These Violent Delights: A Novel

his projection-self postured on. “Do you think they know what it really means to love?” his projection-self mused aloud to him. “That it isn’t the simple joy of fondness, I mean. In fact it’s violent, destructive. It means to cut the heart out of your chest and give it to someone else.”

I envied those two. They kissed. I wanted to be both of them. I wanted to be strong enough to hold someone, or lovely enough to be held.

‘You never did. But do you want to, even now? You can’ – he seemed to be leaning out of himself – ‘I’m just here.’ He breathed as if the air were thin. His lips were red. The buttons on his coat had come undone and he looked at Thomas with an elated will that had no desire in it. I know that look, thought Thomas, I’ve seen it before, when Lowlands