Elizabeth's eyes
Upon meeting Elizabeth, Melissa is struck by her aura and the effect she has on her. It is unlike anything that she felt in Falke's presence. Elizabeth's eyes struck her the most, like sun sparkles on ocean waves and Melissa was left feeling exposed and naked in front of her.
An ancient mariner
In an emotional moment with Melissa, Falke is thrown into the past and reminded of the time he was alive with Christiane. It is a moment where he feels completely certain that Melissa is her reincarnation and that he made the right choice coming out to find her, like an ancient mariner coming to a safe haven.
Michael's memory
The novel is filled with moments of Michael going back in time in his memories, remembering the time with his wife and even before when he was a child. These moments are so intense that he feels as if they've taken over his senses completely, that he was taking a bath in them, with time slowing and sounds silencing.
A flower plucked from native soil
It's clear that all of Falke's women feel betrayed and manipulated by him to leave their lives completely behind to live with, to live for him. Hanna is no exception, and she is fueled by revenge, which explains her maliciousness. She believes herself to be a plucked flower plucked from native soil and left to whither in a hopeless desert.
