It all started when Ethan was taking Mattie to the train station and they stopped near the hill because they hadn't freewheeled since last winter and that they had planned to return there. Ethan and Mattie found a sled and Mattie told Ethan “[i]t’s awfully dark.” Are you sure you can see? ” (140) and Ethan replied, “I could go down that hill blindfolded” (140). The two go down and back up the hill and start to leave when they realize they both don't want to leave each other. Ethan says "[o]h, Matt, I can't let you go!" (142) and Mattie replies “[o]h, I can’t go either” (140), Ethan replies “[m]att!” What are we going to do? What shall we do” (142). This gives Mattie pause and she offers to go down once more, but this time she hits the elm. " " Straight into the big elm. You said you could. So we would never have to leave each other again”” (143). They both agree to commit suicide and run into the elm tree, but on the way down, they swerve a little and it's not because of what anyone thinks, it's because of Zeena. “Once or twice the sled swerved a little… [but] suddenly the face of his wife, with monstrous and twisted features, slipped between him and his objective… [t]he sled swerved in response” (147). It was almost as if Zeena was stopping the two from killing.