Smoke Breaks

The smoke breaks that Gracie and Marlon share symbolize the gradual development of their relationship. As Gracie is a traveling nurse and Marlon works in the hospital, the only times they share together are intermittent smoke breaks over the course of a few months. During these breaks, they tell each other stories about their pasts that help them get to know one another. Eventually, they begin sharing deeper and more painful stories, and they become each other's support system for dealing with trauma and the demands of the nursing profession.

Marlon's Scar

Marlon's scar symbolizes his post-traumatic stress from having served in the Army. Marlon was deployed in Iraq, where he saw friends and fellow soldiers killed and brutally injured by I.E.D.'s. He also carries with him the memory of an old woman he killed simply on impulse. Marlon's scar represents the...