Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses self-harm and physical abuse.

As Tully begins writing her memoir, she turns to the boxes of mementos and items from her past to provide material on which to write about. She tries on more than one occasion to view the items she has stored but cannot. Confronting the memories and reminders of her past is too painful. That Tully has locked away these tangible items in a storage room which she never visits is symbolic of the way in which she has locked away her painful memories, refusing to think about or dwell on her past. That she believes she can successfully ignore her past and the way that it has harmed her by not “looking at it” demonstrates the way Tully denies how difficult such pain is to handle on her own.

It is only when Dorothy, who has successfully confronted and made peace with her own past, digs through the mementos while Tully is comatose, that the process of Tully’s reconciling her pain can begin. Tully’s severed relationship from Dorothy, in truth, is central to these items, and that Dorothy is not only present for Tully’s encountering these items, but initiates it, is an important indication that Dorothy loves Tully and seeks Tully’s forgiveness.