Which was enough to make me feel trapped, as though the words out of her mouth were expanding and filling up the space in her tiny apartment.
-- Silas (Page 2)

Importance: This quotation appears at the beginning of the story as Bernice comes to tell Silas about how she met Dove. Here, Silas's description of his sister's speech as that which "expands" and "fills up" space emphasizes his interpretation of his sister's importance. Bernice's presence makes him feel "trapped," suggesting that he is too caught up in her life that he cannot continue to live his own. The story suggests that this investment in his sister's life will become a point of tension as the narrative unfolds.

The truth was, I found my sister exhausting, the way she could crowd you out of your life with the enormity of her own.
-- Silas (Page 4)

Importance: Here, Silas provides a candid description of his feelings toward his sister. Without...