Response to Jessica

I completely agree with the title you chose for your post, "you cannot run from your past", because it fits the central theme of the story. Amir feels this everlasting guilt and pain that haunts him wherever he goes. The guilt, of course, comes from the incident that happened in the alleyway between Assef and Hassan. Amir watched as Assef raped Hassan and did nothing in order to get the kite to his father. The inaction has caused great pain to Amir which tortured him every time he saw Hassan after that. That is why he tried to get rid of Hassan twice but failed each time. It was only out of Hassan's good gracious did he leave to give some peace to mind to Amir. It was not enough of course because the pain was to unbearable and was impossible to escape since the kite, Baba, and his own home reminded him of the incident. So, his next attempt to leave his past behind was to move to America, away from all the things that could remind of the horrible event that happened in that alleyway. However, as readers, we already know that this will not work for him and this new attempt is only a futile try at trying to forget which will only bring him more pain and for a longer period.