Jas's Coat

Jas’s red coat symbolizes protection. Terrified of revealing her true identity to those around her, Jas refuses to shed the garment. Though she becomes the subject of community gossip and receives an onslaught of harassing comments at school, Jas believes removing the coat will lead to the loss of some vital part of her personhood. When her parents demand she takes it off, Jas knows she is at a crossroads, and will soon have to decide when and how to claim her identity.

The Rope

The rope hanging from the rafters in Jas’s inherited attic room symbolizes the ever presence of death. Though Dad insists it is meant for a swing, Jas believes he has darker plans for the item. Once afraid her parents will use it to commit suicide, Jas later finds comfort in the release from despair the rope might offer...