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In the short story ‘Lilies’ by Joan London, the reader is introduced to the character of Christine Hollins who is returning back home to her family after seven years. Her relationship with her family is very distant and the purpose of her return was to bring her family closer and to play the role of a missionary. It is evident in the text that conflicts exists between Christine and her parents ‘…. she was going to talk properly, with her mother.’ She feels that she is almost unrecognizable to her parents when ‘…. she felt that she was another person approaching them.’ She believes that her return was like ‘…. stepping out of the air into a cage.’ Her unwelcoming return was further influenced by where her parents were staying. Their lifestyles have changed over the years and they are now living in a retirement home with ‘…. Tiny livin