Lotus deals extensively with trauma and its long-lasting effects. Several of the characters have traumatic experiences, such as Clem’s sexual abuse at Travis’s hands, Oliver’s kidnapping, and the loss, confusion, and devastation Oliver’s loved ones feel during his long captivity. Throughout the narrative, the novel explores the impact of trauma on survivors and their loved ones.

The loss of Oliver generates trauma for Oliver’s family and friends. The kidnapping caused Sydney deep pain, leading her to “build walls” and forgo relationships. Gabe, too, is affected by the experience. For years he hosted a July 4th party to honor Oliver and keep his memory alive, which speaks to how deeply he felt Oliver’s loss. When Oliver comes back, Sydney sees him and notes, “[Gabe] gazes up at me with the most haunting expression I’ve ever seen” (23). Sydney, too, uses “haunting” diction to describe how Oliver’s kidnapping negatively impacted her, suggesting that even though Oliver was still alive, both Sydney and Gabe were impacted by his absence and the mystery surrounding his disappearance. 

At the same time, Oliver also experiences some problems when trying to reconnect with his loved ones, as they do not always understand how to be effective in their care and support of him. Gabe and Sydney often treat Oliver as helpless, with Gabe comparing Oliver to a “damn kid,” and Sydney openly worrying about “breaking” him. Oliver rejects the stereotype that a trauma survivor is especially fragile. He tells Sydney, “I’m not made of glass. You won’t break me” (397). His pursuit of Sydney showcases his strength and agency. He doesn’t want special treatment; he wants Gabe and Sydney to see him as an adult, not merely as someone who lived through a horrible experience.



The story also explores long-lasting impacts in the form of triggers. Trauma survivors may experience something in the present that pushes them to their past, forcing them to relive painful memories. In the present, Oliver feels “overwhelmed” and initially unable to “function in a world so vast, so cluttered and loud” (48). Triggers also provide foreshadowing and red herrings. The teddy bear at the restaurant reminds Oliver of Sydney’s teddy bear, which links to Clem’s sexual abuse. Clem’s triggers—Gabe calling her “babygirl” and Sydney leaving Poppy alone with Oliver—provide further clues that something happened to her, foreshadowing the revelation that she was sexually abused by Travis as a young girl. The smell of Gabe’s gum triggers Sydney, leading her to falsely accuse Gabe of being the attacker in her home.

At the novel’s end, all of the main characters are rebuilding their lives and learning to heal from their traumatic experiences in a healthy way. Sydney and Oliver marry, while Clem seeks therapy and ends up healthier and happier than ever before. In this way, the novel suggests that while the effects of trauma can be serious and long-lasting, there is always hope for rebuilding one’s life and sense of self with the right support.