Kieran Elliott is the protagonist of the novel and the catalyst for both the present and past timelines. A past decision changed his life and the lives of many in his community. By giving the reader a window into the past, the author explores how Kieran has matured into the man he is now. Seeing Kieran as a teen athlete, a high school heartthrob, a depressed young adult, and finally, an adult with aging parents gives the reader a complete picture. By employing the close third-person narration, the author gives the reader an intimate look at one individual’s experience of a traumatic event while still allowing for the exploration of the collective grief of the community. Carrying a heavy burden of guilt over his culpability in the death of Finn and Toby, he was shuffling life:

[He was] exhausted by everything. Tired of his studies, of friends that were no more than acquaintances, of the effort of opening his eyes every morning and shutting them every night. Of life in general. The fog had grown so thick, he’d become used to navigating his days half-blind (35).

After struggling with his identity, Kieran became what the town said he was, a negligent teenage boy whose selfish decision led to

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