You Belong Here

Suppressing the full truth is another central part of the story. If Beckett had honestly told Delilah about Wyatt College, Delilah might have chosen a different college. As Beckett lets her secrets reign, she exposes Delilah to a myriad of unknown dangers, which Beckett senses immediately. Beckett says, “I heard the distant chime of the bell tower marking the hour, and thought, like I had long ago: Run” (21). Beckett wants to “run” because she’s not ready to face what she did. She remains in her past mindset, where concealment represents the best course.

The theme suggests that secrets generate secrets. Beckett’s secrets about her experiences in Wyatt College prompt Delilah to keep secrets about what’s going on with her at university as well. If the mother and daughter had an honest dynamic, Delilah could’ve told Beckett about the bullying right away, and Beckett could’ve helped her, which would’ve negated the dropped phone call that brings Beckett back to Wyatt Valley. Instead, Delilah follows her mother’s lead and tries to keep the harassment to herself. Delilah’s lack of transparency makes Beckett suspicious of her, as the bruises and the phone in the dumbwaiter suggest that Delilah hides critical information. When Beckett confronts Delilah about the phone, she doesn’t believe Delilah’s answer. Secrets define Beckett and Delilah, so Beckett assumes that Delilah has another one.

Doc and Hal cultivate secrets too. Beckett’s parents establish a pattern, which Beckett follows, and then Delilah emulates. Following the fire, Beckett explains how ready she was to face the consequences of her actions: “I curled up on my bed, where I waited for someone to come and find me. To discover what I had done” (547-48). No one finds Beckett or makes her pay for what she did because of her parents. To hide her daughter’s involvement, Doc helps Adalyn escape. To minimize Beckett’s exposure, Hal gets her to spend a semester abroad. The concealment ostensibly helps the Bowery family avoid further scandal and maintain their comfortable academic lifestyle. As Adalyn starts extorting Hal and Doc, the secrets end up harming them, as they lose their jobs due to Hal’s unethical sales of his antiques. Then again, the secrets keep Adalyn around, which allows her to protect Delilah; thus, her parents’ secrets have a life-or-death benefit.

In the tunnel, the secret-over-truth pattern shatters. Violet admits that she helped Bryce move Adalyn’s body, and Beckett confesses she was an accessory to Micah and Charlie’s death. While Violet’s fate is unclear, Beckett’s embrace of the truth frees her from the past. Unfettered by secrets, Beckett has the chance to lead an honest life once she leaves jail.