The juxtaposition of light and dark signals the changing mood of the story, from one of hope to despair. At the beginning of the narrative, it is an early spring evening and the sky is pastel-colored. The young man is fully visible, and onlookers can see The Joy of Young Love in his facial expression. However, after he purchases the tea roses, the narration’s descriptions become gradually darker. Once the protagonist turns down the alley where the murder takes place, it is “dark and shadowy”(Paragraph 36). As the spring day grows darker, so do the intentions of the young man. Once he murders the woman who is not Norma, she is described as a “dark shadow” on the lane, emphasizing her anonymity to him. As he walks away, it is “full dark now” (Paragraph 40), representing the darkness of his deed. Concealed by the night, the bloodstains on his clothes go undetected.