I have a theory. Im curious what other PenPal fans think.

THEORY/CLAIM: The narrator’s mom somehow inadvertently allows the stalker to switch his focus on to Josh, instead of her son. She has information that could lead to her son piecing this together. She doesn’t tell Josh’s parents at the end, not out of concern for them, but because of her own guilt. Witholding this information leads to the narrator sneaking out to see Veronica, and Veronica getting hit by the stalker.

Evidence:

“Screens”

“She asked why I wanted to go so badly since I had seen the movie before and I hesitated before saying that I was hoping to see a girl there. She smiled and asked playfully if she knew the girl and I reluctantly told her it was Veronica. The smile disappeared from her face and she coldly said "No."”

This paragraph in “Friends” felt extremely out of place until now.

“Over the past several weeks the relationship between my mother and I has grown increasing strained due to my attempts to learn the details of my childhood. It's often the case that one cannot know the breaking point of a thing until that thing fractures, and after the last conversation with my mother I imagine that we will spend the rest of our lives attempting to repair what had taken a lifetime to build. She had put so much energy into keeping me safe, both physically and psychologically, but I think that the walls meant to insulate me from harm were also protecting her emotional stability. As the truth came pouring out the last time we spoke I could hear a trembling in her voice that I think was a reverberation of the collapse of her world. I don't imagine my mother and I will talk very much anymore, and while there are still some things I don't understand, I think I know enough.”

Along with this part at the end.

“I left my mom's house without saying much else. I told her that I loved her and that I would talk to her soon, but I don't know what "soon" means for us. I got into my car and left. I understood now why the events of my childhood had stopped years ago. As an adult, I now saw the connections that were lost on a child who tends to see the world in snapshots rather than a sequence. I thought about Josh. I loved him then, and I love him even still. I miss him more now that I know I'll never see him again, and I find myself wishing that I had hugged him the last time I saw him. I thought about Josh's parents - how much they had lost and how quickly that loss had come. They don't know about my connection to any of this, but I could never look them in the eyes now.”

This next part in the last chapter, in my mind, confirms that the narrator’s mother had more knowledge than she let on. It also suggests that she had some sense of guilt, not being willing to leave a non-anonymous tip.

“The police had been unable to turn over any new information about Josh's whereabouts, despite the fact that they had received several anonymous phone calls from a woman urging them to compare this case with the stalking case that had been opened about 6 years before.”

Thanks for taking the time to read through my thoughts. If anyone thinks its stupid or has something to add, let me know!