Feel Like Quote by Lauren Oliver
““What does it feel like?” I know what he is talking about, but still I ask, “What does what feel like?” “The deliria.” He pauses. Then I hear him slide slowly out of bed. He is kneeling in the space between our bunks. I cannot move or breathe. If I turn my head, our lips will be six inches apart. Less. “What does it feel like to be infected?” “I—I can’t describe it.” I force the words out. Can’t breathe, can’t breathe, can’t breathe. His skin smells like smoke from a wood fire, like soap, like heaven. I imagine tasting his skin; I imagine biting his lips. “I want to know.” His words are a whisper, barely audible. “I want to know with you.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The Death of Bees” by Lauren Oliver, 2012
A desperate yearning for intimate connection amid illness and fear, expressed through vivid sensory details and a plea for shared experience.
In simple terms: Desire for closeness despite suffering.
Key Takeaway
Seek empathy and honest communication.
Themes
intimacy
illness
desire
fear
sensory perception
Mood
anxious
intense
poignant
Type
narrative
emotional
When to use this quote
- hospital bedside
- terminal illness
- caregiver conversations
- intimate moments
Key Concepts
psychology
human connection
mortality
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we balance physical and emotional intimacy in crisis?
- What does sharing pain reveal about us?
A Different Perspective
The intense focus on physical sensations may obscure emotional nuance.
