Ali's gifts
In the text, Ali's gifts are symbolic of his affection for Esi, but also his lack of effort. Instead of paying more attention to her and visiting more, Ali simply buys her gifts and thinks that is enough. To Esi, this represents his lack of concern about her.
Travelling
Ali's constant travel represents his ability to commit to a single person or a place and represents his attitude towards romantic relationships. Ali is never content with what he has but is constantly moving onto something new.
Trance simile
When Esi first meets Ali she is captivated by him, and is described with a simile in the following passage: "When she got up to leave, saying that in that case, she better be going, she felt as if she were waking from a trance." Esi is described as feeling as though she is in a trance, which represents how attractive she finds Ali.
Car simile
Esi's car is described with a simile: "The she was opening the door of her car, sitting before the wheel, putting it into motion, and with the old machine coughing like some asthmatic, she was gone." This simile suggests that her car is in dire need of repair.
