“The whole summer was inside of us.”
― Black Iris
― Black Iris
“Then why’d you do it?”
“Jealousy,” she said without hesitation. “It always comes down to something crude. Don’t kid yourself, Keating. It’s human nature.”
― Black Iris
“Jealousy,” she said without hesitation. “It always comes down to something crude. Don’t kid yourself, Keating. It’s human nature.”
― Black Iris
“He looked at me in a way that felt like being touched, like a blind man seeing with his fingers, mapping my bones and skin in his mind. I felt weirdly exposed. Seen.
“It’s not what you think,” he said.
“What do I think?”
“I’m not that good. I can’t read minds.”
Then read my body, I thought, but he only smiled.
“Tell me something.” He leaned closer, his voice raspy at the edges, charred. “If you hate human connection so much, why come with us?”
Because I don’t hate it. I hate how much I need it.
Because you’re the ones I was waiting for.”
― Black Iris
“It’s not what you think,” he said.
“What do I think?”
“I’m not that good. I can’t read minds.”
Then read my body, I thought, but he only smiled.
“Tell me something.” He leaned closer, his voice raspy at the edges, charred. “If you hate human connection so much, why come with us?”
Because I don’t hate it. I hate how much I need it.
Because you’re the ones I was waiting for.”
― Black Iris
“I wouldn't have to explain that I fall in love with minds, not genders or body parts.”
― Black Iris
― Black Iris
“The greater part of me knew it couldn’t be real, but the hopeful part, which is more concentrated and condensed, rich in nine essential delusions, thought: It’s not all in your head.”
― Black Iris
― Black Iris
Afnan’s 2025 Year in Books
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