Though Tryon comes to his realization too late to share their love together, he does finally make the change. Tryon transforms his entire personality for Rena, no longer caring about status and race; he wants to love her totally. Chestnutt uses the Rena’s sudden death to show us that one may not always get a second chance at love. Tryon, having changed, will have a more open outlook on life. Although he may not be able to share it with Rena; he now has many more possibilities.