Previous
Kayoko
Sister Bernice is a young nun in Broome who assists Dr. Ibaraki in the Japanese hospital. Ibaraki routinely notices her easy, gentle, and friendly nature with the patients. She often talks with Ibaraki about her childhood in Perth, and the two develop a special relationship. Towards the end of his time in Broome, Ibaraki realizes that Bernice has romantic feelings for him. After the Australian government interns Ibaraki, he never sees Sister Bernice again. However, during his time in the camp, he often thinks of her. In fact, it is Sister Bernice’s letter that Ibaraki saves for years that ultimately encourages him to tell the truth about his lab, 50 years after the fact.
Sister Bernice Quotes in After Darkness
The After Darkness quotes below are all either spoken by Sister Bernice or refer to Sister Bernice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 12: Broome, 1940
Quotes
But for all [Sister Bernice’s] outward calmness, I sensed something had changed. She still conversed with me and occasionally brought me black tea—although she herself never used the cup I gave her, which pained me—but there was a coolness to her now. She had closed a part of herself to me.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15: Broome, 1941
Quotes
Sister Bernice gazed at me. “Don’t you realise what this means? We’re at war with Japan now. You mustn’t stay here. It isn’t safe.” Perhaps mistaking my silence for shock, she continued to speak. “They’ll come for you—they’ll put you away. You should have left a long time ago.”
Her face was creased in anguish. I felt a great tenderness towards her at that moment. “Thank you for your concern, Sister, but you need not worry—I have prepared myself for this outcome.”
Get the entire After Darkness LitChart as a printable PDF.
Sister Bernice Quotes in After Darkness
The After Darkness quotes below are all either spoken by Sister Bernice or refer to Sister Bernice. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 12: Broome, 1940
Quotes
But for all [Sister Bernice’s] outward calmness, I sensed something had changed. She still conversed with me and occasionally brought me black tea—although she herself never used the cup I gave her, which pained me—but there was a coolness to her now. She had closed a part of herself to me.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 15: Broome, 1941
Quotes
Sister Bernice gazed at me. “Don’t you realise what this means? We’re at war with Japan now. You mustn’t stay here. It isn’t safe.” Perhaps mistaking my silence for shock, she continued to speak. “They’ll come for you—they’ll put you away. You should have left a long time ago.”
Her face was creased in anguish. I felt a great tenderness towards her at that moment. “Thank you for your concern, Sister, but you need not worry—I have prepared myself for this outcome.”
