Strangers Coming Together

One of the questions the story poses is how, exactly, strangers come together to become acquaintances, friends, or romantic partners. Through the various encounters between Aidan and Pauline, the story traces the trajectory of what readers expect will become a romantic relationship. They start out as strangers, introduced to each other through their mutual need of a ride from Aidan's brother, Declan. It is not until Aidan reminds Pauline who he is when she sees him in the restaurant that they actually come to recognize one another as acquaintances. Finally, the night of the fireworks, Aidan and Pauline get the closest they have been throughout the story, sharing in silence the intimate moment of seeing the lights on the beach. This event sparks the presumably more intimate encounter back at Pauline's house, but the evening ends with tension and misunderstanding.

In following these interactions...