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Angst Quote by Nenia Campbell

“That's not cruel. This is. You come here in the middle of the night, expecting me to be awake, and ask—no, demand—me to give you things that belong to me as much as they belong to you. Never mind what it does to me. Never mind that each time I see you, I wonder if I'll ever hold you in my arms…” quote by Nenia Campbell
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““That's not cruel. This is. You come here in the middle of the night, expecting me to be awake, and ask—no, demand—me to give you things that belong to me as much as they belong to you. Never mind what it does to me. Never mind that each time I see you, I wonder if I'll ever hold you in my arms again, or be able to touch you without you cringing away like I'm a monster. I think it's fair to ask if there's an 'us,' my dear, because I suspect you're trying to use me just now. Tell me that's not cruel, and I'll let you go.””

Nenia Campbell

About This Quote

The speaker feels exploited and emotionally drained, questioning the fairness of demanding intimacy under duress.

In simple terms: Being asked for intimacy while vulnerable feels cruel.

Key Takeaway

Set boundaries and communicate limits when feeling used.

Themes

boundaries exploitation emotional labor intimacy fairness

Mood

conflicted empathetic

Type

ethical emotional

When to use this quote

  • relationships
  • personal boundaries

Key Concepts

consent power dynamics emotional health

Questions to Reflect On

  • What boundaries are essential for you in intimate encounters?
  • How can you express needs without feeling guilty?
A Different Perspective

It may overlook the other’s perspective or context.

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