For there is always a sanctuary more, a door that can never be forced, whatever the force, a last inviolable stronghold that can never be taken, whatever the attack; your vote can be taken, your name, your innards, even your life, but that last stronghold can only be surrendered. And to surrender it for any reason other than love is to surrender love. Hank had always known this without knowing it, and by making him doubt it briefly I made it possible for both of us to discover it. I knew it now. And I knew that to win my love, my life, I would have to win back for myself the right to this last stronghold.
The passage emphasizes the existence of an invincible inner sanctuary within every individual that cannot be violated by external forces. Despite the various challenges one may face—such as losing a vote, name, or even life—this sanctuary symbolizes an untouched core that can only be willingly surrendered. It's a poignant reminder that losing this internal fortress, especially for reasons that do not stem from love, equates to sacrificing love itself.
The character Hank understands this intrinsic truth, even if he has never articulated it. Through doubt and introspection, both he and the narrator realize that to reclaim personal strength and love, one must protect this inner stronghold. The quote reflects the struggle for self-possession and the importance of love as the ultimate motivation for personal surrender, highlighting the profound connection between love, identity, and resilience.
