“Anna loves Ted, but she does not want him in a way that causes her to suffer; she does not want him desperately, despite herself. And it turns out that is how Ted has always wanted to be wanted: the way he has always wanted women. The way Anna wanted Marco, and he wanted Anna, and Rachel (or so it seems, in retrospect) wanted him. In the absence of this painful wanting, Ted has trouble getting hard.” DesireSufferingPainfulUnrequited LoveUnattainableWantingLove TriangleKristen RoupenianYou Know You Want ThisVicious Cycle Book:You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories Source: You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories
“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
“He unrequitedly loved Anna; Anna unrequitedly loved Marco; Marco probably unrequitedly loved some rando none of them had ever met. The world was pitiless. Nobody had any power over anyone else.” LoveRelationshipsUnfairUnrequited LoveLove TrianglePatternKristen RoupenianYou Know You Want ThisVicious Cycle Book:You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories Source: You Know You Want This: Cat Person and Other Stories