Then, when Avery was fifteen and Lucky was eight, their mother went back to working as a museum docent, charging her eldest to look after the rest of them. She claimed they needed the money, which was true, but she probably earned less an hour than one of them could babysitting. Mostly, she was just done being a mom, a mantle Avery stoically took up in her place.
-- Narration (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote highlights the emotional burden that Avery carries throughout the novel. It marks the beginning of Avery's role as the caretaker of her sisters, a role that she assumes at a young age due to her mother's neglect. This abandonment by their mother sets the stage for Avery's stoic nature and her need to suppress her own emotional needs. The symbolism of Avery taking up the mantle of motherhood reflects her ongoing struggle with perfectionism and emotional suppression, as she tries...