--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His hands lay flat on either side of him…" description: "\"“His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn't sure she was breathing herself. She slid..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/cassandra-clare-9_clary-fray_his-hands-lay-flat-on-either-side-of-him_2727342.jpg" --- # His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his… ![“His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn't sure she was breathing herself. She slid her own hand across the bedsheet, just far enough that their fingers touched-so lightly that she would have probably hardly been aware of it had…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/cassandra-clare-9_clary-fray_his-hands-lay-flat-on-either-side-of-him_2727342.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/cassandra-clare-9_clary-fray_his-hands-lay-flat-on-either-side-of-him_2727342.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/878/cassandra-clare-9_clary-fray_his-hands-lay-flat-on-either-side-of-him_2727342.jpg) > ““His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn't sure she was breathing herself. She slid her own hand across the bedsheet, just far enough that their fingers touched-so lightly that she would have probably hardly been aware of it had she been touching anyone but Jace; as it was, the nerve endings in her fingertips pricked softly, as if she were holding them over a low flame. She felt him tense beside her and then relax. He had shut his eyes, and his lashes cast fine shadows against the curve of his cheekbones. His mouth curled into a smile as if he sensed her watching him, and she wondered how he would look in the morning, with his hair messed and sleep circles under his eyes. Despite everything, the thought gave her a jolt of happiness. She laced her fingers through his. "Good night," she whispered. With their hands clasped like children in a fairy tale, she fell asleep beside him in the dark.”” [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tender moment of intimacy and vulnerability between lovers, highlighting how small gestures can bring profound joy and connection. **In simple terms:** Small touches can create deep happiness. Key Takeaway Cherish simple, shared moments. Themes love intimacy comfort joy Mood warm romantic reflective Type literary romantic When to use this quote - nighttime intimacy - quiet moments before sleep - comforting a partner - building trust Key Concepts connection sensory detail emotional intimacy Questions to Reflect On - How do small gestures affect your relationships? - What simple acts bring you unexpected joy? A Different Perspective The scene may idealize romance, overlooking real-life complexities of relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clary fray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary-fray/) [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Jace wayland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jace-wayland/) [Jace-and-clary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jace-and-clary/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“She laced her fingers through his. "Good night," she whispered. With their hands clasped like children in a fairy tale, she fell asleep beside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-laced-her-fingers-through-his-good-night-she-whispered-with-their/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Aren't you tired?" His voice was low. "I've never been more awake." He bent to kiss her, cupping her face with his free hand.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/aren-t-you-tired-his-voice-was-low-i-ve-never-been-more-awake-he-bent/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So why are you here?" He lifted his hands and made as if to lay them on her arms, but just before they touched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aprilynne-pike/so-why-are-you-here-he-lifted-his-hands-and-made-as-if-to-lay-them-on/) [Aprilynne Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aprilynne-pike/) > [“Your balls are touching mine" Jace said between clenched teeth. "What's a little sac contact between friends?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-cunning/your-balls-are-touching-mine-jace-said-between-clenched-teeth-what-s/) [Olivia Cunning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-cunning/) > [“Oh, Hank," Susan whispered, "their wings are furry." "Oh, James," Harriet whispered, "their hands are kind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/oh-hank-susan-whispered-their-wings-are-furry-oh-james-harriet/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“Clary knew what he was going to say next before he said it. “That weapon. I want it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-knew-what-he-was-going-to-say-next-before-he-said-it-that/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“What’s this?” Alec said, looking baffled. “It’s a girl,” Jace said. He moved closer to the redhead, who stood with her feet braced apart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/what-s-this-alec-said-looking-baffled-it-s-a-girl-jace-said-he-moved/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“While this is all very amusing, the kiss that will free the girl is the kiss that she most desires,” she said. “Only that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/while-this-is-all-very-amusing-the-kiss-that-will-free-the-girl-is/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“You can close your eyes and think of England, if you like." "I've never even been to England," she said, but she shut her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-can-close-your-eyes-and-think-of-england-if-you-like-i-ve-never/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is no pretending,” Jace said with absolute clarity. “I love you, and I will love you until I die and if there’s a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-no-pretending-jace-said-with-absolute-clarity-i-love-you-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“In fact, it wouldn't hurt if you just spent the next few days inside. You can lock yourself in your room like Isabelle." "I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/in-fact-it-wouldn-t-hurt-if-you-just-spent-the-next-few-days-inside/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“to love is to destroy and that to be loved is the one to be destroyed”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/to-love-is-to-destroy-and-that-to-be-loved-is-the-one-to-be-destroyed/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Just like every other demon. Jace felt a flicker of something — boredom? — as he reached for a seraph blade. All demons were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/just-like-every-other-demon-jace-felt-a-flicker-of-something-boredom/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“You promise." "I swear on the angel. The hell with that. I swear on us." "Why us?" "Because there isn't anything I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-promise-i-swear-on-the-angel-the-hell-with-that-i-swear-on-us-why/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I guess we'd better move the trash. We can start with the Dumpster." He pointed at it, looking distinctly unenthusiastic. "You'd rather face a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-guess-we-d-better-move-the-trash-we-can-start-with-the-dumpster-he/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Cassandra Clare > [Against his own will, almost, Will felt himself understanding; he would have done anything, he thought, told any lie, taken any risk, to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/against-his-own-will-almost-will-felt-himself-understanding-he-would/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“So Jace is my actual family," Kit said. "But I can't go live with him, because him and his hot girlfriend are going off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/so-jace-is-my-actual-family-kit-said-but-i-can-t-go-live-with-him/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“they