A Very Large Expanse of Sea

In a motif that supports the theme of “Fear of Peer Relationships,” Shirin runs away repeatedly when interpersonal experiences threaten to cause her emotional pain. After the misunderstanding in English class on the first day, Shirin avoids the cafeteria altogether by hiding in the restroom. Shirin flees when Mr. Jordan’s classroom experiment in Global Perspectives goes awry; she continues to skip all week: “I bailed on Mr. Jordan’s class four days in a row” (122). Only when the teacher seeks Shirin and apologizes will she consider returning to class.

Shirin also runs away from the possibility of a relationship with Ocean after her fever; though she acknowledges to herself and to him via a late-night phone call that she likes him, she becomes afraid when Navid tells her, “And I don’t want to see this dude get his heart shattered all over the place, okay?” (158). Shirin runs away figuratively from their relationship and from telling the truth when she breaks up with Ocean without explaining her conversations with Coach Hart and Ocean’s mother. She also runs from Ocean when they converse at her locker after the talent show; that day, she flees from pain and awkwardness so quickly that she leaves her locker open and consequently, he finds and reads her diary.