This Is Where It Ends

by

Marieke Nijkamp

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on This Is Where It Ends makes teaching easy.

Sylvia Morales Character Analysis

One of the novel’s four narrators and Tomás’s twin sister. Unlike her trouble-making brother, Sylvia is known for her good behavior and better grades; at the start of the novel, she’s just received her acceptance letter from Brown. However, Sylvia is considering deferring her dreams of academic success in order to stay home and care for her Mamá, who is dying of an unnamed degenerative disease. She’s also hesitant to leave Opportunity because of her relationship with Autumn, which she fears might fracture because of the distance. Furthermore, Sylvia is recovering after being raped by Tyler last summer as “punishment” for her illicit relationship; her refusal to share this trauma with anyone else makes her withdrawn and anxious, and strains her formerly close relationship with Tomás until she finally confesses her secret to him. Sylvia is gentler and more conventionally feminine than the tomboyish Claire or the combative Autumn, but her calm competence emerges as another, equally formidable form of strength, allowing her to hold her family together in a time of crisis and fearlessly confront Tyler during the shooting. At the end of the novel, Sylvia continues to stay strong for Autumn, who has been seriously wounded by Tyler, even as she mourns her own brother’s death at his hands.

Sylvia Morales Quotes in This Is Where It Ends

The This Is Where It Ends quotes below are all either spoken by Sylvia Morales or refer to Sylvia Morales. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gun Violence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

It’s as if all of Opportunity falls away. We’re lost between making a home and escaping one. It won’t be long before our secrets choke us, before she finally realizes I don’t deserve her and she leaves me too.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Sylvia Morales
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:

Because what can I tell her? That I have the ticket out of town she’s been longing for? That I don’t even know what to do with it? Before Mamá fell ill, I would’ve leaped at this chance. But how can I leave now? Autumn would never understand.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

The only things that give us purpose are the stories that tie us together. We all have so many secrets to keep. And I hold mine close.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne
Page Number: 50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The Browne family had been part of Opportunity for generations—but no more. When Mrs. Browne died, Ty raged against everyone who tried to help him. He wouldn’t eat the food anyone brought; he snarled at our sympathy. Still, the town forgave his grief. Until Mr. Browne drowned his sorrows in alcohol and Tyler doused his in hatred. After a while, Opportunity took the withdrawal and the lashing out personally.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 75
Explanation and Analysis:

This isn’t about returning fire or self-defense. This is about revenge. If this guy hurt my sister or anyone else, I’ll kill him. Slowly.

Related Characters: Tomás Morales (speaker), Sylvia Morales, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

I can’t imagine what it’s like not to have that. For as much as I despise Tyler, I love Autumn. It’s why I could never tell her what he did. I want her to be able to keep the only true family she has.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

I need to get to Sylv before Ty sees her. Because if he does, there will be nothing left. If she dies, I will never be able to tell her that she is the one who keeps me standing. That her lips taste like a promise. That she makes me want to be a better version of myself.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Sylvia Morales, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:

It’s everywhere and all consuming. Some days you think you can’t go on because the only thing waiting for you is more despair. Some days you don’t want to go on because it’s easier to give up than to get hurt again.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 189
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

You can’t always settle your life in one place. The world was made to change. But as long as you cherish the memories and make new ones along the way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at home.

Related Characters: Fareed Al-Sahar (speaker), Sylvia Morales
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis:
Epilogue Quotes

We are tied to Opportunity, and maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We plant our seeds here to take root and blossom.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker)
Page Number: 279
Explanation and Analysis:

I hold on for one more moment. Then, around me, other lanterns are released. They float over our heads into the darkness, toward the promise of a new day.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tomás Morales
Page Number: 281
Explanation and Analysis:
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Sylvia Morales Quotes in This Is Where It Ends

The This Is Where It Ends quotes below are all either spoken by Sylvia Morales or refer to Sylvia Morales. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Gun Violence Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2 Quotes

It’s as if all of Opportunity falls away. We’re lost between making a home and escaping one. It won’t be long before our secrets choke us, before she finally realizes I don’t deserve her and she leaves me too.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Sylvia Morales
Page Number: 12
Explanation and Analysis:

Because what can I tell her? That I have the ticket out of town she’s been longing for? That I don’t even know what to do with it? Before Mamá fell ill, I would’ve leaped at this chance. But how can I leave now? Autumn would never understand.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne
Page Number: 22
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5 Quotes

The only things that give us purpose are the stories that tie us together. We all have so many secrets to keep. And I hold mine close.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne
Page Number: 50
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The Browne family had been part of Opportunity for generations—but no more. When Mrs. Browne died, Ty raged against everyone who tried to help him. He wouldn’t eat the food anyone brought; he snarled at our sympathy. Still, the town forgave his grief. Until Mr. Browne drowned his sorrows in alcohol and Tyler doused his in hatred. After a while, Opportunity took the withdrawal and the lashing out personally.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 75
Explanation and Analysis:

This isn’t about returning fire or self-defense. This is about revenge. If this guy hurt my sister or anyone else, I’ll kill him. Slowly.

Related Characters: Tomás Morales (speaker), Sylvia Morales, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 82
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

I can’t imagine what it’s like not to have that. For as much as I despise Tyler, I love Autumn. It’s why I could never tell her what he did. I want her to be able to keep the only true family she has.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Autumn Browne, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 16 Quotes

I need to get to Sylv before Ty sees her. Because if he does, there will be nothing left. If she dies, I will never be able to tell her that she is the one who keeps me standing. That her lips taste like a promise. That she makes me want to be a better version of myself.

Related Characters: Autumn Browne (speaker), Sylvia Morales, Tyler Browne
Page Number: 187
Explanation and Analysis:

It’s everywhere and all consuming. Some days you think you can’t go on because the only thing waiting for you is more despair. Some days you don’t want to go on because it’s easier to give up than to get hurt again.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tyler Browne
Page Number: 189
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 23 Quotes

You can’t always settle your life in one place. The world was made to change. But as long as you cherish the memories and make new ones along the way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at home.

Related Characters: Fareed Al-Sahar (speaker), Sylvia Morales
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis:
Epilogue Quotes

We are tied to Opportunity, and maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. We plant our seeds here to take root and blossom.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker)
Page Number: 279
Explanation and Analysis:

I hold on for one more moment. Then, around me, other lanterns are released. They float over our heads into the darkness, toward the promise of a new day.

Related Characters: Sylvia Morales (speaker), Tomás Morales
Page Number: 281
Explanation and Analysis: