The will to live

Damen is the one who saves Ever when she dies with her parents. Ever's soul is already about to cross over the bridge to the other side when she stops to look around. She's enthralled by the landscape and the lingering gives Damen time to find her, returning her to the living. Ever feels that her lingering was the result of stupidity and laziness but Damen says it was the act of a person who wants to live. Ever never comes to accept that as an explanation though it seems reasonable, especially considering how hard she later fights to escape Drina's efforts to kill her. Ever and Drina meet in the canyon and Ever quickly gives up the idea that she might escape Drina's wrath. She begins to hope that the end will come quickly so that she doesn't have to suffer before she dies...