Then I thought of how my life at Ault was a series of interactions and avoidance of interactions in which I pretended not to mind that I was almost always by myself. I could not last for long this way, certainly not for the next three years; I'd been at Ault only seven months, and already, my loneliness felt physically exhausting.
In Curtis Sittenfeld's novel "Prep," the protagonist reflects on her experience at Ault, where she grapples with feelings of isolation. She describes her time there as marked by a constant cycle of engaging in interactions while simultaneously avoiding true connection, which leaves her feeling lonely and depleted. This sense of solitude weighs heavily on her, suggesting that the social dynamics at the school are particularly challenging for her.
After just seven months at Ault, the weight of her loneliness becomes almost unbearable, prompting her to question how she can endure this emotional struggle for the next three years. The narrative captures the profound impact of loneliness on her well-being, illustrating the internal conflict between her desire for companionship and her experience of solitude in a seemingly vibrant environment.
