One Day

“‘Forty?’ He too seemed to be struggling with the concept. ‘Don’t know. Am I allowed to say “rich”?’

‘Just so, so shallow.’

‘Alright then, “famous.”’”

The motif of aging is woven into this passage, as Dexter is so young that he struggles to comprehend the notion of one day reaching 40. Moreover, Dexter’s desire to become rich and famous characterizes him in stark contrast to Emma, who perceives him as shallow.

“She didn’t feel like an adult. She was in no way prepared. It was as if a fire alarm had gone off in the middle of the night and she was standing on the street with her clothes bundled up in her arms.”

Despite her optimism and idealism, at the onset of her journey of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery, Emma feels unprepared for adulthood. The metaphor of a fire alarm going off in the middle of the night captures the abruptness and urgency of Emma’s awakening to the challenges of adulthood.

“‘Emma’s just a friend.’

‘Is she now? Well I’m not so sure. In fact I think she likes you.’

‘Everyone likes me. It’s my curse.’”

In a conversation with his mother, Dexter’s characteristic arrogance shines through as he boasts about everyone liking him. This is also one of the many instances where he insists that Emma is just a friend, despite others recognizing the deeper connection between them. Emma and Dexter have undeniable chemistry, yet they both suppress their full feelings for each other for 15 years.

“Once, she had thought she could conquer London. She had imagined a whirl of literary salons, political engagement, larky parties, bittersweet romances conducted on Thames embankments. She had intended to form a band, make short films, write novels, but two years on the slim volume of verse was no fatter, and nothing really good had happened to her since she’d been baton-charged at the Poll Tax Riots. The city had defeated her, just like they said it would. Like some overcrowded party, no-one had noticed her arrival, and no-one would notice if she left.”

This passage encapsulates the theme of Navigating Life's Expectations and Realities, portraying Emma’s profound disappointment upon realizing that London is not what she had envisioned. The simile of the city as an overcrowded party captures her sense of insignificance and conveys the deep sadness and disappointment she experiences. As a top student, Emma expected opportunities to come to her, and when they didn’t, she internalized this as rejection and hid herself away at the Tex-Mex restaurant, no longer trying to write.

“The duvet is goosedown, the sheets are Egyptian cotton which is, the saleswoman informed her, the very best cotton known to man, and all of this signifies a new era of order, independence and maturity.”

Emma’s new homeware serves as a symbol of her growth and maturity. The mention of luxurious Egyptian cotton contrasts with her previous modest lifestyle, highlighting the significant changes she has undergone and more common ground with Dexter, who also appreciates nice things.

“He has always expected Emma to be there, a resource he can call upon at any time like the emergency services.”

This passage explores Dexter’s personality and his relationship with Emma. Dexter’s comparison of Emma to the emergency services suggests that he takes her for granted, highlighting his arrogance and self-centeredness. Because she has always been there, he expected that to stay the same. This attitude is also noticed by Ian, who also says that Dexter takes Emma for granted.

“The fact was Em and Dex didn’t get on that well these days. More often than not he would cancel their meetings at the last minute, and when they did see each other he seemed distracted, uncomfortable. They spoke to each other in strange, strangulated voices, and had lost the knack of making each other laugh, jeering at each other instead in a spiteful, mocking tone. Their friendship was like a wilted bunch of flowers that she insisted on topping up with water. Why not let it die instead?”

Emma and Dexter’s changing relationship underscores the theme of The Evolution and Complexities of Relationships Over Time. The metaphor of their friendship as a wilted bunch of flowers suggests its decline, with Emma futilely attempting to keep it alive while also contemplating its natural death.

“‘I just don’t think you’re the person I used to know. You’re not my friend anymore. That’s all.’

He could think of nothing to say to this, so they stood in silence, until Emma put her hand out, took two fingers of his hand, squeezed them in her palm.

‘Maybe… maybe this is it, then,’ she said. ‘Maybe it’s just over.’”

