If These Wings Could Fly
Chapter Seventy-One
by McCauley, KyrieIn this poignant chapter, the narrator reflects on a harrowing night marked by violence and survival. The narrative opens with a chilling acknowledgment of an alternate reality where another version of Leighton Barnes does not live to see the dawn. This parallel universe serves as a stark contrast to the narrator’s own experience, where a bullet narrowly misses causing fatal harm. The tension is palpable as the narrator feels the closeness of death, sensing the wild, caged emotion within still beating strong despite the threat.
The chapter delves into the physical and symbolic impact of violence as the bullet grazes the narrator’s ribs and embeds itself in the walls of their home. This house is portrayed as a vessel of anger, housing not just the physical remnants of aggression—broken glass, shattered vases, cracked plaster—but also the intangible weight of rage that has been embedded into its very structure. The imagery conveys a living, breathing entity shaped by pain and fear, emphasizing the deep scars left by the violent presence it conceals.
As the narrative progresses, the house itself seems to resist damage, with the bullet falling out and the wall repairing itself as if animated by a dark magic. This supernatural element adds a layer of complexity, suggesting that the environment is complicit in perpetuating the cycle of violence. The house’s ability to “fix” the violence inflicted upon it symbolizes an unyielding force that traps the inhabitants in a state of ongoing danger and unrest, highlighting the persistent threat they face.
Ultimately, the chapter closes on a note of unresolved tension, underscoring that the night—and the danger within it—has not ended. The narrator’s realization that safety remains elusive, whether from the violent individual, the haunted house, or its mysterious power, leaves the reader with a lingering sense of unease. This ending reinforces the chapter’s themes of survival, the omnipresence of violence, and the haunting persistence of trauma within both the physical and emotional landscapes.
FAQs
1. How does the narrator describe the significance of the bullet that narrowly misses her, and what does it symbolize in the context of the chapter?
Answer:
The narrator describes the bullet as a near-fatal threat that “skims across my ribs” without causing physical harm, symbolizing a moment of survival amid violence. It embodies the danger lurking within the house and the presence of a violent force that could have ended her life. The bullet’s trajectory, missing her but embedding itself in the wall, reflects the house’s role as a container or witness to violence. It symbolizes the physical and emotional scars embedded in the home’s foundation—”a house built by anger”—and the ongoing threat that violence and rage pose to the narrator’s safety.2. What role does the house play in the chapter, and how is it characterized in relation to the narrator’s experience?
Answer:
The house is portrayed as a living entity haunted by violence and anger. It is described as having “dark insides” and a “strange, dark magic,” suggesting it is not just a physical space but a symbol of the emotional and psychological trauma experienced by the narrator. The house “fixing his violence again” by the wall moving and the plaster reassembling implies it absorbs and conceals the violent acts, making it a repository of pain and rage. This characterization highlights how the environment reflects and perpetuates the cycle of violence, emphasizing the narrator’s entrapment within this toxic space.3. Analyze the significance of the parallel universe mentioned at the beginning of the chapter. How does this concept deepen the reader’s understanding of the narrator’s situation?
Answer:
The parallel universe serves as a haunting contrast, illustrating a reality where “some other Leighton Barnes does not survive this night.” This concept introduces the fragility of the narrator’s survival and the randomness of fate. By imagining a version of herself that succumbs to violence, the narrative deepens the tension and underscores the precariousness of her existence. It also externalizes the narrator’s internal struggle, emphasizing the emotional weight she carries as she lives in a world shadowed by potential death and trauma. This parallel reality enriches the reader’s empathy and understanding of the stakes involved.4. How does the imagery of broken glass, shattered frames, and cracked plaster contribute to the themes of the chapter?
Answer:
The imagery of broken glass, shattered frames, and cracked plaster vividly illustrates the physical manifestation of the underlying emotional and psychological damage within the house. These broken objects symbolize fractured safety, disrupted peace, and the pervasive impact of violence. The recurring references to damage and repair—such as the wall moving and dust settling—reflect the cyclical nature of harm and attempted healing. This imagery reinforces the theme of a home that is not a sanctuary but a battleground shaped by rage and fear, highlighting the permanence of trauma embedded in the narrator’s environment.5. Considering the chapter’s portrayal of violence and its aftermath, how might the narrator’s experience inform real-world discussions about the impact of domestic violence on individuals and their environments?
Answer:
The chapter poignantly illustrates how domestic violence extends beyond physical harm to affect the mental state of individuals and the very spaces they inhabit. The house, as a metaphor for emotional entrapment and ongoing danger, reflects how violence can permeate a person’s life and surroundings, often leaving invisible scars. This portrayal can inform real-world discussions by emphasizing the complexity of trauma, the difficulty of feeling safe even after immediate threats subside, and the importance of addressing both physical and psychological consequences. It underscores the need for supportive interventions that recognize the lingering presence of violence in victims’ lives and environments.
Quotes
1. “SOME OTHER LEIGHTON BARNES DOES NOT survive this night. In a parallel universe, it is the end of the night, and the end of the year, and the end of her. I feel the truth of it in my chest, where the wild, caged thing is still living.”
This opening quote introduces the theme of survival and alternate realities, emphasizing the precariousness of the narrator’s existence and the emotional weight carried within. It sets the tone for the chapter’s exploration of life, death, and resilience.
2. “This house that hides his violence.”
This succinct yet powerful statement encapsulates the chapter’s central metaphor: the physical and emotional environment as a vessel for hidden trauma and aggression. It reveals how violence is embedded not just in people but in spaces that bear witness to it.
3. “The kind of rage that pulses like a living thing and was poured into the concrete, nailed into the wooden beams that form the foundation—down deep in its guts. A house haunted by the things it refuses to let go of.”
Here, the author personifies the house’s structure as a repository of deep-seated anger and unresolved pain, illustrating how violence and trauma can become ingrained and almost animate. This quote captures the chapter’s exploration of inherited and environmental trauma.
4. “And it’s this—the house fixing his violence again—that makes me realize we still aren’t safe. From him or this house or its strange, dark magic.”
This concluding reflection reveals an unsettling realization that the cycle of violence and danger is ongoing, not just from the person but from the very environment itself. It underscores the chapter’s climax and the persistent threat looming over the narrator.