When I made you say my name, you couldn't pretend nothing was happening between us, could you? Was that it? I wanted to get inside you, inside your heart," he said huskily. "Did I?" "A little." "Good." He traced her face with one finger again. "A woman is either a wall or a door, beloved." She gave a bleak laugh and looked at him. "Then I guess I'm a door a thousand men have walked through." "No. You are a wall, a stone wall, four feet thick and a hundred feet high. I can't get over you all by myself, but I keep trying." He kissed her. "I need help, Tirzah.
In this passage, the conversation revolves around the complexities of their relationship, highlighting the struggle between longing and emotional barriers. The speaker expresses a deep desire to connect intimately and acknowledges the weight of his feelings. The mention of wanting to be inside her heart underscores his longing for a profound emotional connection, revealing the vulnerability between them.
The woman’s response reflects her feelings of being overwhelmed by past experiences, suggesting a fear of intimacy. Her comparison to a door highlights her past encounters, while the man insists that she is a formidable barrier—a wall he cannot easily penetrate. This metaphor emphasizes the difficulty he faces in breaking through her emotional defenses, showcasing the theme of love's challenges and the need for support in overcoming them.
