and as this need grows more intense so does a sensation of movement, speed to come, impending declaration-"The past is funny, Viv; it never seems to let things lie, finished. It never seems to stay in place as it should"-until she feels that she is beginning to run down an ever steepening hill and she must stop before the hill gets too steep and she gets going too fast to stop:
The quoted passage reflects the character Viv's struggle with the past and how it continues to intrude on her present. It captures her awareness of an escalating tension as she faces the inevitability of impending change. Viv's realization that the past is relentless and refuses to be resolved suggests that unresolved issues can create a sense of urgency and anxiety.
The imagery of running down a steep hill symbolizes her fear of losing control as events unfold beyond her ability to manage them. Viv's desire to halt before it becomes too overwhelming highlights her awareness of the precarious balance between confronting the past and maintaining stability in her life.
