Wintergirls

Lia drives out of her neighborhood and toward the motel. As she drives, Lia wonders who the man who left her the voicemail could be, whether it is all a trick, and whether she should call the police. Lia observes that her own neighborhood is very wealthy, but the neighborhoods become less wealthy as she drives on. Finally, Lia arrives at the motel. Lia observes that the building reminds her of her stepsister’s shoebox diorama and that it looks like the outside is falling into disrepair. Lia parks, gets out of her car, and enters the motel’s office.

Lia approaches the motel registration desk. The man behind the desk asks Lia if she wants a room. Lia notes that this is not the same voice as the man on the answering machine. Lia tells him no and the man asks, “‘Come to see where she died?’” (56). Lia nods. The man says she can see the room for 10 dollars, but agrees to five dollars. The man calls to someone named Elijah, and another man, this one a few years older than Lia, emerges from the bathroom. Lia recognizes Elijah’s voice from the answering machine.