The whole situation stemmed from Gene's jealousy. All he did was reverse the situation, and
             put himself in Phineas's shoes (and his clothes). Now it was Gene who would be changed
             forever from Phineas's hurt and jealousy towards him. Gene almost had to make up for the fact
             he had hurt Finny by becoming the athlete Finny could never be, because of his act of envy.
             Then, in another act of desperation, Phineas decided that everything he could not do did
             not exist. Fooling others into thinking that he was strong, as he once was, became his source
             of comfort. In doing this he also tried to convince himself that he could be strong and happy
             once again, but inside he knew the awful and tragic truth.
             If his fantasy world could not work Finny would try to make another world. In this one
             he tried to live through Gene. Phineas never had learned to deal with inability, and
             hopelessness, therefore when they both were thrusted at him at a point in his life when he was
             just beginning to become a man he had no other solution but to go into denial. Not only did
             Finny deny his own problems, but he also refused to let himself or anyone else believe that
             his best friend for so long had actually tried to inflict this horriffic accident upon him. Not only
             to hurt him, but to protect himself from Phineas. Finny had never experienced this kind of envy.
             It was not just regular, flattering jealousy. Gene had become so incredibly wrapped up in
             convincing himself Finny was not his best friend, but the enemy, that he had involuntarily
             caused much more tragedy than anyone could have ever guessed. Though Phineas denied it,
             and even told Gene that he had not done what he was saying he had, in his heart of hearts
             Finny knew the truth. This fact may have hurt him more than his injury. Finny's body had been
             a huge part of his life, but even more so his vivrant spirit. Not m
             ...