Do you think Lily’s fate would have been different if Bear went? Or would this outcome have always worked itself into existence?
Do you think Bear has the right to expect something different from Lily?
Why do you think Bear was so negligent with the stuff he shared with Lily, while Lily was compulsive in keeping everything they did together and that Bear sent?
Lily’s life has clearly been shaped by her experience. Why do you think Bear struggles to empathize with her?
What does freedom mean to you? Bear shares his experience with freedom and how it has shifted. Has your idea of freedom also shifted with time?
How do you think freedom has shifted for Cora across the three different boys and the various timelines?
Bear makes the decision to settle down in London but Lily, rightfully so, has her doubts. What do you think of how he proves it to her?
Do you think Cora’s trauma makes her slightly self-absorbed?
Do you think, based on the pervious two chapters (2007 Gordon & 2015 Bear), Julian and Maia really do keep Silhbe young?
What do you think of the contrast between 2015 Julian’s chapter and the dilemma that Cora faced when naming Julian?
Do you think that Julian should feel compelled to tell potential love interests about his father?
What do you think of the story about how Orla and Julian got together? Was it the right move for Orla to wait so that Julian could shift how he thought about himself?
In the other two storylines, Maia sees other women. While she is not in the open with her relationship to Kate in the Gordon timeline, she is still comfortable enough to be in the relationship. Why do you think Maia doesn’t feel safe to do it in the Julian storyline?
Are you shocked to see Cora has returned to Gordon Snr.?
What do you think of Gordon’s threat to place Cora in the retirement homes dementia ward?
2015 Gordon seems to be different. What do you think of this? When we first interact with him the chapter, it seems as though he is remorseful.
Do you think Gordon Jnr.’s father consumed him?
9 responses to “The Names – Day Five”
-
There’s no way to know for sure, but I think what happened to Lily might have been delayed if Bear had texted her back. If he’d have gone with, they both would’ve been injured (like the colleague who Lily gave the tickets to, who was seriously injured).
I believe in second chances, so yes. But I also think a lot of this could’ve been avoided if the two of them had had these serious conversations about what they are and what they mean to each other sooner. It seemed like Lily was investing more in the relationship than Bear was, but I think it’s cool that he’s proving how committed he is to working things out and being there for Lily now that she’s given them a second chance.
His experiences differed a lot from hers, and they seemed to have a long distance relationship. I think he probably cancelled plans with her often, so he didn’t get to encounter the Lily that was shaped by her experiences. The Lily he one knew when they interacted all the time and the Lily that he knows now are not the same. That and he wasn’t there for the Paris attacks, so he doesn’t know what it felt like not how her recovery feels like because he hasn’t gone through anything similar.
Freedom goes hand in hand with independence for me. My views of it, like Bear’s, has shifted over time. I used to think it meant being able to travel from place to place without consequences or worries about anything.
In Bear’s timeline, Cora had freedom from Gordon’s control and everything that came with it. Then her freedom changed to being physically free but not entirely mentally free from the effects of being with him. But hers is mainly about being physically and emotionally free and available to be a mom and to spend time doing what she wants.
For Julian’s timeline, I’m sure she had little moments of freedom and joy to express herself before she died (we see this in Maia’s descriptions of what she remembers about her mom, and in some of Julian’s recollections of her).
For Gordon’s timeline… It seems like there’s no freedom whatsoever, but in the beginning Cora had freedom of choice. She was able to decide what to name the baby, whether to go or stay or speak out for herself and her children, and she decided to stay quiet. Her freedom was in choosing to be there for her kids (what she thought was a quiet rebellion against Gordon’s control over her autonomy). Freedom for her looks a lot different now than what it once did (now that Gordon has a lot of control over her).I thought it was really sweet. I liked that he was not only proving it to her, but to himself, when he found that he actually enjoys life in London.
I don’t think it makes her self-absorbed as much as it skews her view of people and the world. She’s too selfless to be self-absorbed, but protective of herself from further harm and guilty about her experiences and trauma skewing other people’s perceptions of normal interactions.
