Alternate Universe...

If the world were a perfect place, then Chris would never have died, and would have, instead, seen the error of his ways and rushed home to tell his parents how sorry he was for running away, but alas, the world is not a perfect place. I believe that if Chris had made it out of Alaska on his first try, the time he tried to cross the swollen river with no success, he would have changed, but not much. I think that he was ready to settle down, and maybe even call Carnie, but I don't think he ever forgave his parents for their lies. The text supports my first prediction. While reading Doctor Zhivago, Chris wrote along the margin, "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL WHEN SHARED" (page 189). I think Chris had spent a long enough time away from people to realize how valuable those intense connections could be, and upon returning to the "real world" I think he would have gone back to work foe Wayne. He respected Wayne and would have been comfortable enough with him, it's like he said in a letter, "you had one of the highest characters of any man I'd met" (page 33). Then I think he would have started making other ties. I also think he would have gone back to visit Franz, and kept in close contact with him. And maybe one day he would have gotten married, and had kids, and his sister would have helped him out, and they would all live happily ever after. But, I think this is mostly just wishful thinking.