“Together we could be so strong, but the gun has made us individuals.”
The story takes place during the school shooting and the events that precede it and ensue after the tragedy. It focuses on the emotional and mental state of key characters in the auditorium during the shooting. As a result, it exhibits how individuals react in a terrifying situation that threatens their lives. The dread that Tyler has brought in by wielding a gun at his schoolmates renders everyone into flight and not fight mode. In consequence, the quotation refers to the incapacitated students overwhelmed by terror who feel alone even if they all together in the situation.
“Grief is one big, gaping hole, isn’t it? It’s everywhere and all consuming. Some days you think you can’t go on because the only thing waiting for you is more despair. Some days you don’t want to go on because it’s easier to give up than to get hurt again.”
Amid the students held at gunpoint in the auditorium Tyler’s sister Autumn and her girlfriend, Sylv feel obligated to talk down Tyler. Consequently, the statement made by Sylv is her attempt at putting things into perspective for Tyler to realize the big mistake he is about to do. Prior to the school shooting, Tyler and his family go through a tragedy with Tyler broken down by grief since his mother’s death. Things spiral down as his relationship with Autumn further weakens whilst exasperated by the actions of the people around him. Thus, illustrates grief is a major contributing factor to Tyler’s mental breakdown which Sylv tries to use to relate with him.
“We're more than our mistakes. We're more than what people expect of us.”
Each key character runs down his or her version of events prior, during, and after the school shooting. Claire gives her accounts that includes interactions with others within her social circle and how certain words and events add up to Tyler’s actions. It alludes to the major message in the narrative of that past actions and other’s opinions do not really define us. Even though those forces feel like they are the determinants of our reactions or personality. However, Tyler falls victim to this, as the opinions of others of him make him spiral to gun violence against his schoolmates and friends.