In the previous Gordon chapter, Silhbe was dead (I don’t know if they mentioned if she interacted with her grandkids or had a relationship with them in that timeline). In the Bear chapter, she seems like a distant relative and they have a cordial relationship with her. I think it’s more in the Julian chapters where we can say that Julian and Maia keep her young (she does say that she feels her life has a purpose with her second round of motherhood over them).
I’m not sure. On one hand, Julian informing them about his family history allows them to know more about him, but on the other hand it makes it seem like there’s domestic violence ingrained into his DNA (which there isn’t. It’s a behavioral thing, not an inherited thing, but some love interests might write him off based on that… Which, now that I’m typing this out I realise this, is probably why he tells people: to either confirm a fear he has about himself or to be to those who judge him based on his father’s actions).
I thought it was a brilliant move by Orla and I love her character so much for it. She recognised that Julian needed time to heal and cast away that skewed idea of himself, and she stayed patientlt by his side until he was ready to give their relationship a shot.
I don’t think she doesn’t feel safe to do it, just that she has a lot of turmoil around her sexuality. She’s not sure whether she’s actually into women or if she is just afraid of men because of what she witnessed in her mom and dad’s relationship (reasonable concerns, all things considered). I’m sure that once she accepts this part of herself, she’ll be open to dating women in no time.
The part of me that wants Cora to be free of this insufferable character was so upset that she’d gone back to him. I really thought she’d escaped. But when it’s revealed that she’s gotten into a pattern of leaving and coming back, I was actually surprised by how realistic the author’s portrayal of these abusive relationships are. Sometimes the woman breaks free (like the Cora in Bear’s timeline), other times she unfortunately won’t make it out in time (like in Julian’s timeline), and other times she chooses to go back to him again and again and again, and there’s nothing the spectators/readers or her kids can do about it (it’s a choice she has to make for herself as a grown woman/adult capable of making her own choices). So while I was initially so angry and hurt on Cora’s behalf, I liked the realistic portrayal more. (But I’m still holding out hope that she escapes one day for good and doesn’t look back).
I thought the threat was so inhumane but unsurprising. He’s been threatening to paint her as psychotic or mentally unwell for years, so we can’t say we didn’t see this coming. And it sucks because it feels like Cora’s completely trapped now, and you can’t help but mourn over all the times she could’ve gotten away before it got this bad and she didn’t 😭
I actually really liked this! In the beginning, I thought that Gordon jnr would’ve been the worst human being, following in his dad’s footsteps (especially after what he did to Lily). So it was a pleasant surprise to read about this man who no longer cares about his mom or dad’s approval of his life, just his sister and his own. It was nice to read about his remorse and how he’s trying to actively become a better person (and distance himself from his dad’s toxic legacy).
Yes. Definitely. But I’m glad that Maia, the person who condemned him for it when he was a kid (while being a kid herself), is now acknowledging how messed up their dad’s use of Gordon as a tool to hurt their mom was. I’m glad the siblings are mending that gap a little, and that Gordon is rejection his father’s consumption of his identity, in an attempt to commit to being his own (and a much better) person.
-
1. I don’t think so. As tragic as it is, I believe this was one of those moments meant to shake Bear: something that had to happen for him to understand what was truly at stake. Her fate felt inevitable, and it became the catalyst for his growth.
2. He’s definitely trying, and I do believe in second chances – within reason. If he wants a different outcome, he needs to show up consistently and genuinely. Expecting something from Lily without putting in the work wouldn’t be fair.
3. It seems like Lily was far more emotionally invested than Bear at the time. While Bear clearly loved her, he probably didn’t give as much thought to preserving those memories. Lily’s need to hold on to everything might’ve come from a place of fear: of losing him, of being forgotten.
4. I think it’s hard to fully understand someone’s pain when you haven’t lived through anything similar. That doesn’t make him unkind, it just makes him human. True empathy often takes time, growth, and effort.
5. Freedom, to me, used to mean independence. As a teenager (a pretty rebellious one at that), all I wanted was to break away from home and build a life on my own terms. But now, it looks more like having the space to be myself: to make choices rooted in love and security. It’s shifted from escape to grounding.
