The passage highlights a profound internal divide within Woodrow Call. As he sits on the train with Teresa, a stark contrast emerges between his current self and the man he was earlier that day, engaged in simple, mundane tasks like starting a campfire. This separation represents a significant emotional and psychological shift in Call's identity.
The reference to the "crack" and "canyon" emphasizes that this transformation is not temporary; it is a deep and lasting change. He realizes that he can no longer return to the familiar aspects of his life, marked by those routine activities. The moment signifies a loss of his former self, revealing the weight of experiences that have altered him irrevocably.