“The real problem with his type of OCD--chronic fear of hurting other people--was that you thought so much about not running over children, not sideswiping pedestrians, not poisoning strangers with germs on your hands…”
Both main characters in the narrative suffer from either physical or psychological conditions that cripple their everyday life. Mathew is plagued by obsessive-compulsive disorder which makes him fixated on certain rituals while also having extreme anxieties. In the assertion, the narrator illustrates the aspects of having OCD and how it psychologically inhibits him which could even have external repercussions. The novel delves into a world that most individuals cannot really comprehend showing how living with inhibiting conditions is sometimes an ordeal. Thus, the two characters appreciate each other than anyone else would since they truly understand the hardships of their conditions.
“I've decided that it is possible to love someone for entirely selfless reasons, for all of their flaws and weaknesses, and still not succeed in having them love you back.”
The narrative revolves around finding a person who loves us for our faults rather than our perfections. Therefore, the assertion is a realization by Mathew that loving can come from appreciating the flaws and limitations of the other sincerely. It further accentuates the aspect of complete vulnerability for one to experience true love or something life-changing. Their romance is one that is built from accepting the limitations of the other because they understand their respective challenging lives.
