István

István is the central character of Flesh, a Hungarian boy whose life stretches from a poor housing estate to the rarefied world of London wealth and back again. As a teenager he is quiet, physically strong, and unsure of how to move among other people. His first sexual experiences occur in contexts of secrecy and imbalance. The affair with the older neighbor and the fatal shove in the stairwell mark him early with guilt, institutional punishment, and a sense that desire and danger are intertwined. In the youth detention center he learns that silence and controlled violence secure survival, and those lessons shape his later success in the army and private security work.

Adult István appears disciplined and self contained, yet that composure often hides confusion, shame, and longing. In Iraq he performs acts of bravery, but the medal he earns feels hollow. His work...