Nightcrawling

From the beginning of the novel, Kiara speaks of the reassurance she finds in the embrace of her loved ones. She longs to be embraced by Marcus in the way she once was, before Marcus’s pursuit of a music career divided them. Occasionally he still does hug Kiara, giving her hope that the “old Marcus” has returned. For Kiara, the embrace that she desires is reminiscent of the hug of a parent, which shelters a child from danger or comforts them after a hurtful incident. In this way, Kiara’s desire for physical touch underlines how young she is, despite the adult responsibilities she has taken on. When she is able, she provides such embraces for Trevor, knowing that he lacks the same kind of parental protection that she does.

Physical touch is made problematic, however, when Kiara enters into sex work. Initially, she is adamant that she can detach herself from the emotional impact of such contact, which is not only absent of love but also painful and degrading. As the encounters with men become more brutal, however (namely during the police “parties”), Kiara can no longer deny the impact this physical contact has on her psyche. It is only at the end of the novel, when Alé brings a physical intimacy that is loving and caring, that Kiara receives the kind of embrace she has longed for.