Right now in the book, Jude and Willem are getting their apartment together in New York. This part shows them starting a new chapter in their lives as they begin living together, and marks the start of them becoming a real part of each other’s lives. This part also connects back to a flashback from college, where Willem sees Jude in pain for the first time and watches him faint. This moment stands out because it marks the beginning of Willem’s awareness of Jude’s condition. Now, living together in the present, Willem has to see Jude’s struggles much more often, and it becomes harder for him because it is no longer something he can step away from since they live together. At the same time, it is especially difficult for Willem because Jude refuses help and tries to hide how much he is struggling
p-85
i think quotes show Willem’s internal conflict. He feels like a coward for not stepping in more forcefully to help Jude, even though he also knows that Jude refuses help and wants to handle things on his own. Willem is trying to respect Jude’s boundaries, but at the same time, he finds it really painful to watch someone he cares about suffer, leaving him powerless.