The theme of powerlessness and violated space is demonstrated through the trials that Lo experiences both in her own apartment and aboard the ship, in her cabin. Lo begins the novel as a victim; particularly, she is burglarized, and experiences symptoms of post-traumatic stress as a result of that experience. Lo becomes obsessed with the idea of privacy after this incident, and is troubled when she boards the ship and her items begin to go missing, as if someone has been rifling through her belongings. Lo's space is violated over and over again, and each time she becomes more powerless as a result, and more traumatized.

Lo fights her role as a victim, and is frequently pushing back against her own mental health problems and her responses to having her space violated by strangers, without her permission. This theme becomes more intense as the subject of sexual violence comes up–first, Ben attacks Lo in the hallway near their cabins; later, Lo witnesses the violent behavior of other men on the ship, particularly Richard Bullmer's associate, Archer. Lo's physical space is violated, though her body is not violated; Ware seems to be making a conscious connection between the traumatizing nature of violation, particular when it is experienced by women.