“The tears that had been threatening to overflow finally did, coursing down my cheeks. I wanted to run after him, to take back what I'd said, to beg him to stay, but I'd spent my life running after Mal. Instead, I stood in silence and let him go.”
Analysis
In this quote from Leigh Bardugo's novel, the speaker expresses a deep sense of regret and sadness as they watch someone important to them walk away. The use of tears and the imagery of wanting to run after the person, but feeling paralyzed by past actions, conveys a sense of helplessness and longing. The speaker's realization that they have spent their life chasing after this individual, potentially at the expense of their own desires and needs, adds a layer of complexity to the emotions portrayed. This quote captures the bittersweet nature of love and longing, as well as the pain of letting go.
Modern Relevance
In this poignant quote from Leigh Bardugo's novel, the narrator grapples with the heart-wrenching realization that sometimes, letting go is the only option. This theme of acceptance and moving on can resonate with readers in today's fast-paced world where individuals may find themselves holding onto relationships or situations that are no longer serving them. Learning to let go and move forward can be a powerful tool for personal growth and self-discovery.
Emotional Extract from a Novel by Leigh Bardugo
"The tears that had been threatening to overflow finally did, coursing down my cheeks. I wanted to run after him, to take back what I'd said, to beg him to stay, but I'd spent my life running after Mal. Instead, I stood in silence and let him go.” - Leigh Bardugo"
Reflection Questions:
In this emotional moment, the protagonist is faced with a decision to let go of someone they care about deeply. Reflect on a time when you had to make a similarly difficult choice. How did you handle it and what did you learn from the experience? Consider the significance of the protagonist choosing to stand in silence instead of chasing after the person they love. Have you ever had a moment where staying silent felt like the best course of action, even though it was painful? How did you navigate that situation and what did you take away from it? Think about the theme of letting go and how it is portrayed in this passage. How do you personally approach letting go of things or people in your life? Is it more difficult for you to hold on or to release? How do you find strength in moments of saying goodbye?
Similar quotes
“I had been lying to myself, thinking I was free, thinking I had let him go. It didn't matter what he said or did, I'd never let him go." - Belly Conklin”
“I watched the tears run down her cheeks and start to drip from the end of her chin. One part of me wanted to put my arms round her but I daren't. Do that and I'd never be able to let her go.”
“I had crossed the yard to him slowly, watching him draw closer, baffled by the way my heart was skittering around my chest. Then he'd picked me up and spun me in a circle, and I'd clung to him, breathing in his sweet, familiar smell, shocked by how much I'd missed him. Dimly, I'd been aware that I still had a shard of the blue cup in my hand, that it was digging into my palm, but I didn't want to let go.When he finally set me down and ambled off to the kitchen to find his lunch, I stood there, my palm dripping blood, my head still spinning, knowing that everything had changed.Ana Kuya had scoled me for getting blood on the clean kitchen floor. She'd bandaged my hand and told me it would heal. But I knew it would just go on hurting.In the creaking silence of the cell, Mal kissed the scar on my palm, the wound made so long ago by the edge of that broken cup, a fragile thing I'd thought beyond repair.”
“That she had somehow taken the initiative to learn my name should have struck me then, but it did not. Instead, as she stood on the street with the rain coming down and mascara running onto her cheeks, all I could think was that I'd never seen anyone more beautiful.”
“I still can’t talk about it,” he said“Duck.” Dirk touched his cheek“I remember, later, my mom trying to run into the water and I’m trying to hold her back and her hair and my tears are so bright that I’m blind. I knew she would have walked right into the ocean after him and kept going. In a way I wanted to go too.”