Every word, every gesture is now loaded with ambiguity, nothing can be taken at face value. We speak to each other from a safe distance, pretending all the years we soaped each other's backs and pissed in front of each other never happened. We don't use any of the baby talk, code words, or short hand gestures that had been our language of intimacy, the proof that we belonged to each other.
The passage highlights a profound shift in the dynamics of a relationship, where previous intimacy has been replaced by distance and ambiguity. Communication has become strained, as every word and gesture is now laced with uncertainty, making it impossible to trust the meaning behind them. This distance suggests a painful recognition of how close they once were, now overshadowed by their current detachment.
In this context, the characters reveal their discomfort with the absence of familiar intimacy symbols such as baby talk or specific gestures that once signified their connection. The lack of these expressions serves as a poignant reminder of their past closeness and the impact of their emotional estrangement. The quote captures the essence of a relationship attempting to navigate the complexities of change and the struggle to reconnect amid lingering memories of shared vulnerability.
