--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The doors to the convenience store…" description: "\"“The doors to the convenience store slammed open, and I heard frantic footsteps run toward me. I looked up just as Cole rounded the corner of the last ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/brodi-ashton-2357_sigh-of-relief_the-doors-to-the-convenience-store-slamm_617748.jpg" --- # The doors to the convenience store slammed open, and I… ![“The doors to the convenience store slammed open, and I heard frantic footsteps run toward me. I looked up just as Cole rounded the corner of the last aisle. When he saw me,he let out an audible sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that,Nik." I couldn't answer.I lowered my head and let the tears…” quote by Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/brodi-ashton-2357_sigh-of-relief_the-doors-to-the-convenience-store-slamm_617748.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/brodi-ashton-2357_sigh-of-relief_the-doors-to-the-convenience-store-slamm_617748.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c1/brodi-ashton-2357_sigh-of-relief_the-doors-to-the-convenience-store-slamm_617748.jpg) > ““The doors to the convenience store slammed open, and I heard frantic footsteps run toward me. I looked up just as Cole rounded the corner of the last aisle. When he saw me,he let out an audible sigh of relief. "Don't scare me like that,Nik." I couldn't answer.I lowered my head and let the tears flow. Cole sat beside me and put his arm around me,and I let him. I cried into the front of his black leather jacket, my tears pooling on the chest pocket. "Careful.I didn't bring a life jacket," Cole said. I sniffled. "Shh.It's okay." I guess that was how low I'd sunk, that Cole was the one person who could console me. We sat like that for a few long minutes,and when I finally had composed myself enough to speak,I said into his jacket, "Why don't you help me?You could be a hero for once." He put his lips against my head. "Heroes don't exist. And if they did,I wouldn't be one of them.”” [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vulnerable moment where a friend offers comfort, revealing doubts about heroism. **In simple terms:** Friendship provides solace, but heroism feels impossible. Key Takeaway Seek support, accept human limits. Themes friendship vulnerability heroism Mood reflective empathetic Type literary emotional When to use this quote - personal crisis - confiding in a trusted friend - accepting help Key Concepts emotional support self‑doubt human connection Questions to Reflect On - When have you needed a friend’s comfort? - Do you believe anyone can be a hero? A Different Perspective Idealizing heroes may ignore realistic self‑acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hero/) [Sigh of relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sigh-of-relief/) ## Related quotes > [“I trusted you,” my voice shaky with anger and exhaustion. “I know,” Cole said simply. “And now I have all of eternity to earn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/i-trusted-you-my-voice-shaky-with-anger-and-exhaustion-i-know-cole/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“You're not bringing guitar?" I said. I barely saw him without it. Max and Cole both looked at me with alarmed expressions. "No," Cole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/you-re-not-bringing-guitar-i-said-i-barely-saw-him-without-it-max-and/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“I was in the neighborhood," he said, answering the question I was about to ask. His lips twitched. "You know, wandering around,trying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/i-was-in-the-neighborhood-he-said-answering-the-question-i-was-about/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“So he earns your undying love by reading a book under a tree?" Cole said dryly. "Why didn't I ever try that approach? I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/so-he-earns-your-undying-love-by-reading-a-book-under-a-tree-cole/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“The front door was locked. "Here, talk to Grace," I said. "Mommy isn't going to give me a different answer than Daddy," Cole said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/the-front-door-was-locked-here-talk-to-grace-i-said-mommy-isn-t-going/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“You take up the most room.” “Nobody asked your opinion,” Cole said, glaring at his younger brother in the rearview mirror.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-novak/you-take-up-the-most-room-nobody-asked-your-opinion-cole-said-glaring/) [Ali Novak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-novak/) > [“Come on," Cole said. He looked back over his shoulder at Mr. Brisbane, who was looking at me with a complicated expression as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/come-on-cole-said-he-looked-back-over-his-shoulder-at-mr-brisbane-who/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Poor bastards," Cole said, his gaze still on the stars. "They must get pretty tired of watching us make the same damn mistakes all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/poor-bastards-cole-said-his-gaze-still-on-the-stars-they-must-get/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [“Sam Roth, you bastard," Cole said. There was admiration in his voice, which probably meant I'd made a poor decision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/sam-roth-you-bastard-cole-said-there-was-admiration-in-his-voice/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [You know,” Cole said. “My mom once told me a boy would know he’d become a man when he stopped putting himself first. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/you-know-cole-said-my-mom-once-told-me-a-boy-would-know-he-d-become-a/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“Why do you even want to be involved with me?" she asked. "I'm a complete mess. I don't have my head on straight. