The two main cities, New York City and Fuzhou, are places of struggle and possibility in The Leavers. Polly leaves for Fuzhou to “become a new person” (127). Work at Fuzhou is grueling, but Polly feels that her dreams of having her own place are achievable. She takes pride in being one of the first girls from her village to go work and provide for her father. It is when she finds out that she is pregnant that she is made aware of her limitations as a rural migrant in the city. Her departure to New York is similar. Although it is a harder adjustment than Fuzhou and she is frequently overwhelmed by work and her economic conditions, Polly feels pride at traveling so far and is awed by the diversity of the city. Like Fuzhou, New York City presents her with multiple futures. Hong Kong holds this promise for Polly at the close of the novel.

The same is true for Daniel, who finds himself limited in Ridgeborough by his otherness from the white majority and the expectations placed upon him. His escape to New York through playing in Roland’s band is a way of tapping into other possibilities for his future, even if he can’t meet Roland’s expectations.