Ffsake's Topics (69)

Ommmmmmmgggggggg so sweet, so pure. 10/10. Need more.

This is cute but my jaded heart says a kidnapping may take place...

Welp, this is going to be one hell of a ride.

“ are you okay? You just gave birth out of your butt”

Graduation is coming... I feel the angst already. Does anyone know if the band timeline is before or after the kidnapping arch.

in the case of emily.. Jake, you are NOT the father

Ooooooh here comes the cell phone ringing

Something that’s been bugging me..and I went back several times now to figure out the symbolism or how it’s connected and it’s a HUGE part of the ending but..

Gijus subconscious thoughts were illustrated twice as showing the small jewelry box and dresser with the dead bird inside. Later-it’s brought up by the figmintation of his dead mother when she’s urging him to answer questions while crossing over to the after life. In that scene briefly she’s shown as wearing a suit— and he’s sitting on a couch— obviously supposed to be some sort of distorted flashback to seeing a psychologist and even being questioned by a detective.. Implying that in fact the dresser and jewelry box and dead bird (that’s obviously not a dead bird, is some sort of symbolism) was involved in the sexual abuse he endured.

He does deny that his sisters body was in the box he opened, even unable to accept her death as he swam further towards his own (his previous suicide attempt being what he referenced when he said he “had been this deep before” meaning this close to crossing over) and his mother urges him to ignore THAT box but go back and focus on the dresser and THEbox.. (which is at first shown as his dead sister with wings in the jewelry box on the dresser) but then it turns back into the damn seagull he balances on his finger.

Which match the seagulls he saw flying above on the day he was on the beach with his mother..

So I caught all of that but where is the origin of the jewelry box and dresser??? The first time they’re mentioned that I can find he’s already disassociating (he’s blue).

I have to be missing something.. and it has to be a big plot point. Can someone please tell me where the jewelry box and dresser reference come from? What was in the original box?

It’s an unpopular opinion but I actually really enjoyed this. The story is complicated from start to finish. I find it interesting that so many readers dislike that there was no closure or happy ending for the older character— but how could there be? He used the younger character as a stand in for his lost first love, manipulating and controlling him along the way. These instances aren’t subtle either. He put a tracker on his phone, he only made plans to take him on a trip so he wouldn’t go on holiday with friends- all because he feared the younger characters independence. Even after their relationship was well established when the older character was shown family photos he found himself thinking and his eyes drawn to the younger characters father. Feelings and emotions are complicated and the older character is flawed and has baggage but never in their shared time together did he try to remedy his mixed feelings—only assert more control.

I believe the author did a good job of presenting a flawed character that’s trying to love within their own ability.

I think the course the relationship took was healthier for both parties. I’m glad the author didn’t go the suicide route, it would have felt cheapened and it gives hope that the older character could work through his self pity and shame.