"The Telltale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe

Note: This essay was written by H. Amy, a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University, in 2023.

Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting narrative, “The Tell-Tale Heart” has long been celebrated for its ability to delve into the depths of the human psyche. The timeless narrative is chilling upon first glance and might seem far removed from the realm of therapy. However, the story sheds light on the inner workings of the human mind with a tale of obsession, paranoia, murder and provides readers with an opportunity to address their own inner emotional struggles. “The Tell-Tale Heart” openly explores the complexities of the human psyche, helping readers with obsessions and anxiety in addressing their own challenges. 

In the beginning of the narrative, the main character vividly portrays a descent into madness by showing the psychological effects of obsessions and paranoia. The main character has an obsession over the other main character, an old man, who has an eye that “resembled that of a vulture – a pale blue eye, with a film over it (p.1118).” The main character wants to kill the old man because of his obsession with the vulture-like eye, which he finds unsettling and evil. The obsession with the eye causes him to become irrational and it consumes his thoughts. When readers with their own obsessions encounter the main character’s obsession over the vulture eye, they may feel a sense of identification and validation. Seeing the main character struggle with similar thoughts and emotions can make readers with obsessions and anxiety feel less isolated and abnormal in their own personal experiences.
In addition, the fixation of the vulture eye exemplifies how unchecked obsessions can lead to irrational behavior. The narrator goes to great lengths to watch the old man sleep, showing his fixation on the vulture eye. In the narrative, the main character explains how he “moved in slowly – very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man’s sleep.... I undid the lantern cautiously – oh, so cautiously – cautiously (for the hinges creaked) – I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye” (p.1118). This moment shows irrational behavior in the main character as it invades the old man’s privacy to feed the narrator’s obsession. Readers with obsessions can use this moment in the story to gain a new perspective on their own obsessions and can help them step back and view their thoughts and feelings from a more objective standpoint, potentially reducing the intensity of their obsessions in a positive way. In addition, this can allow the readers with obsessions and anxiety to process their own emotional pressure associated with their obsessions in a safe environment.

In the ending of the “The Tell-Tale Heart,” the narrator does indeed experience guilt and anxiety over the murder of the old man that reveals the severe mental suffering of his guilty conscience. Initially, the narrator is fixated on the old man’s vulture eye leading him to murder the old man. The narrator explains how the heart sound he heard “grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant” (P.1120). In the final paragraph, the narrator explains how he buried the old man under the floorboard. Three police officers shortly arrive afterwards when a neighbor hears a shriek coming from the house. The police officers then make conversation to the main character, standing where the old man is buried under the floorboard. The main character describes how he begins to grow “very pale” and a begins to have a “fancied ringing” in his ears. In the ending, the narrator finally tears up the planks revealing the old man he murdered. In this moment, the beating heart and the ringing in his hears becomes a relentless reminder of the narrator’s guilt and inability to escape the consequences of murdering the old man. It symbolizes the moral and emotional weight he carries after the murder. Readers with obsessions and anxiety can relate to the emotional guilt through reading this moment in the story, and in doing so, may find motivation to confront their own feelings of guilt and anxiety. The narrator’s intense guilt and anxiety can normalize the experience for readers who experience these traits and help them understand that feeling guilt and anxiety is a common human emotion, and they are not alone in struggling with it. Readers having awareness of their similar struggles can reflect on the potential outcomes of their own actions and motivate themselves to make positive changes in their life.

In conclusion, while “The Tell-Tale Heart” is undoubtedly a chilling and suspenseful murder story, it offers readers a unique opportunity for therapeutic exploration. Edgar Allan Poe’s masterful narrative delves into the depths of human obsession, paranoia, guilt, and anxiety within the main character, which provides a reflection of the complexity of the human psyche. The story portrays unchecked obsessions and anxieties that individuals may manage daily. For readers, the chilling narrative can serve as a cautionary example, encouraging self-reflection and understanding of the consequences of unmanaged obsessions and anxieties. It can also foster empathy, identification, and a sense of connection assuring those who struggle are not alone in their own experiences. Ultimately, “The Tell-Tale Heart” may be suspenseful, but it can be an unexpected source of therapeutic insight for those navigating the complexities of their own inner turmoil. 

