Point of View

The story is written from the third-person perspective in present tense. However, even though the point of view is third-person, the story closely follows the thoughts and emotions of Aidan as he continually encounters Pauline. The effect of this focus is twofold: first, it allows readers to sympathize with his character as he attempts to understand Pauline's motives and desires. From Aidan's point of view, Pauline is intriguing and eccentric but also erratic and unpredictable. To the reader as well, then, Pauline comes off as an enigmatic figure with an unknown past and few explanations for her behavior in the present.

Second, this perspective also helps showcase the disparity between Aidan's behavior and his emotions. Specifically, when Aidan leaves Pauline's house after their conversation turns tense, he does so swiftly and immediately but thinks, as he departs, that it is an excruciating pain he himself...