New York

New York functions as both a backdrop and emotional barometer in the memoir, its changing rhythms reflecting Crosley’s shifting internal state. The city’s usual energy amplifies the disorientation of grief in the early stages, but when the pandemic empties its streets and silences its noise, Crosley feels briefly aligned with her surroundings. The stillness and fear of lockdown make her personal mourning feel less out of step with the world around her. Grand Central Station, in particular, becomes a symbolic site where memory, fantasy, and decision-making converge, underlining how the city itself becomes entwined with Crosley’s emotional and psychological journey.

Crosley’s Apartment

Crosley’s apartment functions as both a literal site of violation and a symbolic space of emotional vulnerability. The opening image of the burglar entering through her bedroom window sets the tone for a narrative focused on intrusion and loss...