“When he was eleven, he learned the association of the word loss with death” (pg. 49). He was more understanding and cooperative with his family that mourned. He knew how to comfort them because he too had gone through the same thing and also needed comfort. Emotions control one’s behavior, action and thinking. She becomes hostile towards her son and husband. Conrad says, “I’m sure I would have told you, if I thought you gave a damn” (109). Her son thinks she is heartless, and that she doesn’t show affection towards him. He somehow feels that his brother’s death was his fault. He starts by no longer getting involved with his friends then he quits the swim team, all to avoid the pain involved with remembering his brother’s death. He later on goes to a physiologist, he asked what he said that he wants to get in control of his emotions again so that other people don’t worry. Berger says, "Like she can't love you enough. Like she loves you as much as she's able. Perspective, kiddo, remember? Maybe she's afraid, maybe it's hard for her to give love” (120). Instead of caring for Conrad, she disconnects herself from him because she thinks it creates a bad image for her among her friends. Conrad tried to kill himself. Beth doesn’t want to show affection towards him because she knows that if she does that he’ll die, and if he dies she’ll end up coping with the situation