Dawn's first centric episode as she founds out she's the key and thinks her family doesn't really belong to her. You can't help, but think that Dawn feel neglected, alone and depressed as she only thinks of her memories as a false narrative and no one really loves her. It feels like a metaphor for adoption as she doesn't really belong to the summers house hold and she will never really be a member of their family.
When she runs into Glory at the hospital she sees it as her real birth mother asking questions about her existence before and if she will turn out like her. Just like an abusive mother she threatens to kill her and talks about a disappoint the key is. Yet Buffy protects her, makes the bad woman go away, reassures her they are sisters as all the blood is same no matter your last name, color or sexuality and she's a summers.
When she runs into Glory at the hospital she sees it as her real birth mother asking questions about her existence before and if she will turn out like her. Just like an abusive mother she threatens to kill her and talks about a disappoint the key is. Yet Buffy protects her, makes the bad woman go away, reassures her they are sisters as all the blood is same no matter your last name, color or sexuality and she's a summers.