These things, she felt, were not to be passed around like disingenuous party favors. She kept an honor code with her journals and her poems. 'Inside, inside,' she would whisper quietly to herself when she felt the urge to tell.
Alice SeboldRead
My father had not been outside the house except to drive back and forth to work or sit out in the backyard, for months, nor had he seen his neighbors. Now he looked at them, from face to face, until he realized I had been loved by people he didn't even recognize. His heart filled up, warm again as it had not been in what seemed so long to him- save small forgotten moments with Buckley, the accidents of love that happened with his son. ~pgs 209-210; Buckley, Lindsey and Jack on Susie
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the warmth and healing that comes from love and human connection, even during times of isolation.
In this passage, the father's introspection leads him to a moment of realization about the love that surrounds his child, which he had previously overlooked. Despite his isolation and the routine of daily life, he comes to appreciate the warmth of community and emotional connections that enrich life, reigniting feelings of love and hope within him.
Themes
LoveFamilyConnectionHealingCommunity
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of community support and love during difficult times.
More from Alice Sebold
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As she stood in the darkened room and watched my sister and father, I knew one of things that heaven meant. I had a choice, and it was not to divide my family in my heart.
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She liked to imagine that when she passed the world looked after her, but she also knew how anonymous she was.
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