And Then I Go (2018) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Edwin agreed to Flake's plan primarily out of loyalty to his friend. Despite being a quiet and sensitive boy, Edwin felt a deep connection to Flake, who had been his closest companion through their shared suffering. Additionally, Edwin had experienced repeated rejection and aggression, from peers, from the man at the park, and from adults who dismissed their plight, which made the idea of revenge feel like the only way to reclaim power and belonging.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, their parents and teachers blame them for being bullied, creating a sense of hopelessness.

• edwin
• flake
• revenge
• bullying
• loyalty
• school shooting

Edwin was paralyzed by fear and shock when the shooting began. Though he had reservations about actually carrying out the plan, he was too terrified to act. Additionally, his lingering loyalty to Flake made it difficult for him to intervene, even as he watched the violence unfold. Edwin was frozen in terror, unable to pull the trigger himself and unable to stop his friend.

Foreshadowing: Edwin's internal conflict intensifies as the assembly day approaches, especially after his mother's unexpected trip plan.

• edwin
• flake
• shooting
• frozen
• paralysis
• school assembly

After the shooting, Edwin survived and was left to grapple with the aftermath. He had to deal with the traumatic loss of his friend Flake, who was killed by police while attempting to reload his weapon. Edwin is left carrying immense guilt and sorrow, ultimately reflecting on happier memories with his family at the lake as a way to process his grief.

Foreshadowing: The film ends with Edwin reminiscing about a joyful family moment, saying "Good for you, kid."

• edwin
• aftermath
• guilt
• survival
• family
• memories

Flake had endured relentless bullying for years with no support from adults who instead blamed him and Edwin for the problems they faced. His personality was marked by impulsivity and emotional outbursts, making him particularly vulnerable to feelings of rage and helplessness. The combination of constant victimization and being misunderstood by authority figures pushed Flake toward extreme measures as a way to feel powerful and heard.

Foreshadowing: Flake's impulsivity and emotional instability are established early in the film.

• flake
• revenge
• bullying
• determination
• impulsivity

Edwin's artistic talent represented a potential escape from his painful reality and a source of self-worth. When his art teacher encouraged him to enter a competition and classmates praised his work, Edwin briefly experienced validation and belonging outside of his friendship with Flake. However, Flake mocked this achievement and remained fixated on their revenge plot, pulling Edwin back into their dangerous plans and highlighting how vulnerable he was to losing the only connection that understood his pain.

Foreshadowing: This moment offers Edwin hope before Flake's obsession with revenge pulls him back.

• edwin
• art
• talent
• competition
• validation
• bullying

A meeting with the vice principal forced Edwin's parents to confront the reality of their son's situation. Previously, his father had dismissed his struggles as typical teenage angst. The frank discussion with school administrators revealed the extent of the bullying and shifted their perspective, causing them to reconsider their stance and finally acknowledge that their son was a victim, not a problem.

Foreshadowing: Edwin's parents initially dismiss his concerns as normal teenage issues.

• edwin
• parents
• bullying
• belief
• vice principal
• family

The confrontation arose from mounting tension between the two friends as Edwin began to distance himself from the revenge plot. After Edwin started exploring his artistic talent and experiencing moments of self-worth, Flake grew jealous and felt Edwin was abandoning their plan. This clash of priorities, Edwin's tentative hope versus Flake's obsessive need for revenge, led to a physical altercation that left Edwin injured and emotionally shattered.

Foreshadowing: The tension builds as Edwin finds moments of hope while Flake remains fixated on revenge.

• edwin
• flake
• fight
• confrontation
• tension
• injury

Herman was another student who experienced bullying and sought help from Edwin and Flake. His desperate plea that "someone's got to do something" and his expressed desire for a weapon added momentum to the revenge plot. Flake wanted Herman to join their scheme, though Edwin felt conflicted about involving another person in their dangerous plan. Herman's involvement amplified the desperation and sense of shared purpose among the three boys.

Foreshadowing: Herman's suffering mirrors Edwin and Flake's, reinforcing the cycle of violence.

• herman
• bullying
• weapon
• revenge
• plot
• involvement

Edwin's mother sensed her son's emotional distress and wanted to reconnect with him, unaware of the deadly plan unfolding. She arranged the family trip as an attempt to draw Edwin back into the warmth and safety of family life. This created an agonizing conflict for Edwin, who was caught between his loyalty to Flake and the love his family was offering him.

Foreshadowing: Edwin's internal conflict intensifies as he wishes his father well before heading to school.

• edwin
• mother
• family
• trip
• assembly
• conflict
• loyalty

The ending represents Edwin's complex mix of emotions, guilt, grief, and nostalgia. The line is spoken as he reflects on happier times at the lake with his family, suggesting he is addressing his younger self or perhaps imagining a version of himself that could have chosen differently. It captures the tragic contrast between his longing for belonging and love versus the violence he was unable to prevent.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with the boys' struggles and closes with the aftermath of their tragic choice.

• ending
• good for you kid
• meaning
• reflection
• guilt
• nostalgia
• family