Novalee hates the number 5 because she associates it with traumatic and painful events in her life, leading her to believe it is a bad omen. This deep-seated aversion causes her significant distress whenever she encounters the number.
Her fear of the number 5 stems from two particularly difficult experiences:
- Childhood Abandonment at Age Five: When Novalee was just five years old, her mother abandoned her. This formative and traumatic experience directly linked the number 5 to feelings of loss, neglect, and betrayal, establishing it as a symbol of misfortune in her mind.
- Violent Injury and the Number 55: Later in her life, while working as a waitress, Novalee suffered a severe injury when a customer went berserk and cut her arm from wrist to elbow. The distressing aftermath of this incident involved the number 55, which reinforced her belief that the number 5, and its combinations, are harbingers of harm and distress.
These two distinct incidents, occurring at critical junctures, solidified the number 5 as a powerful and negative symbol for Novalee, causing her panic and fear, as seen when even a sum of $5.55 can trigger her anxiety.
For more details on Novalee's story, you can refer to the plot summary of Where the Heart Is (2000).