6. In Bear’s timeline, Cora finally gets to experience autonomy. She’s no longer being controlled. In Julian’s, her freedom is more sporadic (like flickering moments of breathing room). And in Gordon’s, it’s almost nonexistent. She was still trapped: mentally, physically, and emotionally.
7. It felt sincere. Small gestures can say a lot, and this one shows he’s making an intentional choice – one that’s not just for Lily, but for himself.
8. Not self-absorbed, no. Trauma leaves a lasting imprint. It shapes how we move through the world. I think she’s just hyper-aware and slightly paranoid. She’s in survival mode, constantly scanning for threats (especially when it comes to her children). That’s not selfishness – it’s to be expected after all she went through.
9. Absolutely. With Cora gone, they give her a renewed sense of purpose. It’s like she’s been given a second chance at family.
10. It’s so striking. Julian’s fear of turning into his father reflects exactly why Cora hesitated with the name in the first place. It’s full circle: this tension between identity and inheritance.
11. I don’t think he has to, but I understand why he does. It’s more about his own fear than a need for disclosure. Ironically, the fact that he’s so thoughtful about it is proof that he’s nothing like his father.
12. It was the right move. Sometimes, love means knowing when to step back. She gave him space to grow into someone who could truly see himself, and her.
13. Her trauma has muddied the waters between desire and fear. That therapy scene was heartbreaking. She questions whether her attraction to women is real or just a reaction to her fear of men and heterosexual romance. It’s clear to us as readers that it’s genuine (but she hasn’t fully accepted that yet).
14. Yes, but unfortunately, I understand it. Victims of abuse often return because manipulation and fear run deep. It doesn’t make her weak, it just shows how powerful that cycle can be.
15. It was a chilling and absolutely infuriating scene. Another layer of cruelty from a man who’s always sought power and control. There’s no redeeming him.
16. I was surprised, but also relieved. It’s rare (but not impossible) for people to change when they truly confront themselves. It gave me hope that he chose a different path than his father.
17. In many ways, yes. He was molded by his father’s abuse and control. But I don’t think he was fully lost. The fact that he broke the cycle and worked to become someone better proves that he wasn’t consumed, just scarred.
-
I don’t think it would’ve made any difference. I believe things that happen to you are meant to be.
No he doesn’t, he didn’t make enough effort so he can’t expect a different result. Although he deserves a second chance.
It felt like Lily was more invested in the relationship than Bear was. It meant more to her then it did to Bear.
It’s really hard to empathize with someone when you haven’t experienced the same thing, you can’t really understand what they’re going through.
It has changed, when I was young I just wanted to escape the small town I grew up in and now as a mom and wife I realised that there’s beauty and comfort being part of a small town and community.
In the Bear chapter, Cora has more freedom that’s she’s taken a while to adjust to but mental freedom isn’t that easy especially after what she endured with Gordon. In the Julian chapter she wasn’t truly free before her death but she did have little moments of joy with her children. In the Gordon timeline Cora us like a caged bird, there’s no freedom whatsoever.
Bear committing to a gym membership is his way of saying he wants to stay, he’s ready to settle down. I thought this was such a sweet gesture.
I think anyone who’s experienced the kind of trauma and abuse that Cora has can’t help being very protective of themselves and who they share themselves with after leaving their abuser. It’s more self preservation then self absorption.
I think they do keep Sylvia young, she has a purpose and especially in later life this can truly keep a person going.
Julian really fears his father’s legacy and worries if he’s like him. His name’s meaning which is sky father is again poignant because Cora believed that giving him this name would mean he’d be better then his father.
I think it’s part of his past and is something he should tell themso that they can understand certain things about him and even his refusal to even do business with anyone in England where his father is from.
Absolutely! Orla was smart enough to realise that Julian needed time and that their relationship would happen when the timing was right
I think she’s still grappling with her identity and is trying to figure out if she’s gay or just doesn’t want to be with men because of what she witnessed between her parents.
I was more sad then shocked that Cora went back to Gordon Snr. I think it’s really difficult to break the cycle of abuse and it’s not easy to walk away even though you know you should do it.
