2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Max befriends Ajay, a young patient at the rehabilitation center, and the two offer each other a lifeline. What did Max represent to Ajay and vice versa? Why did he fail to share his death with Gina?

To Max Ajay represented a never give up spirit and Max needed that as he recovered. Ajay looked at Max as someone who has it all. Max chose not to tell Gina because Ajay's death hit him really, really hard and he just couldn't accept how much he came to love Ajay. He needed to push her away.

Max couldn't tell Gina about Ajay's death without showing how hard it hit him and how much he really cared for the kid. He pushed Gina away so he could keep from totally breaking down.

Max has serious commitment issues but was able to connect with Ajay because he reminded him of himself. He was devastated by Ajay's death but it just reinforced his convictions about not getting close to people. He used Ajay's death to push Gina away.

Ajay helped Max recover by showing him the right attitude to heal. Max was the big brother or parent figure that Ajay needed.

Not telling Gina about Ajay was a calculated decision by Max. He wanted her to know that he tried letting someone get close to him, and it didn't work out. He was not going to let Gina get close and hurt again.

These two represented a lifeline for each other. Max got who Ajay was without judgment and Ajay saw a champion in Max. These two needed each other at a time in their lives when they were alone and adrift. Max’s “loneliness” was self-imposed.

It felt really cruel when Max deliberately kept news of Ajay’s death from Gina. It was indeed calculated and got him the desired outcome. But, I think he was unprepared for what her leaving would do to him. Shame on Max.