“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
“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
“She puts her head on his shoulder, and for a second, it's like the other good night, the night of the bonfire, the brief lifting of the yoke, freedom from the circle: Marco hurting Anna, Anna hurting Ted, Ted hurting Rachel, these endless rounds of jealousy and harm.” RelationshipsHurtEndlessLove 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