Protagonist's Emotional Impact through Diction and Syntax

In the following excerpt from a contemporary novel, the author employs various stylistic choices to create a profound emotional impact. Carefully read the passage and consider the author’s use of diction and syntax. What effect do the author's word choices and sentence structures have on the reader's understanding of the protagonist's plight?

"As the rain beat against the window, each droplet a remembrance of what had been lost, Emily sat engulfed in the heavy silence of the room. The unsaid words lay thick in the air, burdensome like the mist outside, where shadows flickered and danced with the unrelenting winds. She clutched the tattered cushion, its frayed edges a testament to time—each thread a silent witness to the joy and agony that had once filled the space."