The Thunderstorm as a Symbol of Emotional Upheaval in The Breakaway
What the Thunderstorm Literally Is
In The Breakaway, the thunderstorm is a real weather event that strikes on Day Eight of the group's bike trip. It begins as a heavy downpour and lightning storm that forces the riders to cancel the planned route. The storm persists all morning, turning trails into mud, reducing visibility, and creating dangerous riding conditions. For the characters, this storm is not just a backdrop—it is an active obstacle that reshapes the day’s events.
Where and How the Storm Recurs
The storm first appears in Chapter 22 (Morgan), where Morgan wakes at 7 a.m. to thunder and realizes she cannot bike to her appointment. In Chapter 23 (Kayla), Kayla dresses in the dark and arranges an Uber to get Morgan to the clinic. The storm continues into Chapter 24, where Sebastian decides to ride despite the danger, and Abby reluctantly joins him. The key riding sequence occurs in Chapter 28 (Abby), where the rain turns the trail into mud, Sebastian crashes, and the two share an intimate moment under a tree. The next day dawns sunny, signaling the storm’s end (Chapter 32).
The storm’s recurrence is concentrated within a single day but carries echoes earlier in the trip: on Day Three, the group rides through a threatening sky with “the occasional far-off boom of thunder” (Chapter 15), prefiguring the later crisis.
How the Thunderstorm’s Meaning Changes
- For Morgan: The storm is an immediate practical barrier—she cannot bike to Planned Parenthood. Yet it also becomes a cover story: the “Syracuse University tour” is believable because biking is impossible. The storm mirrors her internal secrecy and the need to hide her pregnancy from her mother Lily.
- For Sebastian: He initially uses the storm as an excuse to escape his shame after reading cruel online comments about his past. He insists on riding alone to “keep moving” away from his feelings. After crashing, he is forced to stop, confront his vulnerability, and admit his fears (Chapter 28: “You’re right and I’m sorry”). The storm strips away his bravado.
- For Abby: The storm tests her professional responsibility—she must accompany Sebastian for safety while coordinating Morgan’s secret clinic visit. It also becomes a catalyst for her own emotional turmoil: she feels torn between loyalty to Mark and her growing attraction to Sebastian. The kiss in the rain (Chapter 28) breaks her self-control.
- For Kayla and Morgan: The storm enables a secret alliance. Kayla uses the storm to justify taking Morgan by car, and the bad weather keeps Lily focused on her own comfort (she goes to a spa, as arranged by Eileen).
Character Connections
- Abby is the responsible ride leader, but the storm forces her to make split-second ethical decisions. She lies to Lily about the campus tour, colludes with Kayla, and rides into danger with Sebastian. The storm exposes her need for control and her inner conflict between duty and desire.
- Sebastian appears reckless, but his insistence on riding reveals a deeper need to outrun his own shame. The storm humbles him; after his crash, he admits he has never had a real girlfriend and that he likes Abby as a friend (though the kiss suggests more).
- Morgan uses the storm as a legitimate excuse to avoid biking, but her emotional storm—morning sickness, fear of her mother’s reaction, determination to reclaim her body—is internal. The storm parallels her decision to keep the pregnancy a secret and to seek an abortion.
- Kayla acts as Morgan’s ally, choosing to help despite the moral weight. The storm amplifies her role as a protective maternal figure for Morgan, contrasting with Lily’s ignorance.
- Eileen briefly appears in this section: she helps by keeping Lily occupied, showing a rare moment of collaboration with Abby.
Thematic Connections
- Reproductive Autonomy and Secrecy: The storm physically enables Morgan to reach the clinic without her mother’s knowledge. This ties directly to the theme of reproductive choice, as discussed in the Reading Group Guide.
- Mother-Daughter Relationships: The storm separates Lily from Morgan, but it also brings Kayla and Abby closer to their own maternal instincts. Abby’s request for Eileen’s help hints at a thaw in their strained relationship—a hug is exchanged (Chapter 25).
- Breaking Free from Societal Expectations: For Sebastian, the storm is a chance to break free from his online persona; for Morgan, it enables her to break free from her mother’s control and make her own choice. The storm literally breaks the bike trip’s routine.
- Body Image and Self-Acceptance: Although not directly about body image, the storm forces Abby to be seen by Sebastian in the rain—wet, muddy, vulnerable—and he still shows interest, undermining her usual shame about her appearance.
- Search for Authentic Connection: The storm removes the group’s usual structure, forcing characters into one-on-one interactions. Abby and Sebastian’s time alone under the tree is the most honest conversation they have on the trip.
Study Questions with Answers
1. How does the thunderstorm function as both an obstacle and an enabler for different characters?
Answer: For Morgan, the storm prevents biking but enables her to take a car to the clinic under the guise of a college visit. For Sebastian, the storm becomes an excuse to ride alone, but it also forces him to crash and confront his vulnerabilities. For Abby, the storm creates a chaotic day that tests her leadership while offering a rare moment of intimacy with Sebastian. The storm thus blocks one path while opening another.
2. What does Sebastian’s decision to ride in the storm reveal about his character?
Answer: Sebastian’s choice shows his impulsive need to escape his feelings after reading online criticism. He ignores safety rules and Abby’s warnings, demonstrating stubbornness and a desire for control. When he crashes, his vulnerability emerges: he admits his past behavior and his loneliness. The storm strips away his confident facade, revealing a “tough guy” who is afraid of being alone.
3. In what ways does the storm parallel Morgan’s internal emotional state in Chapter 22?
Answer: Morgan wakes to a literal storm just as she experiences a personal storm of morning sickness, heartache, and fear of her mother’s judgment. She feels “nausea… breast pain, and heartache” while hiding her pregnancy. The thunder and rain match her turmoil. She resolves to end the pregnancy and “reclaim her life” by the next day, mirroring how the storm eventually passes.
4. How does Abby’s responsibility during the storm affect her relationship with Sebastian?
Answer: Abby is forced to ride with Sebastian against her better judgment. Her professional duty (company rule that no rider rides without a leader) mixes with personal attraction. During the crash and its aftermath, their roles shift: Abby becomes a caretaker, and Sebastian becomes vulnerable. The storm creates a space where they can speak honestly—Sebastian’s apology and admission that he likes her—setting up their later romantic tension. Abby later reflects on the kiss in the rain with “the same feeling… she’d had when she’d learned to ride a bike” (Chapter 31).