Fiction Quote...
This is from a book that I just finished reading. It's a fictional memoir about a pair of conjoined twins, Owen and Porter. The book explores their growth from Owen's viewpoint as he learns about how others see them and how they see themselves. Owen comes to the realization that he's gay, a fact that he doesn't hide from his brother, but often has to keep secret because of choices that Porter has made--choices such as getting married. It's an extremely interesting and unique novel, and I highly recommend it. I was surprised at how often I really did identify with Owen, despite our obvious differences.
Porter's wife, Faith, has just confronted Owen with the request that he give up his allotted time so Porter can be with their children when they're born. While Owen had already conceded that this was going to happen, when he tells Faith that he needs time to think about her suggestion that he basically become a non-entity for a year or more, she becomes upset. Here's some introspection on Owen's part.
"What bothered me was the idea that my time was less valuable than Porter's because I was single, "alone"--at least from Faith's perspective--and he was a part of a family. It was as if his worth had been multiplied by the number of people who were or soon would be dependent on him, that being married made his life twice as important as mine and having kids would make it exponentially more precious. My own life was expendable; I was expected to sacrifice it for the greater good of Porter and his family."
--First Person Plural, pg. 248
Porter's wife, Faith, has just confronted Owen with the request that he give up his allotted time so Porter can be with their children when they're born. While Owen had already conceded that this was going to happen, when he tells Faith that he needs time to think about her suggestion that he basically become a non-entity for a year or more, she becomes upset. Here's some introspection on Owen's part.
"What bothered me was the idea that my time was less valuable than Porter's because I was single, "alone"--at least from Faith's perspective--and he was a part of a family. It was as if his worth had been multiplied by the number of people who were or soon would be dependent on him, that being married made his life twice as important as mine and having kids would make it exponentially more precious. My own life was expendable; I was expected to sacrifice it for the greater good of Porter and his family."
--First Person Plural, pg. 248