The Fall Risk

Initially, the missing stairs represent a physical and emotional barrier that isolates Charlotte and Seth in their apartments, cutting them off from the outside world. For Charlotte, however, this disruption is ironically comforting, as she views the broken stairs as both a literal and symbolic barrier that keeps danger at bay. Safety, for her, means disconnection and confinement. With nowhere to escape, Seth and Charlotte begin sharing space, stories, and eventually, their lives. Minus the stairs, they are forced to depend on one another and their friends for support. The absent stairs create the forced proximity that brings the two protagonists together, forcing them to seek connection and accept help. What initially appears to be a trap becomes an opportunity to discover freedom and healing.

The stairs also reflect the characters’ inner growth. The return of the stairs after the weekend represents a return to reality, and at first, it brings Charlotte anxiety. However, she is not the same person she was before the stairs were removed. Where once the stairs represented isolation, their return represents reentry into the world with new strength and perspective. Charlotte no longer seeks protection through hiding, and she begins reclaiming her agency by choosing not to flee in fear when her location is revealed.