Inattentive (Metaphor)
As soon as Alice understood that her family differed from the rest, she started thinking about them as weirdos. Wishing desperately for them to be just like the rest, the normal families she was sure her friends had, she “heard my parents in one ear”. Being sure that almost everything they said was weird, she just preferred not to pay attention.
Unconvincing (Metaphor)
Like any other child, Alice wanted her family to be the best, loving, caring and happy. However, she always knew that there was something wrong. Once, before her father left to Spain, she asked him to kiss the mother. It was supposed to testify that they were a normal pair. The kiss “didn’t do the job”, but “it opened the door” for Alice, for that was the moment, when she understood that her parents were not happy together. It made her wonder.
Lack of family warmth (Metaphor)
Alice craved for attention and physical contacts such as hugs, goodnight kisses and so on. The only problem was that everyone in her family seemed not to need that at all. They just shut themselves in their rooms and read books all the time. The only “soft things in my life were our dogs”. Unlike her family members, they were always happy to be hugged and gave her that warmth which others were unable to give.
Frozen with fear (Simile)
When Alice was attacked, she was shocked. As soon as she understood that her assaulter was stronger and faster than she was, her main goal was to survive. He gave her order what to do, but even the simplest movements became extremely difficult to perform. Her limbs were “like a plastic Barbie’s”, seized with fear, it seemed to her that her hands and legs were “inflexible”. She was just like a plastic doll.
Distracted (Simile)
The state Alice was in after rape was frightening, she was “like a stroke victim”. She heard people talking, laughing, felt spring air and people’s stares, but she couldn’t respond. It seemed that she was locked inside her own body. Just like the stroke victim, she didn’t have the full control over her body.
Exhausted (Simile)
After the doctor finished the examination, Alice was allowed to take a shower. Only then she understood how much exhausted she was. She walked like “a wobbly old lady”, whose limbs were trembling to such an extent that she needed someone to steady her and prevent her from falling.
