The conversation started quietly enough, with him saying what he often said to me, which was that I bottled up my feelings until they came out like a fire hose, that if I didn’t withhold so much we could reach each other better."
-- Narration (N/A)

Importance: This quote highlights Jordan’s habitual emotional withholding and the tension it creates in her relationships. It underscores a recurring theme of the novel: her tendency to protect herself by containing her emotions, even when this prevents genuine connection. The ex-boyfriend’s observation frames Jordan’s behavior as both a defensive mechanism and an obstacle, suggesting that her withholding shapes how others perceive and interact with her. It also foreshadows the wider consequences of her emotional reticence with Yash, showing early on that her reluctance to express vulnerability consistently impedes intimacy.

He goes to the kitchen and I have a cry in the bathroom. I want...
-- Narration (N/A)