“Fairy Tale” (post 1) a novel by Stephen King: Protagonist has italicized thoughts, “only it didn’t seem like my thought at all.” How is it possible to both have, and not have, various thoughts?

“…I can’t leave her [the patient’s dog]. I’ll have to take her to the goddam hospital…” [says the patient].

“They won’t let you," I said. “You must know that.”

“Then I’m not going" [says the patient].

“Oh yes you are, I thought. And then I thought something else, only it didn’t seem like my thought at all. I’m sure it was, but it didn’t seem that way. We had a deal. Never mind picking up litter on the highway, this is where you hold up your end of it” (1, p. 26).

Comment: In this blog, search “italicized” to see past posts with examples from other novels. Novelists may or may not understand how a person or character can both have and not have particular thoughts. Undiagnosed, even unintentional, alternate personalities, make it possible. 

1. Stephen King. Fairy Tale. New York, Scribner, 2022/2023.