Afraid Quote by Ann Brashares
““So often this summer I keep thinking: I know I'm holding back. I know I'm waiting. I know I'm afraid to go forward. But I don't know how to get there from here." He was quiet, so she kept going. "Sometimes I see it as a tricky mountain pass between two valleys. Other times, it's like perilous straits connecting two lands. Partly it's the fear of the trip itself, I think, but partly it's the fear that I won't be able to get back. I'll turn around and the clouds will have settled over the mountaintop. Or the waters will have risen and shifted, and there will be no way home." Paul nodded. He took her hand again, which she discovered she appreciated. But that's not even the real fear." He gave her an odd smile. Short on mirth but affectionate. "What's the real fear?" The real fear is that I won't want to go home.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Summer of the Serpent by Ann Brashares, 2005
The speaker fears both the journey forward and the possibility of not being able to return, revealing a deeper dread of losing the desire for home.
In simple terms: Fear of moving forward and losing the longing for home.
Key Takeaway
Accept uncertainty and cherish the present.
Themes
fear
growth
home
uncertainty
relationships
Mood
reflective
melancholic
hopeful
Type
literary
conversational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- starting a new relationship
- career change
- relocating
- personal growth
Key Concepts
psychology
existentialism
attachment
Questions to Reflect On
- What holds you back from moving forward?
- How do you define “home” in your life?
A Different Perspective
The quote may romanticize fear without addressing practical steps to overcome it.
