Fifteen years Quote by Tao Lin
““There was a metal rod inside of Colin. The rod went from his stomach to the middle of his head. It was made of steel and sugar, and had been dissolving inside of Colin for ten or fifteen years, slow and sweet, above and behind his tongue; and he could taste it in that way, like an aftertaste, removed and seeping and outside of the mouth. Sometimes he’d glimpse it with the black, numb backs of his eyes. But what he really wanted was to wrench it out. Cut it up and chew it. Or melt it. Bathe in the hard, sweet lava of it.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “The End of the World is Not a Fact” by Tao Lin, 2015
A protagonist endures a slow, sweet, painful internal burden that he wishes to destroy or consume, symbolizing lingering trauma or addiction.
In simple terms: He feels a lingering, sweet pain he wants to eliminate.
Key Takeaway
Identify and confront lingering inner pain.
Themes
pain
addiction
trauma
desire
conflict
Mood
melancholic
introspective
Type
literary
metaphorical
When to use this quote
- personal therapy
- creative writing
- addiction recovery
- mindfulness practice
- support groups
Key Concepts
psychology
symbolism
self‑destruction
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal burden are you tolerating?
- How can you transform sweet pain into growth?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure practical steps for healing.
