In the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, the protagonist experiences a phase of adolescent sadness. This emotional state leads her to have deep conversations with her mother, who works as a nurse, focusing on the topic of death. Their discussions reveal the girl's struggle with mortality and the uncertainties of growing up.

The girl expresses a whimsical desire for reincarnation, dreaming of being reborn as a cat. This wish illustrates her longing for a simpler, perhaps safer existence, reflecting her complex feelings during this transitional period of her life. Through these themes, Oates captures the challenges of adolescence and the search for identity amid confusion and fear.