And to move away to any degree carries with it the potential risk of eventual abandonment. There is no more powerful siren call that warns us of this than shame. As such, any movement away without a clear indication of return—which is how Miriam’s brain interpreted her father’s silence—works harmonically with shame. Hence, not only does shame warn us of the potential of leaving, but leaving with no indication for the intention of reappearing also activates shame, even in deeply hidden and quiet ways outside our conscious awareness.