“Can My Son Get More Worksheets Before The World Ends?” by Jeremy Blachman

Written by a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in the Spring of 2020

At a time when tensions are running high and whether one can get food, clean water, or toilet paper is uncertain, Jeremy Blachman’s “Can My Son Get More Worksheets Before The World Ends?” will give a person the stress relief they’ve been looking for. This brilliant piece, with its dark humor and relatability, can help lighten a parent’s dark days stuck inside their home due to the coronavirus.

The story is disguised as a letter from Bobby’s parent to a teacher, clearly using sarcasm and stark comparisons to show that there are bigger things to worry about these days besides vocabulary terms and multiplying fractions. The opening paragraph clearly illustrates this. “While I’m sure you’re busy stockpiling food and medicine, protecting your own family, and coping with the impending end of civilization as we know it, I wanted to ask — can you please send my son some more worksheets so that he doesn’t fall behind grade-level standards?” Where Bobby’s teacher is concerned about dioramas and if the boy can identify passive voice in a piece of nonfiction, his father is concerned with whether they can ever go outside again, bunkers, and pretty much the end of civilization as we know it. In lieu of watching for fever breaks and an ease of breathing, Blachman waits patiently for individualized assignments and worksheets on types of rocks. In different contexts, all of these worries are important. But when Blachman puts topics such as being in the highest reading group for one’s age and heading to the afterlife from a painful death side by side, the absurdity of thinking they are equally important is so ridiculous one has to laugh.

Blachman’s letter is also very relatable as the entire world is going through this ordeal. Parents of grade school children in particular will empathize with Bobby’s father and get a good chuckle poking fun at the bombardment of school assignments on superficial topics. Many parents have their own gripes as stories of taping their kids running for P.E. or doing martial arts (yes, martial arts) are now a regular part of their lives. They have other concerns, including whether or not they are still employed or still have insurance after being laid off. “We’re still waiting for a grade on my son’s poem about the start of spring as well, so if you can get to that before the financial system completes its epic collapse, that would be appreciated.” Will they have to start from the beginning once they seek new employment? Will anyone in the family get sick? If there are family members with illness, the extra tasks of helping a child manage schoolwork can get in the way of seeking the care the family needs. Any teachers reading this will have a unique perspective as the enforcers of their student’s education. They want their pupils to be well-rounded, educated people, but they may have to juggle caring for their own families and creating new curriculums on the fly as requested by their employers. Or they might be parents themselves and completely understand where Blachman is coming from, sharing in the irritation of managing their own child’s education and getting a kick out of the narrative.

Blachman’s well-written letter will make the saltiest parent laugh out loud at the state of these interesting times. It may even make the strictest teacher look at themselves and ask “Is it me?” Every line is carefully crafted to offer humor with a dose of reality. Dripping with sarcasm in the face of all this craziness, it offers up the best medicine to counteract the blues: laughter.

"Audio Tour" by Patricia Marx

Note: This post was written by a student in the spring of 2019.

Whether a story transports a reader to a fantastical world, distills the essence of the real world into a mirror reflection, or conforms to whatever parallel realities lie between, stories have a unique ability to calm us, enrich us, and excite us.  These different avenues can be a source of much needed strength or catharsis. The story “Audio Tour” by Patricia Marx is a strong example of how stories can have therapeutic value. That value lies in “Audio Tour’s” relatability, sense of humor, and strong main character.

“Audio Tour” is, at its base, about the main character, Debby, and her internal struggle with a breakup. She faces off against feelings of betrayal and frustration while going through her ex’s apartment and finding small evidences of his daily treacheries. As she puts it after finding out that her ex hadn’t really gone skiing like he told her, “Once again, Todd Niesle proves himself to be a master at creating a scenario that elicits powerful emotions, such as hatred and disgust.” Those negative feelings are relatable to people who have gone through similar relationships and break ups. The relatability allows readers to feel like they have a companion who also acts as a source of empathy. The reader can see themselves reflected in this story and know that they aren’t alone in the feelings they are going through. This would help negate the loneliness and shock that often comes with such breakups like those involving dishonest partners.

