27 Comments
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zef's avatar

this was wonderful. I've used the stove metaphor in fiction about exes reconnecting, and now that I've read this, I can't help but see: yep! definitely resonates in my personal life again. currently back with the stove that my family tell me has cooled down, and perhaps was never hot. good thing my friends can see the burns! wow this comment got maybe out of hand, which is my way of saying hey this was inspiring! and made me feel so seen. I raise my virtual glass to you x

wenyi xue's avatar

Oh wow I love when coincidences like that happen it makes the metaphor feel so much more. Tysm for sharing + I hope things go okay with your stove <3

A'Daja Chantrell's avatar

Wait so the stove is always hot, you just become numb to the heat?😭😭 Everytime I read one of your posts it makes me want to have a workshop where I just tell you everything I love about them.

This is so…beautiful isn’t even the word. Your use of metaphor and perspective is mesmerizing, and this is coming from the girl who has read and critiqued A LOT of creative memoir. So excited to read more!

wenyi xue's avatar

oh my god this is such an insane compliment i am beyond flattered <3 i think part of the fun for me with this one is the stove metaphor can go so many ways :) if the stove being perpetually hot is how you want to read the essay, then that’s what the meaning is!

A'Daja Chantrell's avatar

The freedom for interpretation makes so much sense. My mind went a couple different ways while reading for sure

Untangled Knots's avatar

“Everyone is kinder to me these days and I resent the fact that it doesn’t make me feel any warmer.” I wish I didn’t feel so awkward and uncomfortable when my parents say “I love you”. I don’t doubt that they try, but they never really saw me, and they even called me crazy when I told them that they never really saw me.

If love is warmth and the world is so cold, being attracted to a flame would make sense. Maybe life is about producing our own flame and learning to keep it at just the right temperature. Just playing with your metaphor.

Hope you don’t mind these kinds of comments!

wenyi xue's avatar

love these kinds of comments, i’m so glad that what i wrote can resonate with others + spin off into more metaphorical interpretations.

greta's avatar

“The stove’s still hot, but maybe I am the stove.” - i love this 💌

Mei's avatar

this was so well written. i thoroughly enjoyed it !

wenyi xue's avatar

thank you so much :)

ella jade's avatar

this was so beautifully written - thank you for sharing

theo's avatar

"When you're born in a burning house, you think the whole world is on fire. But it's not."

wenyi xue's avatar

love this quote! kinda funny because it's one of my sources of inspiration for an upcoming essay, although the theme probably fits this one more.

Rossettuh's avatar

the part about the marbles made me scream this is so good

wenyi xue's avatar

thank u so much <3

tess☆'s avatar

not to spam your notifications but you are quickly becoming my favorite writer, possibly ever. I don't think "The stove’s still hot, but I’m freezing" will leave my mind for a while. The way you explain these concepts and this pain is so so incredible, I hope you know that!

sending love <3

wenyi xue's avatar

Tysm 🥹🥹🥹 that means so much to me

Nice In Killing Oceans's avatar

I want to write like you one day. This was incredible.

wenyi xue's avatar

thank you so much!! write like yourself, that’s more valuable <3

didi's avatar

absolutely stunning

wenyi xue's avatar

Tysm!!! That means so much esp coming from you I think your writing is incredible!!

didi's avatar

omg thank u so much THAT means so much because your writing is SO amazing to me!!

monet's avatar

beautiful

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Aug 17, 2024
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wenyi xue's avatar

thank you v much!