Emma’s decision to end her friendship with Dexter marks a significant milestone in her Personal Growth and Self-Discovery journey, as she refuses to tolerate disrespect. This also highlights the theme of The Evolution and Complexities of Relationships Over Time, as, despite their initial chemistry and attraction, Emma and Dexter’s relationship has gradually withered over the years.

“There’s dust on the blades of the venetian blinds, outside a pink light hits the science block, and suddenly Emma wishes that she were in a park or on a beach or a European city square somewhere, just anywhere but here in this airless institutional room with a married man.”

The imagery of dust on the venetian blinds and the description of the airless institutional room create a suffocating atmosphere, mirroring Emma’s feelings within her relationship with Mr. Godalming. The contrast between this stale, confining environment and Emma’s longing for freedom in a park or European city square shows her desire for liberation from her circumstances while also foreshadowing her escape to Paris.

“‘This was our home!’ he protests, desperately.

‘I was never happy here, Ian. Why couldn’t you see that? I just got…stuck here, we both did. Surely you must know that.’”

There’s a stark contrast between how Ian and Emma feel about their ending relationship: Ian holds onto the sentimental value of their home, a symbol of stability or comfort, while Emma acknowledges having been stuck, a recurring pattern in her life. This illustrates the theme of The Evolution and Complexities of Relationships Over Time—Emma reflects on her dissatisfaction and has summoned the courage to end the relationship.

“What if life had taken a different route? What if she had persevered with those letters to publishers when she was twenty-two?”

Emma contemplates the possibilities of alternate life paths, reflecting on the choices she made in the past, underscoring the theme of The Influence of Timing and Chance in Life. By wondering “What if,” she acknowledges the impact that different choices and timing could have had on her journey.

“‘So do you still hang out with a lot of movie stars then?’ says one of them, in mock awe, the jumped-up little Aryan freak-boy.

‘Not really. Not anymore.’ He decides to answer honestly, but without any regret or self-pity. ‘That has all sort of…drifted away.’”

This exchange shows how Dexter has changed over the years as he acknowledges that his previous lifestyle drifted away. It underscores the fleeting nature of fame and demonstrates Dexter’s newfound maturity as he responds to Sylvie’s brother’s mockery with honesty and without self-pity.

“A moment passed, perhaps half a second when their faces said what they felt, and then Emma was smiling, laughing, her arms around his neck.

‘Oh, Dexter. That’s amazing! Congratulations!’ and she went to kiss his cheek just as he turned his head, their mouths glancing for a moment so that they tasted the champagne on each other’s lips.”

Emma masks her true emotions with a facade of happiness upon hearing about Dexter’s upcoming marriage. Yet, in a fleeting moment, their true emotions betray them, and their faces convey the depth of their feelings. This illustrates The Evolution and Complexities of Relationships Over Time, as Emma and Dexter grapple with conflicting emotions and the challenges of unspoken desires.

“He had imagined family life as a sort of extended Building Society commercial: an attractive young couple in blue overalls, paint-rollers in hand, pulling crockery from an old tea chest and flopping down onto a big old sofa. He imagined walking shaggy dogs in the park and exhausted but good-humoured night-feeds. At some point in the near future, there would be rock pools, fires on the beach, mackerel cooked over driftwood. He would invent ingenious games and put up shelves. Sylvie would wear his old shirts over bare legs. Knitwear. He would wear a lot of knitwear and provide for his dependents.”

Dexter’s idealized vision of family life contrasts with the reality he eventually faces, underscoring the theme of Navigating Life's Expectations and Realities. The imagery of a perfect family as depicted in commercials, with blue overalls, walks with dogs, and rock pools, reflects his naivety and unrealistic expectations, soon shattered by the challenges and complexities of real-life relationships.

