Here's what happens:
* Candy and her lover, Minnigerode, are in a strange, surreal environment. This could be a dream, a hallucination, or some other altered state of consciousness.
* They encounter a group of "angels" who take them to a "heavenly" location. This place is described as "beautiful" and "radiant" but also strangely unsettling.
* The angels suggest that Candy and Minnigerode will be "reunited" after their earthly lives are over. However, the nature of this reunion and what it entails is left unclear.
Possible Interpretations:
* Candy and Minnigerode died. The "angels" and "heavenly" location are merely representations of their deaths and the afterlife, implying a tragic end for both characters.
* Candy and Minnigerode are trapped in a delusional state. The final scene could represent their descent into madness or their inability to escape the cycle of pain and suffering they've endured.
* The ending is a commentary on the futility of seeking meaning and happiness. The "reunion" promised by the angels could be a hollow, empty promise, symbolizing the lack of ultimate purpose in life.
Ultimately, the ending of *Candy* is left open for the reader to decide. Southern deliberately avoids a definitive resolution, leaving the interpretation to the reader's individual beliefs and interpretations.