Three Women

Texts and phone calls—and their absence—elicit desire, stress, and heartbreak. Aidan’s communication characterizes him as uncaring in the face of Lina’s overwhelming devotion. When Aidan texts Lina “what u into,” Lina knows this to mean: “I will fuck you right now if you can get near to where I am within the allotted time” (226). The brevity of his messages and their implicit demand that Lina should immediately make herself available to him highlights Aidan’s self-centeredness. Aidan also makes frequent demands of Lina to send him “hot pics,” and Lina obliges, buying new clothes and lingerie with him in mind. While electronic communication serves as a means of contact between the two, it is weaponized by Aidan to control and manipulate Lina. It brings pleasant sexual distraction for Aidan, but heartbreak and frustration for Lina.

Similarly, Knodel uses electronic communication to control and manipulate Maggie. Knodel explores the idea of an illicit relationship with Maggie via text. Knodel messages Maggie, “I’m a teacher and you’re a student, and we shouldn’t be talking like this” (75). Tellingly, he does not stop messaging her. Knodel carefully controls his and Maggie’s electronic communications in a way which typifies their relationship dynamic. He always messages her first, and Maggie must program his wife’s number into her phone, so she knows to avoid answering it. At one point, Maggie starts to lose interest. Knodel, sensing this, messages her to say, “I think I’m falling in love with you” (113). This text “resuscitates her dwindling obsession” (113). Maggie, smitten and excited, agrees to come to his house later that week, and they have a sexual encounter. Later, the prosecution refers to the astounding amount of time the two spent on the phone: “Incoming calls, from Aaron to Maggie, forty-six at 752 minutes. Outgoing calls, from Maggie to Aaron, forty-seven at 1,405 minutes” (205). Unbelievably, the defense manages to represent this time merely as a concerned teacher checking on a troubled student.

For Sloane, her communications with Richard during sexual exploration are a vital part of their open relationship. It can also be a source of pain and stress. Sloane often films her encounters on her phone to send to Richard or watch with him later. It is also a requirement of Richard that he and Sloane stay in touch via messages or phone calls throughout her sexual explorations. During one encounter, Sloane’s phone dies. Richard is upset and angry, “I can’t have you not in touch with me…that was terrible” (215). Later, Sloane’s flirtatious messages to Wes are found by Jenny, his wife, and this brings an end to Richard, Sloane, and Wes’s relationship. As with the other women, messaging enables sexual and romantic connections to flourish, but can also bring expectations, exposure, and immense stress.