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-banks/why-do-you-even-want-to-be-involved-with-me-she-asked-i-m-a-complete/) [Maya Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-banks/) > [“I can’t be this close to you and have these clothes between us,” Cole said in her ear, giving her a full-body shudder. “Can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-valentine/i-can-t-be-this-close-to-you-and-have-these-clothes-between-us-cole/) Layla Valentine > [“She said no, Lark,” Cole said, his eyes meeting Kelsey’s. Kelsey felt her stomach flutter. And it wasn’t from nausea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/she-said-no-lark-cole-said-his-eyes-meeting-kelsey-s-kelsey-felt-her/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [“You'll be great," Cole said, patting her shoulder. He took one last look at Sam's face. Whatever he saw there made him smile. "But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/you-ll-be-great-cole-said-patting-her-shoulder-he-took-one-last-look/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [“I sat up. Slowly. Between the belly dancing, the fire, the visit to Dave and it's aftermath, the night had taken its toll. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rardin/i-sat-up-slowly-between-the-belly-dancing-the-fire-the-visit-to-dave/) [Jennifer Rardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rardin/) ## More by Brodi Ashton > [“Look, Nik, I know you don't like public scrutiny lately. If you stand off to the side, all mopey and such, without a date,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/look-nik-i-know-you-don-t-like-public-scrutiny-lately-if-you-stand/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“I’d found my redemption, and my hero. And I was going to get him back.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/i-d-found-my-redemption-and-my-hero-and-i-was-going-to-get-him-back/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“It's just that even though I'm totally old and unhip,I remember what boys in high school were like.Especially the kind like Jack Caputo." "What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/it-s-just-that-even-though-i-m-totally-old-and-unhip-i-remember-what/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Did you forgive her?" I looked at her with a start. Jack dropped his salad back in the bucket. "What?" "Did you forgive Nikki?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/did-you-forgive-her-i-looked-at-her-with-a-start-jack-dropped-his/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Hey,Nik." I turned around to see Cole, dressed head to toe in black. Black suit, black shirt,black tie hanging loose around his neck. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/hey-nik-i-turned-around-to-see-cole-dressed-head-to-toe-in-black/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“He took a deep breath and held out his hand. "We got off to a bad start, but you're obviously a friend of Becks's."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/he-took-a-deep-breath-and-held-out-his-hand-we-got-off-to-a-bad-start/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Stop thinking about it, Nik!" "What?" He grinned and shook his head. "You know what. You're looking at my hair like an addict at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/stop-thinking-about-it-nik-what-he-grinned-and-shook-his-head-you/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Faith?” The word popped out before I could think about it. “Faith in what? A higher power? The gods? The universe?” My voice cracked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/faith-the-word-popped-out-before-i-could-think-about-it-faith-in-what/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“I know that look. It comes in the quiet moments, like this one. I know you're thinking that this is all your fault and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/i-know-that-look-it-comes-in-the-quiet-moments-like-this-one-i-know/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Jack was behind it,waiting, with the corner of his lip pulled up in not quite a smile. "What?" he demanded. "What what?" I asked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/jack-was-behind-it-waiting-with-the-corner-of-his-lip-pulled-up-in/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“I had believed there was no such thing as redemption. I knew now I was wrong. Redemption had not come from grand gestures of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/i-had-believed-there-was-no-such-thing-as-redemption-i-knew-now-i-was/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“One last question, if you have a moment…” Jack said. “Shoot.” “How do you kill an Akh ghost?” There was a pause on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/one-last-question-if-you-have-a-moment-jack-said-shoot-how-do-you/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Now you've done it." His tone was quietly playful. I couldn't help it.I looked up at him questioningly. "You've added a third word to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/now-you-ve-done-it-his-tone-was-quietly-playful-i-couldn-t-help-it-i/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“You've never been in love?" He let out a quiet breath,and I felt him shake his head. "Easy to say. Harder to feel." He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/you-ve-never-been-in-love-he-let-out-a-quiet-breath-and-i-felt-him/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) > [“Give me your heart,” I said. He tilted his head, leaned forward, watching my eyes the entire time to make sure it was okay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brodi-ashton/give-me-your-heart-i-said-he-tilted-his-head-leaned-forward-watching/) [Brodi Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) [Explore all 165 Brodi Ashton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brodi-ashton/) ## More Cried quotes > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“In the streets, the children scream, the lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,” he crooned, putting down the metal grill tongs to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/in-the-streets-the-children-scream-the-lovers-cried-and-the-poets/) [Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . 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I looked up just as Cole rounded the corner of the last aisle. When he saw me,he let out an audible sigh of relief. \"Don't scare me like that,Nik.\" I couldn't answer.I lowered my head and let the tears flow. Cole sat beside me and put his arm around me,and I let him. I cried into the front of his black leather jacket, my tears pooling on the chest pocket. \"Careful.I didn't bring a life jacket,\" Cole said. I sniffled. \"Shh.It's okay.\" I guess that was how low I'd sunk, that Cole was the one person who could console me. We sat like that for a few long minutes,and when I finally had composed myself enough to speak,I said into his jacket, \"Why don't you help me?You could be a hero for once.\" He put his lips against my head. \"Heroes don't exist. 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