Also, for someone going through such a rough time, the humor portrayed in “Audio Tour” could help lighten a reader’s mood. Even the format of the story is a quirky and humorous take on writing. Debby acts as though she is recording an audio tour for a museum, taking little jabs here and there at the other characters in the story. Debby walks through the house with a sarcastic air and dry commentary that gives every small detail its own unique and funny backstory. For instance, in this scene:

“See the Krups espresso maker? I, Debby, gave him that. It cost two hundred and forty-nine dollars, not including tax. You know what his gift to me, Debby, for my birthday was? A colander. You will observe that Todd Niesle's apartment has no gift shop. Correction: You are standing in the gift shop. Take the espresso maker.”

These little jokes, especially to someone who can relate to Debby’s situation, could help the reader allow themselves to laugh at their own situation. Debby is obviously not happy about what happened in her relationship; she’s frustrated. Readers that are coming out of similar relationships would often feel the same way, but Debby is able to keep her sense of humor and not take herself too seriously. This allows struggling readers to see that, while they are going through pain, it’s still possible to enjoy the little things, and it doesn’t invalidate their suffering to do so.

Debby does more than give the reader permission to laugh through a bad situation, however. She may not be a hero, but the way she deals with the breakup could be cathartic to people who aren’t able to release their frustration, by basically living vicariously through this strong character. Not everyone would go through their ex’s apartment when they aren’t there, go through their stuff, and take back items. She even pranks him a little bit, “…if you enjoyed yourself, call Todd Niesle and tell him so. His number is 212-399-4838 and he can be reached at 3 a.m. He likes pizza, ten pies at a time, and Rizzo's delivers.” These behaviors are decidedly destructive. However, by putting themselves in Debby’s mind and reading about her actions, it can feel to the reader that they’ve already done the things that Debby has already done. This helps eliminate the need to do it in real life but still allows them some relief through fiction.

Stories are excellent vessels of therapeutic value; the right story matched with the person who needs it can make a huge difference. “Audio Tour” is a good example of how a specific story can help people who relate to it, not only by virtue of its relatability, but also through alternate pathways like humor and the actions of a strong character.

"An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonald's Playplace" by Sarah Satterlee

Note: This post was written by a student in the spring of 2019.

Sarah Satterlee’s short story “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place”, is a perfect example of bibliotherapy for anyone who is a parent and or works in the childcare field. “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place” is a humorous tale of an exhausted mother watching her child at a McDonalds’ play area who is ecstatic when she meets another mother to whom she can express the annoyances of parenthood. Satterlee’s short story captures the reader’s attention with its imitative stylistic choice of letter formatting,  entertains the reader with sarcastic and humorous descriptions of parenthood, and its cathartic nature evokes relatable reassurance that every parent craves from time to time.

The story starts off with “Dear Like-Minded Mom”; this rare imitative thank you letter format captures the reader’s attention by pretending that the story is actually a letter. Not only does this unique format capture the reader’s attention but it also makes the story even more relatable. I find Satterlee’s short story relatable on a personal level. As someone who works with children on a daily basis and nannies overnight I find myself relating to how the main character, Sarah, feels. I can easily put myself in Sarah’s shoes. There have been many situations where I have been thankful for even the smallest conversation with someone. I will find myself in line at Target not wanting to end my conversation with the cashier because I am so desperate for communication with someone over the age of five.

Satterlee’s story is full of sarcastic dry humor. She compares play areas and parenthood to hell. For example, “Most parents won’t even make eye contact as they yell for their children, tip milkshakes into their mouths, and force-feed them wilted, yellow fries. Finish them before you play, shouts the guilt-soaked parental chorus. It’s the one consistent rule we stick to here in hell”. I believe that most parents or childcare workers will find that the sarcastic humor of the story is relatable in and of itself. Sometimes parenthood is a love hate relationship, and this story captures that reality very well. Parenthood is not all playing catch outside, cuddling on the couch, and giggles; it is also full of tantrums, drawing on the walls, and poopy diapers. In this story the main character, Sarah, is thankful that she found a like-minded mother she can talk to and someone she can vent to which is essential, in my opinion, to surviving parenthood.

Satterlee’s story is relatable in many ways; however the most important way is in its relatable reassurance. Children are exhausting and you feel like you are the rope in a game of tug of war. The parent or care giver’s wants are pushed to the back burner and the needs of the child are at the forefront. For example, “I want to read and travel and explore have a career and be a good mother and never have to walk through the doors of this place where a plastic Ronald McDonald waves at me with his frightening-yet-enticing sodium smile. There has to be something more. You aren’t the only one who feels this way. I’m with you”. This story truly captures the wants, thoughts, and fears that I believe cross many parents’ minds when parenting is at its most challenging points. “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place”, is therapeutic in its relatable reassurance. This story can put a parent’s mind at ease by reminding them that they are not alone and parenting is exhausting. I believe that this story touches on the point that parents always wonder if they are doing it right, and this story has that relatable reassurance that parents need from time to time.  