“Of course, she can’t say any of this out loud. There’s something unnatural about a woman finding babies or, more specifically, conversation about babies, boring. They’ll think she’s bitter, jealous, lonely. But she’s also bored of everybody telling her how lucky she is, what with all that sleep and all that freedom and spare time, the ability to go on dates or head off to Paris at a moment’s notice.”

This passage sheds light on Emma’s relationship with motherhood and societal expectations, highlighting her defiance of societal norms and her desire to chart her own path in life. Despite traditional expectations of womanhood, Emma admits her reservations about having children as she prioritizes independence and free time, showcasing her willingness to challenge societal norms.

“I don’t know, Em. Eighteen months ago I had a family, a career—not much of a career, but I had opportunities, I still got offers. People carrier, nice little house in Surrey—”

Dexter finds himself Navigating Life's Expectations and Realities as he grapples with the disappointment of witnessing his career and family life unravel. He reflects on the stability he once enjoyed, and his words are tinged with nostalgia and regret.

“‘I had thought that’s what you wanted too.’

‘It is. It was. Back in the late Eighties.’

‘So why not now?’

‘Because. It’s too late. We’re too late. I’m too tired.’

‘You’re thirty-five!’

‘I just feel our time has passed, that’s all.’”

Emma’s assertion that her and Dexter’s time has passed suggests a sense of resignation and reflects her fears and hesitations. Her belief that timing plays a crucial role in life is holding her back from pursuing a relationship she has desired for years. This passage also demonstrates Dexter’s shifted attitude towards aging, as he exclaims that she is only 35.

“For first time in many years he is more or less where he wants to be. He has a partner whom he loves and desires and who is also his best friend. He has a beautiful, intelligent daughter. He does alright. Everything will be fine, just as long as nothing ever changes.”

In his journey of Personal Growth and Self-Discovery, Dexter has finally attained a sense of satisfaction with his life. However, the final sentence foreshadows an impending change, especially because all things change, hinting that things are about to take a different turn.

“Finally together, whirlwind romance nearly 15 years, finally makes sense. All friends said told you so. Happier than ever been.”

Dexter’s draft speech encapsulates his sentimentality and contentment as he reflects on his relationship with Emma. The phrase “finally together” suggests a sense of fulfillment after years of longing and uncertainty, and the mention of a “whirlwind romance” evokes the idea of a passionate and adventurous journey.

“Then Emma Mayhew dies, and everything that she thought or felt vanishes and is gone forever.”

Nicholls portrays the harsh reality of mortality and the finality of death, emphasizing the idea that, with death, all the thoughts and emotions of an individual cease to exist. This is a stark departure from the typical trajectory of contemporary romance novels that often culminate in a happy ending.

“Anniversaries like this are hard for all of us, for her family and you especially, but I hate this date, and will always hate this day every year from now on whenever it comes round.”

This passage portrays Ian’s anguish on the anniversary of Emma’s death and emphasizes the perpetual nature of suffering, suggesting that the pain will persist. It also addresses the significance of the date, July 15, which the characters revisit each year.

“These days grief seems like walking on a frozen river; most of the time he feels safe enough, but there is always that danger that he will plunge through. Now he hears the ice creak beneath him, and so intense and panicking is the sensation that he has to stand for a moment, press his hands to his face and catch his breath.”

Dexter likens his grief to walking on a frozen river, an analogy that conveys the precariousness of the grieving process, where one may feel stable most of the time but always faces the risk of sudden setbacks. The imagery of the ice creaking beneath him captures the sense of imminent danger and the overwhelming panic that can accompany grief. This moment is also significant because Dexter does not try to escape his feelings; he stays with them and allows them to be felt.

“Whatever happened between them in the future, whatever rows and repercussions loomed, he knew that he very much wanted to kiss her now.”

This passage in the flashback portrays the intensity of Dexter's feelings for Emma, while simultaneously foreshadowing the trials and drawn-out courtship they will face in the future. It carries a melancholic and bittersweet tone, as readers are already aware of the difficulties awaiting the couple.