My throat was like a fist tightening.
The narrator compares the pain of losing her mother to a twisted throat. The narrator says, "Silence for a long time. My throat was like a fist tightening." Despite the disconnect between the narrator and her mother, she experiences a new wave of pain she has never experienced because she has no chance to reconnect with her mother. The narrator's mother dies in an accident when she falls on the rocks below the ocean.
It tasted like a cold, bitter plum.
The first time Mirabelle tastes a Russian liqueur, she compares its taste to a bitter plum. Mirabelle says, "A bottle of Russian liqueur was brought to my lips. It tasted like cold, bitter plums." The simile is significant because it shows that Mirabelle is not a reveler who enjoys taking alcoholic drinks. Mirabelle likes caring for her skin and watching YouTube videos when free.
A light at the end of a very long tunnel
Mirabelle likens a nervous customer at the shop to a light at the end of a long tunnel. When Mirabelle senses that the customer is confused and does not know exactly what she is looking for, Mirabelle asks, "Please, I said, walking toward this customer like they were a light at the end of a very long tunnel." The simile is paramount because it shows Mirabelle’s kindness and willingness to help people in difficult situations.
