“My heart started to pound. I don’t know why the thought of not moving made me feel slightly panicky. Maybe it was just the change in routine? We always moved on once a contract was up.”

Emma can’t even think about settling down in one location without intense fear. The fact that she is unable to pinpoint where this fear originates hints at the unresolved trauma that still rules her daily life.

“Sometimes the best way to show love or be kind to someone is to meet them where they are.”

This passage represents a shared lesson that both Emma and Justin must learn to have successful relationships with each other and their loved ones. It also encapsulates one of the book’s main themes: Always Choose Empathy. The novel emphasizes the importance of understanding why people make the choices they make rather than resorting to anger or judgment.

“That old thrill ran through me. The one I always got when she showed up again unexpectedly, to rescue me, or surprise me, or finally take me home. I ran toward her. And when I met her in the middle of the lawn and she hugged me, I was so overwhelmed with relief, I started to cry. I was a little girl again. Catapulted back to eight years old, in the arms of my mother.”

Emma is normally aloof toward everyone and everything in her life. However, Amber’s appearance is the first time Emma is overcome with excitement and joy. This reaction hints at how much influence Amber has over Emma’s emotional and mental states and heightens the tension for the eventual chaos Amber will bring.