In Alice Munro's "Runaway," the relationship between the two main characters is characterized by extreme contrasts. They navigate their interactions between being excessively formal and experiencing deep, personal intimacy without any in-between. This dynamic creates a tension that reflects their emotional complexities and the challenges they face in truly connecting with one another.

This absence of a middle ground highlights the difficulty in their communication and the struggles they endure as they try to forge a genuine bond. The extremes of their relationship emphasize the themes of love, vulnerability, and the barriers that often exist in human connections.