Even As We Breathe

There are three places that are key to the development of the story. The first of these is Lishie’s cabin—Cowney’s home. The cabin is the site of Lishie’s interactions with her grandson in which she imparts her faith, compassion, and wisdom, as well as sharing the all-important stories of Cowney’s parents. In the cabin, Cowney says his final goodbyes to Lishie and greets people at her wake. There he meets the stranger from his father’s past who will become his savior. He retreats to the cabin to await the news of the investigation into the disappearance of the missing child. Given all the turbulence he experiences at the cabin, Cowney has mixed emotions upon learning that the forest fire did not consume it.

A second key setting is room 447 of the Grove Park Inn. Cowney is timorous about stepping foot inside at first. He goes with Essie to protect her and dissuade her from acting foolishly. Quickly, however, the room becomes a sanctuary that allows the two young people to experience friendship with one another and grow to know themselves. The sort of intimacy that develops between Cowney and Essie because of their time in the room, from Cowney’s