آخر قصه جدایی است. نویسنده بیهوده تلاش می کند با قطع کردن روایتش در نقطه ای که همه هستند احساس ابدی بودن القا کند.

"So, my sister and Robbie were never able to have the time together they both so longed for... and deserved. Which ever since I've... ever since I've always felt I prevented. But what sense of hope or satisfaction could a reader derive from an ending like that? So in the book, I wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia what they lost out on in life. I'd like to think this isn't weakness or... evasion... but a final act of kindness. I gave them their happiness."

Atonement - 2007