This shook me and again showed how despicable Gordon Snr is. The lengths he’s willing to go to, to keep her under his control is so evil.
He’s remorseful which is a relief because I was starting to think there was no hope for his character. I qas happy that Gordon jnr was trying to change as a person and move away from seeking his Dad’s approval.
Maybe when he was younger he was consumed by Gordon Snr and trying to get his attention but I feel like he moved away from that as he starting getting older and realised he could be a better man.
-
Yes I believe they might have both gotten hurt or even killed if both of them went.
No I think he should not have expectations that he himself cannot meet. He should do the same things he expects of her.
I think Lily treasured her past more and Bear was in a habit of trying to leave his past behind him.
He has not lived through her experiences and so he can only have sympathy, but he will never truly understand what she went through. I think that is normal though.
Freedom is the ability to live life the way you choose to. My idea of freedom used to be that it is a given – as I grew up I quickly learned that it is a privilege.
In the Bear timeline, Cora is free from her husband and the fear he instilled in her. In the Julian timeline Cora has been set free in a way from the pain this life held. In the Gordon timeline, Cora is yearning for freedom.
I loved the way he proved himself to Lily – he not only said he would settle in London but showed her with real time actions.
No, I think she is extremely selfless and is just trying her best to protect her kids.
Yes, because in the chapters where she is involved in their lives, she has survived. It gave her a reason to live.
His story proves that he truly did rise above his father in every way, becoming nothing like him. Exactly as Cora was envisioning when she named him.
No, I think he should feel comfortable enough to do so. If he feels compelled but not ready to share, that signals a relationship not yet developed enough. If he feels like he is able to share his childhood, it signals that he is in a trusting relationship.
Yea I think Orla made the right choice. If a relationship is meant to be, it will be. She gave him the space he needed to realise that he needed to share that part of himself.
In the Julian timeline, Maia only has one parent and even though he is a horrible human being, I think she still wants his approval.
Yes I was shocked that she fell for his “kindness” – I wanted to scream at her to run from him! I thought she would have learned by now that he is a master manipulator and cannot be trusted.
The scene with the dementia ward was absolutely horrific. It truly shows just how evil he is and how much he enjoys being in a position of power.
He is definitely growing into a man that does not want to be like his father. I am enjoying seeing how different he is from him.
I think that Gordon Jnr’s father tried to consume him and he was well on his way, but Gordon Jnr has actively been working in himself and so I don’t think his father will succeed in consuming him.
-
1) Yes, I do think her life would have been different because she would not have been at the restaurant.
2) No, he has no right because he chose not to make her a priority in his life.
3) I think that Bear assumed they were insignificant at the time and that they would have more moments/memories to cherish. He took for granted that Lily would always be there. Lily was more emotionally invested in the “relationship” she shared with Bear; hence she was sentimental and kept all the mementoes.
4) He always found it hard to show empathy and instead rationalized everything. He wanted her to just move on from it and not continually dwell on the past.
5) My view on freedom has changed, before marriage and having a child my freedom centered on me alone but; now that I am older and have responsibilities my freedom is based solely on the people I love and how it impacts them.
6) For Cora, freedom has never been something she’s been able to fully embrace. Shes had to adjust to varied levels of freedom across all three boys and their various timelines. She has had the most freedom in the Bear chapter even though she still struggles to mentally free herself from the trauma she’s been through. Before her death in the Julian chapter, she had limited moments of freedom. Freedom was not even a thought in the Gordon chapter because she was merely granted the freedom to live but in the worst conditions possible physically and mentally.
7) Honestly, I was disappointed that he chose a gym subscription to show her his intentions. He could have made more of an effort considering that Lily had been waiting for him to commit to her but, in saying that I do understand his reasoning behind it.
8) Yes, I do think she is a little self-absorbed but when you take into consideration all that she has endured you have to give her grace. She is only trying to protect herself.
9) Yes, they do keep her young and give her life a new purpose and meaning.
