That night, Frankie sits alone in her bedroom and deliberately sets out to say goodbye to Francesca. To do it, Frankie recites the familiar story she knows by heart, using the ritual of storytelling as a way to mourn.

In the story, a girl named Francesca lives by the sea and waits eagerly each year for the whales to return to the Bay of Fundy. Among all the whales she loves, her favorite is a North Atlantic right whale who shares her name, and the two Francescas greet each other each morning before setting off together.

Frankie continues the tale through the pair’s joyful adventures in the water, describing how the girl and the whale race fish, explore reefs and corals, and find comfort in each other. The story emphasizes safety, wonder, and companionship: when the girl is tired, the whale carries her, and when the girl is sad, the whale helps cheer her up.

After whispering the entire story into the dark, Frankie ends the ritual simply and directly. Frankie says, “Good night, Francesca,” turning the old story into a private farewell and a moment of emotional closure.