Finding Perfect

“Med school is complicated. Relationships are easy. You love a person; they love you back. If that’s not how your relationship is, you end it. Simple.”

Hannah’s initial, simplistic view of relationships serves as a narrative foil to the nuanced and difficult situation Daniel is facing. Her assertion that relationships are “easy” and “simple” establishes a baseline of conventional wisdom that the novella will proceed to challenge. This contrast emphasizes the theme of The Role of Communication in Healing from Trauma as it marks the first sign that all is not well in their relationship.

“So, I’m a dad, but I’m not. And Six is a mom, but she’s not.”

Through parallel structure, Daniel articulates the central paradox of his and Six’s identities. The repetitive “but I’m not” and “but she’s not” construction emphasizes their state of emotional and familial limbo. This quote succinctly defines the core conflict and introduces the theme of Redefining Family Beyond Biological Ties.

“We like to keep things fun and light because everything under the surface is so damn heavy.”

The line explicitly identifies the characters’ avoidance as a coping mechanism that has failed, directly addressing the theme of The Role of Communication in Healing From Trauma. It pinpoints the source of the emotional distance that has grown between them and establishes their current relationship dynamic.

“It’s like someone took a huge chunk out of my chest and there are two parts of me now that don’t connect. I feel so disconnected, Daniel.”

Six uses a simile to articulate the depth of her grief, likening her abstract emotional pain to a physical part of her body. The imagery of a physical wound conveys her sense of being broken and incomplete after the adoption. This confession is a turning point, allowing Daniel to finally comprehend the extent of her suffering.

“I thought it was a brave choice at the time, but now I wonder if it was a scared choice.”

Six’s statement reveals her internal conflict and directly engages with the theme Distinguishing Self-Sacrifice from Self-Protection. The juxtaposition of “brave” and “scared” highlights the moral ambiguity she feels about her past actions. This internal struggle illustrates the immense psychological burden she has carried alone.

“Before they came and got him, I looked down at him and said, ‘I’m not doing this because I don’t love you. I’m doing it because I do.’”

By recounting her exact words to her son, Six provides a poignant and direct statement of her motivation. The use of antithesis (“not because I don’t love you […] because I do”) frames her decision as an act of maternal sacrifice. This line serves as the emotional anchor for the idea that her choice was one of selfless love, not abandonment.

“You didn’t give him up, Six. I hate that phrase. You gave him a life. […] The last thing you did was give up. You stood up.”

Daniel actively reframes the language surrounding Six’s choice, replacing the negative connotation of “give up” with the empowering image of “stood up.” This linguistic shift is a crucial moment in both Six’s healing and Daniel’s character development as a supportive partner. This moment highlights the theme of The Role of Communication in Healing from Trauma.

“But what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn’t at least try to make Six’s world better?”

This rhetorical question signals a significant development in Daniel’s character arc. It shows his transition from a state of passive concern to one of active problem-solving, providing the narrative momentum for the plot that follows. His motivation is rooted not in his own needs but in his desire to improve Six’s life in a meaningful way.

“But you’re annoying. It might work for you.”

Hannah’s comment offers a moment of levity while also serving as insightful characterization and foreshadowing. The line recasts Daniel’s negative trait of being “annoying” into the positive quality of persistence, which is precisely the attribute needed to overcome the legal and emotional obstacles he faces. This dialogue suggests that his success will come from being himself.

“She cries, you know. Every night. It’s the not knowing that kills her.”

In his plea to Ava Roberts, Daniel’s emotionally charged language conveys the severity and urgency of Six’s suffering. It is this depiction of profound emotional pain that successfully persuades Ava to bend the rules and offer her assistance. This highlights the theme of The Role of Communication in Healing from Trauma; other people besides Daniel and Six need to be involved in the conversation for Six to understand her and her child’s situation.

“I’m…well, I’m your child’s father.”

The adoptive father’s self-introduction extends the narrative’s exploration of parenthood. His verbal hesitation (“I’m… well”) signals his own awareness of the complex and potentially contested nature of his title. The line directly confronts the theme of Redefining Family Beyond Biological Ties, placing two different definitions of “father” in direct conversation.

“I just want her to be whole again. This broke her. And until she knows her little boy is happy and healthy I don’t know that she’ll ever heal.”

Daniel’s plea to the adoptive father, Graham, centers entirely on Six’s well-being rather than his own desires. The image of Six being “broke” and needing to be made “whole again” articulates her trauma as a tangible injury that requires healing. This demonstration of love is what resonates with Graham, ultimately persuading him to consider helping them.

“I’ve just never felt this pent-up before. That phone call left me wondering if this is how Six has felt this whole time. Maybe she’s felt this way since the day she put him up for adoption, and if so, I’m a complete asshole for never recognizing it or trying to do something about it before this week.”

This internal monologue marks a significant development in Daniel’s character arc and coming-of-age journey, as his own newfound anxiety allows him to empathize with Six’s prolonged suffering. This self-realization underscores the theme of The Role of Communication in Healing from Trauma, demonstrating that Daniel’s proactive steps are now coupled with a deeper understanding of the emotional weight Six has been carrying alone. The blunt self-condemnation in his diction (“complete asshole”) highlights the depth of his regret and his commitment to rectifying his past ignorance.

