The Next Person You Meet in Heaven

Annie’s body represents Annie’s character and symbolizes her personal transformation throughout the novel. Annie’s hand is cut off in an accident at Ruby Pier when she is eight, and she spends her life resentful of this fact. She believes that the accident ruined her relationship with her mother and her chances at a “normal” life. However, Annie’s hand represents different things to the people who love her. To Lorraine, Annie’s hand is a sign of her failure as a parent, which spurs her to become overprotective. To Paulo, Annie’s hand is something that makes her unique and special. To Cleo, Annie’s hand is the source of her empathy, which allowed Annie to choose Cleo rather than some other, seemingly perfect dog. For Eddie, Annie’s hand was a small price to pay for the fact that her life was saved.

Annie’s whole body is also made symbolic after she dies. It disappears when she enters heaven, and in order to gain it back and go back to Earth, she must first meet five people and gain clarity about her life. The first things to return are her arms and legs, which she uses to navigate heaven.