Yes, yes, yes, oh my god I love you I'll do anything.
-- Gary (The Diamond)

Importance: Gary's marriage proposal to Kismet captures his desperation and anxiety. He is so eager to marry Kismet because he sees her as his only hope to surviving his grief, guilt, and shame. This moment therefore provides insight into his character, foreshadows the later narrative revelations regarding the accident, and captures his domineering hold on Kismet.

In those hours, a common purpose. nobody to deceive. Everything simple and clear, the way things never would be again, not for him.
-- Narrator (Eric's Plan for a Bella Notte)

Importance: When Eric is alone, his mind drifts into the past. The events surrounding the accident continue to haunt Eric a year later. This psychological experience makes Eric feel trapped and limited by his trauma. Therefore, when he thinks about participating in communal events with his townspeople, he experiences longing and regret. This moment contributes to the novel's explorations of memory...