Depression

Catherine is fighting her way through depression throughout the novel. She does not know how long she has been depressed. She only knows that things got worse after she had Anna. Her doctor diagnoses her with postpartum depression and she takes medication for it. Her postpartum depression manifests as fear. She is afraid that she will hurt her child or that she does not love her child enough. She has to force herself to control her thoughts when the depression takes hold of her.

Catherine is also suffering depression in the form of grief. She is grieving the death of her father. She is also grieving the loss of her familial relationship. When she decides not to visit for Christmas in order to meet the Melnichucks, her father tells her never to come home again. Catherine takes him at his word. She is never able to tell her...