In conclusion, Satterlee’s short story, “An Open Letter to the Like-Minded Mom at the McDonalds’ Play Place,” is bibliotherapy at its finest. This story is relatable and comforting to anyone who has children or cares for them.

"The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien

Note: This post was written by a student in the spring of 2019. 

               Hundreds of thousands of men and women undergo the struggles that follow after serving their country every day: anxiety, fear, and, worst of all, guilt. It seems almost unavoidable that the consequences of being active in war are either death or life-long trauma. If soldiers just so happen to make it out of war alive, they are haunted by the experiences they had, often with the idea that they are the only ones who endured the horrors. This isolation and sense of being alone takes a significant toll on those soldiers as well as their loved ones, which in turn leads to a need for professional help from therapists. It is common for therapy to utilize fictional stories for their therapeutic potential. The therapeutic potential of fiction writing is seen in its ability to help people come to terms with their issues, see themselves in a different light, or even realize a different way in which they can deal with struggles in life. “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien is a great example. It vividly shows readers the weight and fear active soldiers carried through war. Targeting an audience of former soldiers, this short story highlights the loss, dread, and hardships experienced in war, which potentially allows veterans to come to terms with their pasts in knowing that they are not alone.

Throughout the story, readers can both see and feel the wedge between relationships that is created while being away at war that many people today may struggle with. We see this most specifically when Martha writes to Lieutenant Cross, giving him a pebble. The short story says, “But he wondered what her truest feelings were, exactly, and what she meant by separate-but-together,” in her letter.   Many may suffer from broken relationships due to the effects of war on soldiers’ psyche or may even suffer from long lost love. This is seen in Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s love for Martha and his unrelenting daydreams about her that will probably never be fulfilled. I believe this aspect of the story would tug on the hearts of many who served and understand the loss felt in terms of relationships. Many people probably don’t want their relationships to suffer due to their experiences on duty, but they do. Often, built up fears and anxieties cause people to externalize their emotions and project them onto others in their lives. Instead of dealing with those emotions in a healthy manner, people like veterans may lash out or even put up walls in an attempt to cope. This story could aid as a call-to-action for former soldiers to not let what they have now in life fall apart, or to also accept the relationships that didn’t last due to war and heal from it.

The great depth of detail and hardship seen in “humping” through the wilderness—“…pocket knives, heat tabs, wrist watches, dog tags…”, “…seven ounces of premium dope…”, and “…a .45 caliber pistol that weighed 2.0 pound fully loaded…”—also may serve as a source of connection and comfort in former soldiers. O’Brien gets into specifics and lists anything from bombs to drugs to ease the anxieties of certain soldiers. If anyone knows this feeling, it would be the story’s targeted audience. Rereading something like this could possibly allow the veterans to relive that moment in their lives with an understanding that they aren’t alone. They weren’t the only ones struggling with the fear and not  being allowed to express it. They weren’t the only ones trudging along with anticipation of attack at any moment. This story could greatly provide them with a means of catharsis, or relief and release from their repressed emotions they may have never known they had.

What makes this story especially therapeutic is the death of a soldier due to Lieutenant Cross’s loss of focus. I feel like the Lieutenant’s experience would allow other people to connect with and acknowledge their guilt for friends and/or fellow soldiers they may have lost in war. It was Lieutenant’s flaw, his deep desire for Martha, that allowed him to put his guard down, and he suffered for it. “No more fantasies, he told himself.” He decided to “shut down the daydreams,” and his entire demeanor changed. Cross’s priorities changed especially, which was to put his men first and put everything else in his life to the side. This change experienced by the Lieutenant most likely has been experienced by all who have had the responsibility of other lives in their hands. Reading this may allow those former soldiers to come to grips with who they are now and the pain they suffered along the way. They would be able to identify with Lieutenant Cross and come to accept the experiences they had. These details and specifics, even the instance of the young dead boy in the ditch, would allow them to become even closer with the short story.

