The speaker is a gay man reflecting on his romantic and sexual experiences from middle school into adulthood. Narrating his own life in the second person as "you," he frequently questions his own capacity to give and receive affection. He internalizes early societal rejection, leading him into a series of intense, physically aggressive, or emotionally detached encounters.

A boy from the speaker's middle-school years. When the young speaker desires to touch his hands and lips, this boy reacts with intense physical violence. His harsh reaction reinforces the speaker's early belief that his desires warrant punishment.

A man who engages in a boozy, casual tryst with the speaker. He exhibits complete apathy toward his partner once their physical encounter concludes. He provides cab fare for the speaker to go home but otherwise remains entirely detached.

A sexual partner who dominates and repeatedly strikes the speaker. He views the speaker through a lens of total objectification, pushing his flesh around and treating him as a "familiar whipping boy." His physical aggression is presented as a direct expression of his desire.

A young man observed by the speaker in a grocery store. He possesses a physical demeanor that makes him look as though he constantly recoils from being hit by other men. The speaker notices his apparent trauma but actively chooses to look away and remain uninvolved.

A guest at the speaker's apartment who sleeps in the speaker's bed. During their encounter, he remains entirely frozen and unresponsive while the speaker forces kisses upon him. He ignores the speaker's earlier warnings, leading to a highly uncomfortable and coercive situation.