Content Warning: This section discusses kidnapping, trauma, and PTSD.

The sound of the train whistle is a symbol that represents both hope and the haunting nature of trauma. Megan’s persistent effort to track down the source of the train whistle echoes her quest for understanding and closure regarding her abduction experience. At the same time, its elusiveness reflects the pervasive nature of trauma and the idea that healing can be hard to navigate. Megan’s pursuit of this sound reflects her struggle to confront and make sense of her past, even as it continues to haunt her present.

Megan’s memoir details her escape from the bunker, and this place becomes a symbol of both confinement and escape. Because Megan was held captive and subjected to the control and manipulation of her abductor, her sense of confinement extends beyond the physical walls of the bunker to encompass her psychological state during her captivity. As such, the bunker represents the loss of freedom, agency, and autonomy that she experienced, highlighting the devastating impact of abduction on an individual’s sense of self.

The bunker therefore symbolizes trauma and the lasting psychological scars left by traumatic experiences. For Megan, the bunker becomes a haunting memory that triggers flashbacks, nightmares, and emotional distress.