nix reassures him that everyone is doing their part to investigate the situation. Meanwhile, Patch’s connection with Saint grows stronger, and his thoughts turn to the bond they once shared. He begins to contemplate the possibility of returning Grace to Saint, hoping that by finding her, he can offer some sort of resolution. Despite the mental chaos in his mind, Patch’s resolve to piece together his memories of Grace strengthens. He fights against the haze of the drugs clouding his thoughts, but it feels like a losing battle—his memories are fragmented, and each attempt to recall his past only pulls him further away from the clarity he desperately seeks. The struggle between his desire to remember and the overwhelming fog of his medications encapsulates his emotional and mental turmoil.

The chapter continues by delving into the police interviews, where Patch is forced to relive fragmented moments of his past with Grace. His recollections come in flashes, vivid yet disjointed, leaving him with a sense of helplessness. The officers’ silent glances suggest that they are all too aware of the gravity of the situation, yet they offer no answers, leaving Patch to wrestle with his own confusion. After the interviews, Patch faces an overwhelming wave of physical pain and emotional distress, leading him to tear out his IV in an attempt to gain some control over his situation. His actions prompt Saint to call for help, highlighting her concern for him even as her own anxiety about Grace’s disappearance weighs heavily on her. Patch’s emotional state becomes even more fragile as he contemplates the connections between pain, memory, and the unsettling mystery surrounding Grace.

A doctor arrives to explain Patch’s symptoms, attributing them to a mix of stress and trauma. He emphasizes the need for light and healing to aid in Patch’s recovery, a concept Patch instinctively resists, believing that not everyone needs light to survive. This moment serves as a metaphor for Patch’s internal struggle, where his need to find clarity and peace seems at odds with the external world’s efforts to offer healing and light. As the doctor offers his advice, Patch’s thoughts turn inward, reflecting on the moments when Grace had been the one to rescue him from the depths of despair. He is reminded of the deep, mutual salvation they shared—an unspoken bond that transcends physical pain and emotional turmoil. Despite the fog in his mind, Patch clings to the idea that Grace’s memory, however fractured, is what might ultimately save him from the darkness he finds himself in.

Upon returning home, Patch is confronted by a swarm of journalists and curious neighbors, an intrusion that contrasts sharply with the internal chaos he’s experiencing. Shielded by his hood, he slips into his mother’s embrace, seeking comfort in her presence despite the underlying tension. His mother’s attempt to maintain strength in the face of their shared loss is palpable, but it only serves to highlight the grief that both are trying to navigate. As Patch stands in the familiar surroundings of home, small details—like the freshly cut grass—offer fleeting moments of normalcy, yet the overwhelming sorrow still lingers in the background. These brief instances of calm are overshadowed by the uncertainty and grief that both Patch and his mother face, underscoring the fragile hope they cling to in an increasingly uncertain future. This moment at home serves as a reminder of the heavy emotional burden they are both carrying, as they continue to face the aftermath of loss and the search for answers.