Unmissing

“I’ll do whatever I have to do to survive and make it back to my husband in one piece.”

In this moment of her abduction, Lydia’s internal monologue establishes her core motivation and resilience, which foreshadows her actions later in the novel. The declaration will prove ironic, as the husband she vows to return to is revealed to be her captor and the source of her suffering. The statement also introduces the theme of Redefining Victimhood and Agency, positioning Lydia as an agent from the narrative’s outset.

“I am—by all accounts—a reasonable woman.”

As the first line of Merritt’s narration, this statement establishes her self-perception, which the novel systematically dismantles. The sentence projects an image of stability and rationality that covers her distorted mindset. This opening introduces Merritt as an unreliable narrator and sets up the theme of The Destructive Pursuit of a Perfect Facade by contrasting her belief in her own rationality with her criminal actions, motivated by insecurity and obsession.

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep them safe—or to keep us together.”

Merritt’s reflection shows that her drive for control is motivated in part by her role as a mother. Having the perfect parent-child relationship is just as important to her as having the perfect marriage. This internal monologue hints at the extreme lengths Merritt has already gone to and foreshadows the actions she will take in the future.