I feel as though the target audience will have great appreciation for Tim O’Brien’s ability to grasp the grotesque and cruel nature of war that they must carry with them for the rest of their lives.

"How to Become a Writer" by Lorrie Moore

Note: This post was written by a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady in the spring of 2018.

One of the most powerful aspects of fiction is its therapeutic potential. Fiction provides the opportunity to empathize with characters or the events in the story and writers have the power to inspire and empower their audiences through empathy and comfort conveyed in their work by creating a unique experience individual to each reader. This therapeutic use of stories, known as bibliotherapy, can help individuals struggling to heal or who are encountering adversity. An example of a short story that is therapeutic is “How to Become a Writer” by Lorrie Moore because it renders a realistic depiction of college. “How to Become a Writer” counters the idyllic portrayal of college in movies, books, and the media. This story chronicles the harrowing struggle of a child psychology major named Francine to retain her identity and passion for writing despite having her dreams berated by her loved ones and peers who also have similar professional goals. This story is therapeutic to individuals who may be struggling with vocational discernment and encountering disappointments and failures along the journey of self-discovery. The strong therapeutic aspects of “How to Become a Writer” are an excellent example of the struggle between vocational discernment and identity. By reconciling these two components with society and through authenticity of the protagonist, Francine, Moore provides catharsis to her audience.  The end result is a therapeutic story that can provide empowerment and inspiration to those struggling with vocational discernment, disappointments and failures, and identity.

Francine struggles to discern her vocation as a child psychology major because she wants to be a writer. This is a dilemma some college students face when trying to find a passion that can be turned into an occupation or, in Francine’s case, trying to find an occupation that overlaps with a passion. Discouraged by her parents, Francine becomes a childhood psychology major, and she continues to fuel her passion by writing during nighttime. A clever innovation of Lorrie Moore’s writing that makes this aspect of ‘How to Become a Writer” even more relatable is the second person narration of the story, like a ‘how to’ guide for struggling college students. This instantly establishes a connection with the reader. For example, Moore writes, “The only happiness you find is in writing something new in the middle of the night, armpits damp heart pounding, something no one has yet seen. You have only those brief, fragile, untested moments of exhilaration when you know: you are a genius. Understand what you must do. Switch majors. The kids in your nursery project will be disappointed, but you have a calling, an urge, a delusion, an unfortunate habit.” The emotions described exemplify the invigorating experience a person feels when living his or her passion, whether in the context of a hobby or profession. What makes this passage so empowering is the fact that it provides an immersive experience for the reader. Through the use of second person, the emotions are not just Francine’s emotions; rather, they become the reader’s emotions. This can inspire a college student or any individual to pursue his/her calling by reminding him/her of the immeasurable joy that stems from living one’s vocation.

A second therapeutic trait of “How to Become a Writer” is the empathy Moore conveyed through Francine, who is vulnerable yet tenacious in her pursuit of writing. This incongruous mixture is representative of the qualities of the stage of life in early adulthood when most college-aged adults are forging their own identities amongst a tsunami of doubt, derision, and failures. Francine struggles to be understood by her family and even by her peers in creative writing classes. When sharing her stories, she faces harsh criticism from her peers who “felt sorry for her” and called her sense of plot “outrageous and incompetent” and “crazy.” Initially, like many longing to fit in, Francine “looks hopefully at the class hopefully as they scour mimeographs for plot, look back up, drag deeply and then smile in a sweet sort of way.” Facing disappointment from strangers is tough enough, but Francine even faces disappointment from her own mother, who reluctantly buys a baby name book Francine asked for, shaking her head and saying “Francie, remember when you wanted to be a child psychology major.”  Francine is also misunderstood by her roommates who tell people at parties “She just writes about her dumb boyfriend.” While this isolation is a common rite of passage, it is therapeutic because readers may be able to find themselves reflected in Francine or their struggles aligned with hers as they encounter devastating disappointments such as rejection or failure, which are common when navigating early adulthood. However, Francine, despite her failures and the derision she encounters, remains authentic, proudly sharing her ideas and jokes with her roommate, even when she is rewarded with blank stares. Failure is a common fear, and for some people, can be more terrifying than death. However, Francine encounters failures multiple times when reception to her writing, ideas, or personality is ambivalent at best. She rises from her own ashes constantly because she continues to persist. In the end, despite the failures she experiences, she is successful because she continues to write and does not allow others to define her worth or success. Observing this pattern of repeated “failures” can paradoxically be comforting to readers and encourage them to embrace both failure and success since these two elements are intertwined. Francine’s persistence can encourage readers, whether the struggling artist or the undeclared college major or the closet writer, to pursue their passions and embrace the parts of their identity they tuck away out of fear of the same kind of backlash Francine endures.

