This belongs to Alexandra:
“Stop!” she cried, “don’t sing that. I don’t want you to sing it,” and she laid her glass so impetuously and blindly upon the table as to shatter it against a carafe. The wine spilled over Arobin’s legs and some of it trickled down upon Mrs. Highcamp’s black gauze gown. Victor had lost all idea of courtesy, or else he thought his hostess was not in earnest, for he laughed and went on:
“Ah! si tu savais
Ce que tes yeux me disent”—
“Oh! you mustn’t! you mustn’t,” exclaimed Edna, and pushing back her chair she got up, and going behind him placed her hand over his mouth. He kissed the soft palm that pressed upon his lips.
– The Awakening by Kate Chopin, originally from a french folk song, as per the book. It means “If only you knew” in French. The words and the language both inspire me, but the choice to tattoo the words came from the deep connection I felt with the character Edna. I understand her despair in love, and I find the words “Ah, si tu savais!” are really the only way to describe it.
(Note: The Awakening is free on Kindle.)
I adore this!