Unfortunately, Maria is constantly aware of the disappearance of children from her life and is borderline depressed. Didion shows readers many symptoms of Maria's depression throughout the novel. For example, the narrator says, “When she got home she thought about calling him [Les Goodwin], but instead she went upstairs and lay face down on Kate's empty bed, cradled Kate's blanket, clutched Kate's pillow to her stomach and fought against a wave of terror” (Didion 23). It is obvious that Maria is depressed; however, she cannot confide in Carter because he is emotionally distant, nor can she confide in him her lover Les Goodwin because he is a married man. Therefore, Maria becomes self-destructive and involuntarily searches for an identity. For example, after a party, Maria “was stopped for speeding outside Tonopah and when the traffic policeman saw the silver dress and bare feet and the Ferrari registered to someone else” the officer discovered was actually stolen ( Didion 154) Creatively shows the readers that Maria acts involuntarily due to her lack of control about life. In fact, anyone in their right mind wouldn't have stolen a car from a famous person like Maria did. The People in Maria's Life Maria notices that there is a problem and begins to worry about her well-being. This is shown when