Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in It Ends with Us, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Cycles of Abuse
Naked Truths
Good and Evil
Chosen Family
Summary
Analysis
Six weeks later, Lily’s mom is still mourning the fact that Lily and Ryle didn’t want to have a big wedding. Lily asks if she’ll forgive her once they have kids, and her mom says she will. Lily recalls the conversation she and Ryle had on the flight to Vegas. They made sure they agreed on all the important things: possibly having kids, keeping separate checking accounts, donating to charity, always voting, and never going vegan. Lily hears the door opening and hangs up with her mother. Ryle comes to the couch to greet her, and they have sex.
Lily and Ryle’s push to make sure their values and plans are aligned highlights the healthy rationality that Lily brings to their relationship. In this way, she balances out Ryle’s penchant to get swept away in emotional whims. Their conversation on the way to their wedding allows them to share all the naked truths they can think of, and Lily enters into their marriage more confident than ever.
Themes
While Lily is in the shower getting ready for dinner with Allysa and Marshall, she hears a loud crashing noise. As she gets out of the shower, she hears another. Ryle won’t respond to her calls, and when she runs into the room, she sees that he’s knocked over the nightstand. The expression on Ryle’s face is unintelligible, which scares Lily. He holds up her broken phone and the piece of paper that Atlas had hidden in it. Ryle had called the number while Lily was showering and gotten Atlas’s voicemail. He storms out. Lily catches up to him in the stairwell, where he grabs her and shoves her. Lily loses consciousness.
The uncertain nature of Ryle’s facial expression isn’t what truly frightens Lily. She is scared because Ryle’s smile reminds her of what she does know for certain: Ryle is capable of hurting her without warning. Lily already told Ryle why she and Atlas have a protective bond, which explains the number in her phone. But Ryle’s insecurity pushes him to assume that Lily has betrayed him. Ryle lets his emotional response overtake his self-control, and he lashes out at Lily.
Themes
Lily regains consciousness and finds that her head hurts badly. Ryle tells her to stay still. She sees that she is in their bedroom now, and she recalls the events of the last few minutes. She realizes that Ryle has pushed her yet again. Lily struggles away from him. He does not try to apologize or comfort him like the last time. Lily accuses him of shoving her down the stairs, and Ryle insists that she fell—and that she’s a liar. He throws the paper with Atlas’s number in her direction before leaving. Lying in bed, Lily feels like the last five minutes have destroyed her entirely.
Ryle’s abuse of Lily has escalated, both in the physical damage done to her and in his coldness in the aftermath. Notably, Ryle isn’t repentant like he was after the first assault. His love for Lily still compels him to treat her injuries, but he refuses to admit that he had any hand in them. It is unclear if Ryle really believes that Lily’s fall was an accident; he doesn’t seem to care either way. Whether she fell or he pushed her, on some level, he believes it was justified because of her dishonesty.
Themes
Ryle returns ten minutes later, and Lily is conflicted with feelings of hatred, fear, and sympathy for her husband. He falls at her feet and begs her to reassure him that nothing is happening between her and Atlas. He tells her he loves her and the idea of her with Atlas is torturing him. Lily tells Ryle about the day Atlas visited her at the shop and that she forgot the number was even there. She tells Ryle that he overreacted without even talking to her, and now she wants him to leave immediately. Ryle repeats that she fell down the stairs, but Lily insists he get out. He hesitates, so she screams and throws pillows at him until he goes. She slides the deadbolt of the door in place behind him.
The shift in Ryle’s demeanor has nothing to do with penitence. He is not overcome because of the hurt he caused Lily; he breaks down and pleads with her on his own behalf, afraid she no longer loves him. Despite the selfishness Ryle exhibits, Lily wavers at his vulnerability and declarations of love. Though he abused her, she is the one who ends up trying to justify her actions and assuage his concerns. Once Ryle calms down, however, Lily sticks to her earlier promise and kicks him out of the apartment.
Themes
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