10) Julian is afraid of becoming just like his father. Cora strongly believed that by naming him Julian the meaning of his name might allow him to be a better man than his father and grandfather that share the same name (Gordon); thus, breaking that generational curse.
11) I don’t think he should be compelled to do so, but it would help them to understand him better.
12) I was initially skeptical of Orla and thought she was a bit forward when she made the first move in previous chapters, but I actually respect her a lot now; having read how patient she was with him. Orla’s emotional intelligence to know and understand that Julian needs to take his time for them to have a real chance at a relationship was commendable.
13) I think her trauma has given her a bit of an identity crisis. She is struggling to differentiate between her sexual preference and fear of men.
14) I was not shocked; but rather disappointed that Cora went back to Gordon Snr. I can’t even begin to imagine how her trauma has affected her, but I really hoped that she would leave him for good.
15) I was gobsmacked! I literally gasped out loud reading this! As vile and controlling as he was, I didn’t think he would stoop to that level.
16) He is remorseful and has a lot of regrets. It’s refreshing to see him acknowledge his faults and the errors in his ways. He is trying to be a better man, and I admire that.
17) In the beginning yes, but as he grew into and sought self-improvement he realized that he is capable of breaking the curse of his name and being a better man.
-
1) I think this outcome would have always worked its way into existence – because something had to trigger Bear into realising the decision he has to make – to come home to Lily and start building a proper life together.
2) No – I don’t think he has the right to expect that. But, in saying that, he probably never thought about how his decisions to be away and build his life around work actually affected her. And that maybe it’s not something she wants, but just doing the long-distance to make him happy.
3) I’m not sure – I guess he was running away from difficult things, from things that are permanent. I know he loves Lily, maybe he just didn’t realise how easy it would be to lose her. Maybe he’s not sentimental.
4) Because he’s never really known what it’s like to lose something, or to actually be faced with this kind of trauma/tragedy. He was only a baby when his father was arrested – and his mom and sister have shielded him from all of it.
5) It has stayed some form of the same over the years – being able to make your own decisions.
6) In Bear’s timeline, freedom means being independent. In both Julian and Gordon’s timelines, it means being free from Gordon Snr and out of the controlling environment. Free. Independent as well.
7) I think it’s a very simple gesture – but it tells alot about his character. That this is a commitment.
8) Maybe her trauma makes her self-absorbed, but I suppose in a way it is justified. I think it is in her nature to blame herself.
9) I think they also give her a reason to stay young – but also the love and relationship she has with Cian.
10) It’s so sad that the exact fear Cora had if naming Gordon is the same fear Julian has – that somewhere deep down he will turn out like his father. When, by naming him Julian, made sure that at least he wouldn’t have that weight on him as much.
11) Maybe not right off the bat – I feel that kind of reveal should happen once there is a bit more trust and understanding between two people. However, maybe that’s the kind of brave truth Julian needed to be able to build a life with someone.
12) Yes – it makes sense. Sometimes some people are worth waiting for.
13) I think maybe she is just so scared of trusting someone that much to be vulnerable… because that kind of vulnerability killed her mother.
14) Not shocked – but so so sad. Domestic violence is not just about physical violence but emotional too. Gordon is all she knows and all she has ever had. I had hoped that seven years later she would have left him for real – but you want to believe the person you love. You want to hope there’s some change, and that this time it will really be good again.
15) Absolutely disgusting. What a terrible human being. I hope something terrible happens to him.
16) No, it’s all an act to gain Cora’s trust again.
2015 Gordon seems to be different. What do you think of this? When we first interact with him the chapter, it seems as though he is remorseful.
17) No – I don’t think consume is the right work. Manipulated maybe – played with the emotions and needs of a small child to completely warp his thoughts, opinions and behaviour.Do you think Gordon Jnr.’s father consumed him
-
Lily’s fate feels tragic, and while Bear’s absence didn’t directly cause it, it certainly highlighted the cracks in their communication and emotional connection. If Bear had gone, the outcome might have shifted — or simply been delayed — but the emotional catalyst for his growth would likely still have surfaced in some form.
