“But he still wished Anna would do something to reassure him—ideally burst into tears and say, You were always there for me, always, and plead with him to forgive her for all her years of neglect—but he'd have settled for even a hint that she intended to make an active effort to meet up.” WaitingFantasySadDesperateUnrequited LoveKristen RoupenianYou Know You Want ThisUnequal Affections Book:You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories Source: You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories
“On the other hand, she happily kept him informed about plans she had with other people, providing a steady flow of information about excursions that were about to happen, details of dates or parties that were always this close to coming together. As long as he listened, without complaint, to an endless description of activities that were supposed to happen without him, there was a 30 percent chance, at least, that Anna would change her mind at the last minute, claim to be unable to handle the unbearable burden of whatever her social plans were supposed to be, and decide to hang out with him instead. She'd arrive at his house and collapse in exaggerated relief: "I am so glad we're doing this, I was so not in the mood for another party at Maria's." As though they were both equally at the mercy of circumstance, similarly oblivious to the power dynamic that governed their "friendship.” RelationshipsFriendshipCarelessCruelPower DynamicsKristen RoupenianYou Know You Want ThisThoughtlessUnequal AffectionsPower Imbalance Book:You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories Source: You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories
“Did he even exist in her mind, as a living, breathing, thinking person? He spent so much time trying to figure out what she was thinking, but what kind of a consciousness did she imagine lived behind the mask of his face?” RelationshipsKristen RoupenianYou Know You Want ThisUnequal AffectionsPower Imbalance Book:You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories Source: You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories