“When I have a bad day, now and then get slippery.”

Part of Ted’s unreliable narration is derived from his inability to clearly delineate the past and the present. Consequently, Ted’s world is “haunted” by visions of his childhood—especially his mother’s presence. This is also an indication of the trauma Ted experienced and of his dissociative identity disorder.

“A soft white glow gathered on his chest over the place where his heart must be. The glow became a cord, reaching out through the air.”

The bond between Olivia and Ted is symbolized by a golden cord that connects them. Olivia can see it, but Ted cannot. The appearance the cord takes on reflects their mood and the way Olivia feels about their relationship at any given moment. As the part of Ted’s personality directly responsible for his emotional health, the cord represents how well Ted is taking care of himself in that moment.

“Breaking me, then mending me, over and over—that was my mother.”

This passage is a very early indication of the horrific abuse that Ted endured as a child at his mother’s hands. Mrs. Bannerman forces Ted to give up the wooden cat keychain on the pretense of preparing him for dealing with loss later in life. However, it is another form of the psychological abuse that she inflicts on him, breaking his will to accept his position and keeping him emotionally dependent on her.