Love is very complicated, not just butterflies in one's stomach, but it also involves a lot of pain. The pain is not easy to force out. We have to confront ourselves with the pain and get over it, but this is not easy. We restrain our feelings and try to forget them. This only causes an even bigger pain. That is the situation for Ellen, the main character in this short story.
             Ellen's love life has been complicated, she is a lesbian and obliged to listen to people's prejudices. Her one and only love, Jackie, dies and she is not allowed to bury her "She has not been allowed to do this one last thing for Jackie. To be with her during the last rituals." (ll.24-25). Because of Jackie's former husband, Roger, whom she has left to live with Ellen, but he could not accept her wife being a lesbian and tried to declare her temporarily insane (l.15). Jackie's daughter on the other hand thinks that what Ellen and Jackie had was wonderful and beautiful (l.102). When tobie mentions this Ellen's thought is "God, for the first time, it was out in the open"
             The short story takes place in the 1980-90s because being a homosexual are not something people talk about in this story it is a taboo. They are not accepted yet, but the issue of being homosexual are becoming a more integrated part of our culture. It takes place on Valentines' Day, a day when in particular Britain and the USA you show your love to people you care about. I do not think it is a coincidence that the author has chosen this day to be Ellen's birthday – a day full of love is kind of symbol for Ellen, a warm and giving person who thinks about others particularly Tobie. Tobie is just like a daughter to her. Ellen loves her and only wants what is best for her "Would you like some hot cocoa to warm you up? I know it's cold outside" (ll. 47-50).
             Roger is the opposite of Ellen instead of being intereste
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