A strategy employed by Moore is representing several stages of life to demonstrate the importance of awareness and acceptance of identity. These phases of life bring new revelations and adversities, but the one constant is Francine’s strength and decision to retain her identity. “How to Become a Writer” acknowledges that “From here on, many things can happen. Somehow you end up writing again. Perhaps you go on to graduate school. Perhaps you work odd jobs and take writing courses. Perhaps you are losing your pals, your acquaintances, your balance.” This elaborates on the previous theme of the inevitability of defeat, but also emphasizes the beautiful paradox of “How to Become a Writer.” Even when Francine loses “pals, acquaintances, and balance”, she still has the most important element necessary to succeed and survive in the world: her identity. Despite all the adversity Francine continually endures, her identity remains intact. Francine’s ability to adhere to her authentic identity can be therapeutic because it reminds the audience of the value of inner resilience that originates from self-acceptance. Most people experience an identity crisis and must reconcile their identity with their passions or vocation while fitting these two facets into the context of their relationships and society at large.

“How to Become a Writer” demonstrates the therapeutic capacity of fiction. Notable therapeutic traits of “How to Become a Writer” include Francine’s struggles with vocational discernment, failure, and her awareness and acceptance of self-identity independent of family, friends, peers, and society. These struggles are universal, especially in young and early adulthood; therefore, individuals in college or those in their early adult years may find “How to Become a Writer” relatable and cathartic. They can find strength, inspiration, and empowerment in Francine’s unwavering commitment to her calling of being a writer while managing to retain her identity in the midst of failure, rejection, and estrangement from peers. The gritty recounting of Francine’s struggles may allow readers to see themselves and their struggles reflected in her. As a result, the empathy conveyed through Francine can be therapeutic to individuals and encourage them to persevere in their own vocational pursuits, not succumb to failure, and to embrace their identity authentically.

"Slow" by Joyce Carol Oates

Note: This post was written by a student at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University in the spring of 2018.

Slow is a comforting short story that gives the reader the sense that they are not alone. I believe that everyone fears that there will be a day that they find out their significant other has done something to betray them, and this story proves that. It is therapeutic for someone who is going through something similar to this to read Slow so that they can realize that they aren’t actually alone. The story shows a woman who is surprised to see her husband home at a different time than normal. He parks his car in an odd place and as the story goes on, there are so many things happening out of the ordinary that the woman is overcome by the feeling that something is wrong.

The story gave me the feeling that the husband may have possibly cheated on is wife and he has returned home ashamed at what he had done. I hear about couples breaking up or getting a divorce fairly often. And in thinking about that, I realized that in those difficult times, many people probably feel extremely alone. They may feel as if they are the only ones going through something like that, or that they have no one to turn to because there isn’t anyone who would understand how they are feeling. This story can be therapeutic for someone going through those difficult times because they could feel a connection through the descriptive words the author uses and the emotions that radiate throughout the story. “.. and the next wrong thing of course is that he’s leaning forward with his arms around the wheel and his head on his arms, his shoulders are shaking and she sees that he is crying… he is in fact sobbing… and in that instant she know that their life will be split in two..”. I believe this piece from the story shows the emotion that the woman was feeling, the unknown answers to the questions that were racing through her mind, and the feeling of fright and loneliness; all emotions that another individual in a similar situation could be experiencing.

“Slow” projects the suspenseful emotions behind finding out you’ve been cheated on or betrayed in some type of way. It’s very difficult for someone to imagine those feelings if they have never been through something similar before, therefore, making it difficult for some people to show support to their loved ones that are in need of it most. This story is a great turn-to for someone looking to be comforted by the fact that they aren’t alone in the madness they are experiencing. When faced with such an emotional heartbreak, you need to know that it is okay to be afraid, to be scared, and to feel as though everything is crashing down all at once. But what this simple story does is that it gives those individuals the comfort that they may need to process their own emotions, and to realize that they aren’t the only ones experiencing their pain.