Introduktion
One Throughout one's life, the prevailing wisdom insists that love is a wonderful thing, doesn't it? It's that delightful sensation, the flutter in your stomach, the racing heartbeats, where nothing else in the world matters except that one special person.

Yet, envisage a scenario where you harbor these feelings, believing your significant other reciprocates them, only to realize that reality tells a different tale.

Picture the anguish of being deeply in love, only to find your affections unreturned. The pain must be excruciating.

Utdrag
The narrative's complexity deepens through the use of symbolism. Throughout the story, a snake, particularly a python, makes repeated appearances.

This snake serves as a potent symbol of the couple's relationship. As the narrative suggests, "In the presence of a snake stand still and silent" (p. 2, l. 57), mirroring the couple's muted and stagnant relationship.

They communicate only perfunctorily, avoiding essential discussions about their relationship's challenges. They opt for silence, allowing matters to unfold passively, even if it exacerbates their problems.

The symbolism of the snake extends to the story's climax, as the man's treatment of the snake parallels his mistreatment of his girlfriend.

As he swigs beer and callously pours it over the snake's enclosure, he provocatively questions, "You like that?" (p. 4, ll. 128-129).