Through the characters' dialogue, Budnitz illustrates how toxic family relationships can be volatile, destructive, and harmful to one’s psychological state of being when facing major life decisions. The dialogue between the aunts and the main character exposes how easily family members manipulate one another. “You’re young, you’re strong- you have a college education! your heart is exactly what she needs!” (Budnitz 86) This language is exactly how gaslighting and manipulation work. Cohearsing the son into thinking his overall excellent health is what the mother needs to survive. Though the…