Heroes: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

Still in shock, Francis begins a three-day vigil outside of Nicole’s apartment building, hoping that eventually she will emerge onto her veranda. He haunts the street so doggedly that a neighbor boy comes up to him to inquire with serious if Francis is the boogeyman. Meanwhile, rumors abound as to why Larry suddenly left Frenchtown after only a few days on furlough.

Finally, on the fourth day of Francis’ vigil, Nicole emerges from her apartment to confront Francis. Her voice is noticeably harsh as she blames Francis for allowing her to be raped. Francis stand on the corner, offering platitudes, trying to convey his own sense of sadness and failure until Nicole’s anger shocks him into muteness, as if “all of his sins had been revealed.” Offering no forgiveness, Nicole drives Francis away with a spiteful “Poor Francis.”

Later in the week, Francis sneaks into St Jude Church at night, hiding in the confessional until the janitor leaves for the evening. Alone now, Francis quickly climbs to the top of the steeple and prepares to throw himself towards the ground below. Out of habit, he begins mumbling a prayer, only to stop when he realizes the incongruity of his actions, horrified that he was praying before “committing the worst sin of all: despair.”

Now more conscious of his actions, Francis thinks about the shame that his suicide would bring to his family name, and how it would be disrespectful to all the soldiers in the war dying “the deaths of heroes.” Ultimately, Francis descends the steeple, alters his birth certificate, and the very next day enlists in the United States Army.