The duality of the protagonist’s two names, Crystal and Ellie, symbolizes the character’s journey from self-protection to self-acceptance and is central to the theme of reclaiming identity beyond trauma. “Crystal” is an external identity forged from trauma and is used by Ellie as a protective shield. Ellie’s renunciation of her true identity for the novel’s early chapters is symbolic of her wider desire to escape her past and inner pain. The persona of Crystal allows her to survive her work, but it prevents her from forming genuine connections to herself and others.

When Gabriel first meets her, he immediately senses this disconnect. After she tells him he does not belong at the club, he remarks, “Funny… I was thinking the very same thing about you” (19). His response indicates his recognition that her hardened exterior is a facade, not her true self. Gabriel’s refusal to engage with the “Crystal” persona and his persistent, gentle inquiries into her real identity represent the novel’s argument that healing requires being truly seen. Ellie’s decision to share her birth name is a pivotal act of vulnerability, the first step in dismantling the walls around her heart. The revelation that her full name is “Eloise” acts as a symbolic link in the novel, mirroring the name of the figurine that represents consolation for Gabriel, and prefiguring their growing emotional bond. By the end of the novel, Ellie has shed the persona of Crystal completely, signifying that she has reached a position of psychological and emotional cohesion.