New York

Finn's early portions of the narrative begin in New York City. Finn travels here from Navy Lake to see his brother. Although he has lived in New York in the past, the city overstimulates and overwhelms him. His response to the city is also related to his fear of saying goodbye to his dying brother Max. At the same time, the noise and liveliness of New York unconsciously convince Finn that his brother will also stay alive a bit longer.

Finn leaves New York when he learns from Sigrid that there has been an emergency in Navy Lake. Although Finn knows that people are "often quite accidentally not with family members" when they die, he decides to leave New York to see if Lily is okay (57). He begs Max not to die before he returns, foolishly convincing himself that in leaving his deathbed, he is "handing Max...