“I wonder if she feels my stare. Gaze detection, it’s called—our ability to sense when someone is observing us. An entire system of the human brain is devoted to this genetic inheritance from our ancestors, who relied on the trait to avoid becoming an animal’s prey. I’ve cultivated this defense in myself, the sensation of static rising over my skin […] I’ve learned the danger of dismissing that warning.” 

This passage establishes the emphasis upon the predator/prey dynamic that develops and is continually complicated throughout the novel. By focusing upon natural survival instincts, Vanessa introduces the thematic and narrative function of fear. As a pervasive and overwhelming sensation within the text, the fearful tone raises the tension and drives Vanessa’s actions; here, however, it acts as foreshadowing of the danger of ignoring one’s instincts.  

“I can still feel him […] Sometimes I’m certain I catch on my own clothes—even though they’ve been cleaned—a whiff of that citrus scent of the L’Occitane soap he washed himself with. He feels linked to me always, as close yet diaphanous as a shadow.” 

Sensory imagery is very important in this text, particularly because the senses are often intentionally obscured. The overwhelming presence of Richard’s scent—whether it is a memory or real—is indicative of his reach and the consumptive nature of his and Vanessa’s relationship; Vanessa cannot move through her day without feeling Richard’s presence because, for so long, her life revolved entirely around him. 

“It wasn’t difficult to dodge questions once you learned the tricks […] Tell colorful, drawn-out stories that deflect attention from the fact that you aren’t actually sharing anything. Avoid specifics that will separate you from the crowd. Be vague about the year you graduated. Lie, but only when completely necessary.” 

For the first time, Nellie is presented as capable of deception, a trait that will prove to be fundamental to her survival as the story unravels. Nellie is private because of her anxieties, which have shaped her into a careful and perceptive person. This passage demonstrates how her experiences have informed every decision she’s made and that Nellie has greater depth than