“Six stops reading and looks up at me. I can see in her eyes she has no idea what this is, and that she’s hoping it’s what she thinks it is, but she’s too scared to think that.”

This quote captures the precise moment of dawning, terrifying hope that precedes the novella’s emotional climax. The narrative tension is heightened by Six’s fear of being disappointed again, which makes the eventual relief more profound and illustrates the high personal stakes of Daniel’s actions.

“[B]ut for whatever reason, you accepted a future of unknown fear in return for your child’s happiness and security. I will never be able to thank you enough for that.”

This line from Quinn’s email validates Six’s choice, affirming it as an act of courage rather than abandonment. Quinn’s words directly address the theme of Distinguishing Self-Sacrifice From Self-Protection, providing a crucial external perspective that helps Six begin to heal from her self-doubt. The grateful note from one mother to another validates Six’s sacrifice in a way Daniel’s reassurances cannot.

“We decided to name him Matteo Aaron Wells. We chose the name Aaron because it means ‘miraculous,’ and we chose Matteo because it’s an Italian name meaning ‘gift.’ And that is exactly what Matteo is to us. A miraculous gift.”

By deliberately choosing names that mean “miraculous” and “gift,” Quinn and Graham emphasize that the child is a symbol of their joy and gratitude. This act of naming serves to bridge the gap between the two families, establishing a shared, positive definition of the child who connects them.

“When the first picture loads, there isn’t even enough air in the room to fill our collective gasps. He looks just like me. But he also looks just like her.”

This passage uses hyperbole (“not even enough air”) to convey the overwhelming emotional impact of seeing their son for the first time. The simple, declarative sentences—“He looks just like me. But he also looks just like her”—reflect a moment of pure, unanalyzed shock and recognition. This visual confirmation solidifies their bond and makes the abstract reality of their child a tangible reality.

“‘For Pete’s sake, they had a baby!’ Chunk yells, annoyed. Then she immediately slaps her hand over her mouth and looks at me with eyes as wide as saucers.”

Chunk’s outburst reveals the truth and breaks the dramatic tension of the family meeting. Her annoyance with the guessing game subverts the expected solemnity of the confession, propelling the plot forward in an abrupt and authentic way. This characterization of the younger sister as impatient and direct contrasts with Daniel’s hesitation and avoidance, highlighting the necessary discomfort in confronting difficult truths.

“Another pause. Then, ‘We’re grandparents?’ my mother says. ‘We aren’t old enough to be grandparents.’ ‘Obviously, we are. And they said it was a boy?’ she asks.”

This brief exchange captures the parents’ process of reconciling their self-perception with their new reality. The mother’s initial denial (“We aren’t old enough”) quickly gives way to her husband’s practical acceptance (“Obviously, we are”). The dialogue moves swiftly from disbelief to curiosity (“it was a boy?”), signaling the beginning of their emotional assimilation of their new roles and the shifting family dynamic. The speed with which the parents accept the situation without further questioning or intense emotionality keeps the plot moving without dwelling on what may, realistically, be a longer and more complicated conversation.

“She’s about to meet her child for the first time, Dick Prick! Give us a minute! Also, it smells like tacos in here. Get an air freshener.”

Daniel’s comical outburst at the Uber driver reveals his heightened emotional state through misplaced frustration. The juxtaposition of the sacred moment (“meet her child for the first time”) with the profane insult (“Dick Prick”) and the mundane complaint about tacos creates a moment of humor. This reaction characterizes Daniel as fiercely protective of Six’s emotional state, even if his method of expression is immature and chaotic.

“We meet Graham at the front door. He shakes my hand and introduces himself. ‘You must be Daniel,’ he says. He looks at Six and hugs her. ‘And Six.’”

The contrast between Graham’s handshake with Daniel and his hug for Six is a subtle but significant moment of characterization. The handshake establishes a respectful but formal initial dynamic with the birth father, acknowledging his role in initiating contact. The immediate hug for Six shows an intuitive understanding of her greater emotional burden and vulnerability, setting a compassionate tone for the meeting.

“‘When I called you that day on the phone, I was honestly prepared to tell you to take a hike.’ […] ‘I could relate to the fact that all you wanted in that moment was to see the woman you loved happy.’”

Graham’s confession reveals the critical role of Daniel’s vulnerable communication in changing the outcome. It confirms that the legal barriers of the adoption were secondary to the emotional ones, which were overcome by a shared human experience: the desire to alleviate a loved one’s pain. This dialogue reinforces The Role of Communication in Healing from Trauma, showing how authentic expression creates a bond between the two men.

“Quinn motions for the knife. ‘I’ll take over. Go hang out in the living room with your family.’ I smile at her and let her take over. But when I leave the kitchen, I have to pause to collect myself in the hallway. She just called us a family.”

Quinn’s casual use of the word “family” solidifies the novella’s theme of Redefining Family Beyond Biological Ties. The simple, domestic setting of the kitchen contrasts with the profound emotional weight of her statement, which Daniel registers with overwhelming force. The use of italics for his internal thought emphasizes the significance of this acceptance and confirms the successful creation of a new, inclusive kinship structure.