The Temptations of Two

I think the theme of this story is the importance of exploring and being alone at certain times. The author talks about how she finds freedom in doing activities by herself, but she often has to work through feelings of doubt and fear in order to do so. It shows that in order to truly appreciate something, you have to experience it/do it yourself first. One use of language that stuck me was Rogers' use of similes. For example, the water feeling "like a cooled bath" and Emily's back being "solid as a horse's flank" helped place me in the story and allowed me to experience it. Additionally the author contrasts her and Emily's lives throughout the story by describing their age, appearance, and even the cars they drive. However, at the end, the author shows that it terms of experiences, they are more alike than different.