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The Giver hadn’t planned for Jonas to see the tape of the release of the twin. The Giver doesn’t even really know why he showed it to Jonas, he likes to think that it’s because Jonas had a right to know, but he knows deep down that since Rosemary got released he held absolute fury in his heart anytime release was even mentioned. He stopped going to the ceremonies of release a long time ago, but something still haunted him about it. Perhaps it was Rosemary's face when she discovered the real meaning of release, the look of surprise, suspense, and contentment all rolled into one or maybe it was the horror of seeing her face pale and the magical light in her eyes fade away into nothingness. He has been haunted by her ghost every day since, telling him what he did wrong and how he should’ve shielded her from those terrible memories. That was until he met Jonas.
When Jonas entered the Giver’s room for the first time, the Giver thought that this must be a new version of Rosemary’s ghost that was sent to punish him for his wrongdoings. That was until he regained what was left of his sanity, and greeted him.
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The Giver waited now, in the Annex. He was nervous, to say the least. He had prepared the memories and had the most courage in them to give to Jonas. One was where an activist was standing atop a car yelling into a megaphone giving the people around them the courage to do the same. Another one was of a firefighter going into a burning tower despite knowing he might never make it out. The last one was the Giver’s favorite. A girl dying for what she believed in. He knows it’s his favorite because it reminds him of Rosemary, the very same way she was determined to be released. He knows that this memory being his favorite might suggest his mind isn’t where it should be, but he didn’t find it in himself to care. The only thing he could care about at that moment was Jonas.
Jonas had reminded him of Rosemary since the very first day. They both had dark brown hair and light eyes, and both had this determination that no one else in the community had. They both didn’t want the Giver to hold back and knew that they had to endure the pain of the memories. He knew that they both were the bravest people he had ever met. Jonas is brave enough to try and escape from the community and Rosemary was brave because even though she knew she was facing death, she didn’t hesitate in stabbing the needle in her arm and closing her eyes.
It was getting late or early as the Giver should say, but there was still no sign of Jonas. The Giver debated going to Jonas’s dwelling to see what was holding him up, but then as soon as the thought crossed his head he heard a faint “goodbye”. The Giver was startled, he hadn’t used his natural ability to hear elsewhere in years, why did it suddenly work now? Was Jonas in trouble? Did something go wrong? Was Jonas dead? No no no nononononononono. He couldn’t lose someone so close to him again. He was heartbroken when he lost Rosemary and now when he had just gotten Jonas, he was gone too? The very thought made him do something he hadn’t done in a very long time. It made him cry.
So, he sat there crying and begging for Jonas to burst into the Annex and apologize for holding the Giver up, and smiling that same smile that made the Giver yearn for Rosemary. So, he waited for that moment. He waited, waited, waited, and waited, but Jonas never did arrive.