all have always loved you Will Herondale, for you cannot hide what is good about yourself, however har you try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-all-have-always-loved-you-will-herondale-for-you-cannot-hide/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We work through this together, remember? No shutting me out. No epic sulks.” “I was figuring I could sulk for Idris in the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-work-through-this-together-remember-no-shutting-me-out-no-epic/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Lex malla, lex nulla,” said Julian with a regretful wave of his hand. It was the Blackthorn family motto: A bad law is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/lex-malla-lex-nulla-said-julian-with-a-regretful-wave-of-his-hand-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Maybe that was why she couldn't cry, she realized, staring dry-eyed at the ceiling. Because what was the point in crying when there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/maybe-that-was-why-she-couldn-t-cry-she-realized-staring-dry-eyed-at/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm memorable, its true." -Magnus, pg.229-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-memorable-its-true-magnus-pg-229/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“There is more to living than not dying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Unless there was a reason for me to stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/unless-there-was-a-reason-for-me-to-stay/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Love didn't make you weak, it made you stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-didn-t-make-you-weak-it-made-you-stronger/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I wasn’t just worried about him; I was worried about you, too. There’s something so . . . reassuring about you. And Jace is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-wasn-t-just-worried-about-him-i-was-worried-about-you-too-there-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I firmly believe that you can't get a good movie without risking a bad movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-firmly-believe-that-you-can-t-get-a-good-movie-without-risking-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Explore all 4,049 Cassandra Clare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More Clary fray quotes > [Clary screamed out loud as he fell like a stone- And landed lightly on his feet just in front of her. Clary stared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-screamed-out-loud-as-he-fell-like-a-stone-and-landed-lightly-on/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Can I tell you a boring science fact?" she whispered. "I bet you didn't learn it in Shadowhunter history class." "If you're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/can-i-tell-you-a-boring-science-fact-she-whispered-i-bet-you-didn-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Clary, Despite everything, I can't bear the thought of this ring being lost forever, any more then I can bear the thought of leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clary-despite-everything-i-can-t-bear-the-thought-of-this-ring-being/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Something inside Clary cracked and broke, and words came pouring out. 'What do you want me to tell you? The truth? The truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/something-inside-clary-cracked-and-broke-and-words-came-pouring-out/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [(Jace) "Is there anything special you want to see? Paris? Budapest? The Leaning Tower of Pisa?" Only if it falls on Sebastian's head, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-is-there-anything-special-you-want-to-see-paris-budapest-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You know," Clary said, "most psychologists agree that hostility is really just sublimated sexual attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-know-clary-said-most-psychologists-agree-that-hostility-is-really/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“They had just showed up, Amatis had said. Which meant Simon had spent the entire night at Isabelle's. She stared at him. He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/they-had-just-showed-up-amatis-had-said-which-meant-simon-had-spent/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I suppose you've always been amazing at this stuff?" "I was born amazing" Jace stroked her cheek with the tips of his fingertips, lightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-suppose-you-ve-always-been-amazing-at-this-stuff-i-was-born-amazing/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You’re my sister,” he said finally. “My sister, my blood, my family. I should want to protect you”—he laughed soundlessly and without any humor—“to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-re-my-sister-he-said-finally-my-sister-my-blood-my-family-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Jace looked as if she had slapped him. "Why are you determined not to believe us?" "Because she loves you," said Valentine. Clary felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-looked-as-if-she-had-slapped-him-why-are-you-determined-not-to/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Why not? Do you like him?” Magnus’s eyes gleamed. “He seems to like you. I saw him going for your hand out there like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/why-not-do-you-like-him-magnus-s-eyes-gleamed-he-seems-to-like-you-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“But Clary's a hero at heart- and that means she'll find a way to be the hero she needs to be, to look beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-cross/but-clary-s-a-hero-at-heart-and-that-means-she-ll-find-a-way-to-be/) [Sarah Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-cross/) > [“Your Bracelet," she said. "Acheronta movebo.' It doesn't mean 'Thus always to tyrants.' That's 'sic semper tyrannis.' This is from Virgil. 'Flectere si nequeo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/your-bracelet-she-said-acheronta-movebo-it-doesn-t-mean-thus-always/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“She looked at him with loathing. "I knew you were crazy," she said. "But I didn't realize you were absolutely, spectactularly out of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/she-looked-at-him-with-loathing-i-knew-you-were-crazy-she-said-but-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Jace slammed his hand down on the stele. “Clary-“ “She said she doesn’t want it,” said Simon. “Ha-ha.” “Ha-ha?” Jace looked incredulous. “That’s your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-slammed-his-hand-down-on-the-stele-clary-she-said-she-doesn-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) [Browse all 205 Clary fray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clary-fray/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“His hands lay flat on either side of him, his arms at his sides. He seemed barely to be breathing; she wasn't sure she was breathing herself. She slid her own hand across the bedsheet, just far enough that their fingers touched-so lightly that she would have probably hardly been aware of it had she been touching anyone but Jace; as it was, the nerve endings in her fingertips pricked softly, as if she were holding them over a low flame. She felt him tense beside her and then relax. He had shut his eyes, and his lashes cast fine shadows against the curve of his cheekbones. His mouth curled into a smile as if he sensed her watching him, and she wondered how he would look in the morning, with his hair messed and sleep circles under his eyes. Despite everything, the thought gave her a jolt of happiness. She laced her fingers through his. \"Good night,\" she whispered. 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