Imagine if you were the positive pole of a magnet, and you were told that under no circumstances were you allowed to touch that negative pole that was sucking you in like a black hole. Or if you crawled out of the desert and found a woman standing with a pitcher of ice water, but she held it out of your reach. Imagine jumping off a building, and then being told not to fall. That's what it feels like to want a drink.
The excerpt illustrates a profound yearning for something that feels essential yet remains frustratingly unattainable. The metaphor of a positive magnet describes an irresistible pull towards an object of desire, akin to the yearning for a drink of water when parched. This desire is not merely physical; it evokes an emotional struggle where the person feels trapped between their needs and the restrictions imposed upon them, enhancing the sense of frustration and desperation.
The imagery of crawling out of a desert and encountering a woman with water, who then denies access, reflects the agony of longing. It emphasizes how close one can be to fulfillment while being entirely incapable of reaching it. Similarly, the idea of jumping off a building and being instructed not to fall underscores the intensity of this desire and the helplessness that accompanies it, illustrating the depth of human craving for satisfaction in moments of need.