Relationship Spotlight: Kieren Walker & Amy Dyer (In the Flesh)

A lot of bleak stuff happens on In the Flesh, and Kieren gets more than his fair share of it.  In the midst of all the sadness, regret, fear, injustice, and confusion that fills his new life, he’s in need of some spark of light, and for the most part, that light comes from his friendship with Amy.

Kieren comes across Amy when he first ventures out upon returning home.  He avoids her, fearing the society that hates him and abhorring the undead face beneath his makeup.  He left the house because he couldn’t bear to sit there any longer, but now, he wants to retreat again.  But Amy’s not what he expected.  She doesn’t fear or hate him; she’s like him.  She recognizes the PDS features he disguises, but she doesn’t mind them.  In him, she sees a potential kindred spirit.  She knows what he’s been doing since he came home – looking at old photos, wallowing in old memories, and tearing himself apart with guilt – and she knows that’s no way to live.

Amy’s death was the polar opposite of Kieren’s.  While he committed suicide, overwhelmed by pain and remorse, her life was taken by cancer.  Like him, she died young, but she died against her will, her health and vitality ripped from her.  Though Kieren has a hard time returning to life at all, let alone with PDS, Amy doesn’t waste a shred of her second chance.  Kieren absolutely needs her in his life, to remind him that life can more than just pain and that it needs to be lived.

Since Amy is quick to come to terms with her PDS, she’s also an important force in helping Kieren to accept himself.  Sometimes she simply leads by example, going “au naturel” (sans makeup/contacts) in public and speaking openly about being undead.  Sometimes she confronts Kieren about the self-loathing he pretends is really just about fitting in – she asks him how far he’ll have to go before he’ll let himself be who he is.  Sometimes she stands up for her and Kieren’s rights when he wants to back down, and sometimes she simply tells him how beautiful he is; a boy who can’t look at his own reflection needs to hear that, and not enough people tell Kieren.  While he doesn’t embrace the Undead Prophet’s teachings like Amy does, Kieren definitely grows under her influence, becoming bolder and more confident about being himself. 

Kieren additionally finds a confidante in Amy.  Her natural openness make her safe, and her curiosity pulls many of Kieren’s private feelings out of hiding.  Within days of knowing her, he opens up about his suicide and his history with Rick.  She accepts it all with sympathy rather than pity – no judgment, just comfort, and going forward, she doesn’t treat him like he’ll break.  They even joke, lightly, about his past depression, and when Rick returns to town (undead,) she tells Kieren while others try to keep it from him “for his own good.”  It’s a tough love approach that isn’t always what Kieren needs, but she generally knows when to ease up and stop pushing.

That’s a lot about why Amy is good for Kieren, and since he’s the main character, it makes sense that the relationship is largely from his perspective.  It’s not one-sided, though; Kieren is much more obviously in need of a good friend, but Amy needs him, too.  Her constant jokes and chatter serve in part to fill empty spaces, and Kieren keeps her from being alone.  His quiet, gentle friendship evens her out.  In Amy’s other relationships, we see defensiveness (Phillip) and bravado (Simon,) both fueled by a desire to be loved and a fear that she won’t be, but Kieren is a sure presence, someone who’s on her side and won’t leave.  He bemusedly accepts the mantle of her BDFF – Best Dead Friend Forever – and doesn’t plan to give it up anytime soon.