Point of View

The story is written largely in an omniscient perspective that provides readers with access to both Gracie and Marlon's thoughts. However, occasionally the narrator will slip into a second-person perspective to address the reader directly. These moments occur when the narrator wants to comment on the appearance of Marlon and Gracie to outside observers. In this way, the story cultivates three unique perspectives: Marlon, Gracie, and the reader. By allowing these three perspectives to exist and interact, the story raises questions about the evolution of love—specifically, what love feels like to the parties involved, and what love looks like to outside observers.

The narrator makes a point to note that anyone would have noticed Gracie and Marlon's feelings as early as June when their smoke breaks first started, but they themselves did not "take the leap" (11) and drive to a hotel together until September...