As for his expectations now, it’s tough terrain. Bear doesn’t necessarily have the right to hope for a clean slate with Lily without acknowledging the emotional labor she’s carried. Her pain, distance, and cautiousness aren’t just reactions — they’re reminders of what they’ve both been through. Second chances require both honesty and reciprocity.
Bear’s past detachment — his lack of sentimentality and the ease with which he dismissed shared moments — contrasts sharply with Lily’s tendency to hold on tightly. She clung to their history out of love and perhaps fear of loss, while Bear seemed to believe there would always be more time. It’s not so much negligence as it is naiveté and emotional avoidance.
His struggle to empathise with Lily stems from a lack of parallel experience. Her trauma reshaped her world, and Bear — protected from such depths — hasn’t learned how to lean into that discomfort. Empathy demands emotional bravery, which Bear is only beginning to cultivate.
The conversation around freedom is especially rich. For Bear, it shifted from a desire for independence to a yearning for rootedness — from running to arriving. Personally, I think many people’s definition of freedom evolves this way. What once meant escape transforms into something more gentle: space to be who you are, surrounded by people who feel like home.
Cora’s experience of freedom varies drastically across the timelines. In Bear’s chapter, she begins reclaiming herself. With Julian, we witness flickers of joy and release, moments stolen from the weight of her circumstances. But in Gordon’s timeline, freedom feels almost mythical — something she only dreams of, wrapped in layers of emotional and physical captivity. Each version of her reveals the limitations and fluidity of autonomy.
Bear’s London commitment — marked by his gym membership and routine — seems simple on the surface, but it speaks volumes. It’s not grand, but it’s grounded. Still, Lily’s doubt is earned. After years of inconsistency, small gestures can either reassure or fall short depending on how much healing has occurred.
Calling Cora self-absorbed misses the mark. Her trauma has made her hyper-vigilant and guarded, not selfish. There’s a difference between self-protection and self-centeredness — and Cora’s behaviour stems from survival, not ego.
Silhbe’s role as grandmother in Julian and Maia’s lives seems to offer her renewed vitality. With Cora gone, their presence becomes her second chance at motherhood — keeping her mentally and emotionally engaged, tethered to purpose.
The contrast between Cora naming Julian and Julian’s own fears about identity is striking. Cora chose the name in hopes of breaking a cycle, of freeing him from the inherited legacy of control and violence. Julian, meanwhile, wrestles with the very possibility of becoming the man his mother feared. Their stories echo across each other — fear meeting hope, inheritance meeting resistance.
Whether Julian should disclose his father’s history to potential partners is delicate. While it’s not an obligation, it does speak to his own journey toward acceptance and transparency. Sharing that truth isn’t about warning others — it’s about healing himself.
Orla’s patience with Julian was bold and generous. Rather than push or demand, she gave him space to redefine himself — proving that love isn’t just about presence, but timing. Her emotional intelligence made their bond feel earned.
Maia’s hesitation around her identity in the Julian timeline feels more psychological than environmental. Having witnessed the breakdown of her parents’ relationship, she’s grappling not just with attraction but with trust. Her intimacy is tangled with inherited trauma, making openness harder to embrace.
Cora’s return to Gordon Sr. is heartbreaking but painfully real. Abuse creates cycles, and escaping them is rarely linear. Her repeated returns aren’t weakness — they’re the symptom of deep manipulation and exhaustion. It’s devastating, but not surprising.
Gordon’s threat to institutionalise Cora is another level of cruelty. It’s weaponising her trauma against her — a chilling power play designed to erode her autonomy entirely. It reminds us how abuse isn’t always loud; sometimes, it’s disguised as care.
2015 Gordon’s apparent remorse offers a sliver of complexity. At first glance, he seems changed — but whether that remorse is sincere or performative is another question. Redemption stories are always compelling, but they need consistency to be believed.
Finally, the question of whether Gordon Jr. was consumed by his father’s legacy is layered. He was definitely shaped and manipulated—moulded into someone who sought approval where he should’ve found boundaries. But the very fact that he questions it, and works toward healing, suggests he wasn’t consumed — just scarred.
