We’ve all read stories in which a violent turn of events—a heart attack, a car crash, an earthquake—results in an individual’s sudden
death. But how do the survivors who are left behind recover? In
“The Seventh Man,” the main character describes the troubles and
triumphs he experienced following a devastating childhood tragedy.

QUICKWRITE: List several tragic events that you know
about from the news. Think about the lasting effects of the events
on the survivors. Select one event and write a paragraph about
specific resources or methods that you think might help the survivors
recover from their difficult experiences.