The Lake

The theme of secrets, guilt, and lies and the weight they put on a person is central to the emotional and narrative arc of the story. The stark contrast between the picturesque setting of Camp Pine Lake and the harrowing events that unfold there is an example of this tension. Peaceful locations like trails and lakes are transformed into sites of anxiety and paranoia, mirroring Esme’s inner turmoil. The camp becomes a metaphor for the weight of repressed regrets and the lies that keep them buried. Esme, in particular, is shaped by the lie she’s upheld for 10 years alongside Kayla. Both pretend that there’s “nothing scary in the woods” (8), a lie that is now destroying Esme from the inside out. The fact that Esme later repeats this same reassurance to a frightened camper deepens the irony, showing how guilt perpetuates itself through repetition and denial. Her psychological stress is visible in physical symptoms, like losing her appetite before hikes, and emotional responses, like the way she’s haunted by memories of the