-
It’s difficult to say but I think everything Halle s for a reason. I also think life happens to us but it happens to us based on the choices we make. I think Lily and Bear both love and loved each other but I think their attachment to each other was different and unbalanced. I think it took having to lose the possibility of their being together to find each other in a more equal and balanced way. I think it’s not right for either party to expect or the other what they themselves cannot do.
I think we all handle our experiences and circumstances differently and I think perhaps Bear felt overwhelmed by the emotions that would come with meeting Lily where she is all the time. I think honestly that because of the holes in his own upbringing I think he became avoidant, to protect himself from rejection.
My favourite quote is “ a hero is somebody who understands the responsibility that comes with their freedom.” The way I’ve come to understand freedom is as a state of being. It’s being untamed in a tamed world. It’s being bold to stand out and having the courage to journey alone. It’s a sort of harmony within yourself but also with your environment and the people you meet. There is a burden attached to freedom. I think it’s a burden that can isolate you, one that requires divergence and I think that’s why many aren’t free. Because it’s easier to live caged with your friends than to roam free having to be responsible for all your life choices and decisions. People don’t like responsibility.
I think his change in attitude allowed him to see that having predictability, or being in one place for long isn’t a threat to freedom but rather evidence of its existence. I think him taking the initiative to commit to her by action is the best demonstration of his seriousness. Words are lovely, but they are just words. Backed with action they become tangible and meaningful.
I don’t know if consume is the word I would use, I think it moulded her and then she couldn’t find her way back. I’m not surprised she went back to Gordon. I’m not too familiar with the cycle of abuse but like Maia I think we are all counting down the number of times she leaves until she really does. You lot already know how wild I find Gordon Snr. So this act is unsurprising.
Personally it annoys me when girls hold out for men to find themselves to be the men they deserve but I’m glad Julian got there in the end. I think Orla was also a bit heck, nagging all the time but I also understand her frustration. I’m just glad Julian has the good sense to consult Cian before it was too late and he lost his family forever.
Honestly I am proud of Gordon Jnr for confessing to his treatment of Lily. It’s true what he said that his decision to lie and ostracise her likely resulted in her choosing the career path she did and in that way he continues to consume her. It’s good that he understands the weight of his decision but it’s sad that it took having to see the consequences of it instead of just not doing it in the first place.
-
It may have, but it could have happened to both of them, changing fate even more, it’s hard to say what little things have a butterfly effect on outcomes.
It should be a balance, both contributing emotionally giving and taking. He can’t expect her to give up everything, just like she shouldn’t expect him to.
Men and women are very different and see sentimental things in a different way, I don’t think men see things the same way. It’s not necessarily that he was deliberately negligent.
He didn’t experience it in the same way and he can’t put himself in her shoes.
I don’t really know, I think in this time in my life freedom means having alone time, no obligations, no demands and right now there’s none. When I was younger it meant making my own choices, going out, and not having people tell me what to do,
As bad as the first perspective was – Bear’s one the outcome arrived sooner, she got her freedom earlier in the time line and could live her life, in Gordon’s it came very late and she missed out on so much.
I don’t think it makes her self absorbed, it’s more self preservation, and just getting by. It would take so much to stay alert and be wary that you wouldn’t have the capacity to focus on much else.
I think young is a state of mind and purpose, they gave her reason to carry on and be active and to pursue things.
I don’t know that he should feel compelled, he’s not his father, but it is a concern that he may have that part inside him. It’s really hard to say. But thinking about it now, probably yes.
She may not just be questioning her attraction to women, but wondering if her fear/dislike of men (particularly strong, overbearing men) may be influencing her.
Not really shocked, but saddened that she was lured back, it takes so many attempts to finally leave.
It’s horrific, he’s gaslighting her, threatening her. But under the circumstances she might be better off somewhere away from him. Especially if could prove she’s medically fit once she’s there.
I think he realised what he did, saw a side of himself in his father and didn’t like what he saw. He’s redeeming himself.
No, not anymore. I think the attempts were there (metaphorically) but Gordon Jnr grew a backbone and wouldn’t allow himself to be.
Leave a Reply