Importance of Chula and Cassandra’s Backpacks

The backpacks that Chula and Cassandra pack in order to be ready for emergency evacuation in case of violence represent their counter-measures against the fear of violence that they start to constantly experience during their day-to-day lives. They stuff the backpacks with what they think they need to survive in case they have to flee their home and their lives in order to escape that violence. As the narrative progresses, they become so involved with the increasing violence they encounter that they forget about the backpacks.