--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It felt like being shot with an arrow…" description: "\"“It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. His wineglass crashed to the floor and shattered. He lurched to his feet, leaning both ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg" --- # It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked… ![“It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. His wineglass crashed to the floor and shattered. He lurched to his feet, leaning both hands on the table. He was vaguely aware of stares, and the landlords anxious voice in his ear, but the pain was too great to think through, almost…” quote by Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg) > ““It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. His wineglass crashed to the floor and shattered. He lurched to his feet, leaning both hands on the table. He was vaguely aware of stares, and the landlords anxious voice in his ear, but the pain was too great to think through, almost too great to breathe through. The tightness in his chest, the one he had thought of as one end of a cord tying him to Jem, had pulled so taut that it was strangling his heart. He stumbled away from his table, pushing through a knot of customers near the bar, and passed to the front door of the inn. All he could think of was air, getting air into his lungs to breathe. He pushed the doors open and half-tumbled out into the night. For a moment the pain in his chest eased, and he fell back against the wall of the inn. Rain was sheeting down, soaking his hair and clothes. He gasped, his heart stuttering with a misture of terror and desperation. Was this just the distance from Jem affecting him? He had never felt anything like this, even when Jem was at his worst, even when he'd been injured and Will had ached with sympathetic pain. The cord snapped. For a moment everything went white, the courtyard bleeching through as if with acid. Will jackknifed to his knees, vomiting up his supper into the mud. When the spasms had passed , he staggard to his feet and blindly away from the inn, as if trying to outpace his own pain. He fetched up against the wall of the stables, beside the horse trough. He dropped to his knees to plunge his hands into the icy water-and saw his own reflection. There was his face, as white as death, and his shirt, and a spreading stain of red across the front. With wet hands he siezed at his lapels and jerked the shirt open. In the dim light that spilled from the inn, he could see that his parabati rune, just over his heart, was bleeding. His hands were covered in blood, blood mixed with rain, the same ran that was washing the blood away from his chest, showing the rune as it began to fade from black to silver, changing all that had been sense in Will's life into nonsense. Jem was dead.”” [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 character end severe physical and emotional pain, confronting mortality and desperation, illustrating how trauma can trigger visceral, chaotic responses. **In simple terms:** Intense pain drives frantic, desperate actions. Key Takeaway Recognize and address overwhelming distress promptly. Themes pain trauma survival Mood tense desperate Type dramatic introspective When to use this quote - emergency medical response - mental health intervention - supportive counseling - self‑care strategies Key Concepts psychological crisis physical injury emotional breakdown Questions to Reflect On - What coping mechanisms could help in such crises? - How does trauma reshape personal identity? A Different Perspective May romanticize suffering rather than promote healing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Front door](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/front-door/) [Jem Affecting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jem-affecting-3616821/) [Jem Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jem-dead-3143688/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) [Shattered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shattered/) [Spilled Inn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spilled-inn-3616823/) [Strangling Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strangling-heart-3616822/) [Will herondale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-herondale/) ## Related quotes > [“Will paused for a moment and then grinned, that rare grin of his that lit up his face and changed the whole nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-paused-for-a-moment-and-then-grinned-that-rare-grin-of-his-that/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I don't know how to live in the world as a Shadowhunter without Will. I don't think i even want to. I am still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-don-t-know-how-to-live-in-the-world-as-a-shadowhunter-without-will/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“This...this...thing?" "A parsnip?" Jem suggested "A parsnip planted in satan's own garden," said Will. He glanced about. "I dont suppose there's a dog I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/this-this-thing-a-parsnip-jem-suggested-a-parsnip-planted-in-satan-s/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Let me guess, Jessie. You ran across some poor woman in the park who had the misfortune of wearing a gown that clashed with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/let-me-guess-jessie-you-ran-across-some-poor-woman-in-the-park-who/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [There is more to living than not dying," he said. "Look at the way you live Will. You burn as bright as a star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/there-is-more-to-living-than-not-dying-he-said-look-at-the-way-you/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will smiled the way Lucifer might have smiled, moments before he fell from Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-smiled-the-way-lucifer-might-have-smiled-moments-before-he-fell/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Of course you can have a true Shadowhunter name," Will said. "You can have mine." Tessa stared at him, all black and white against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/of-course-you-can-have-a-true-shadowhunter-name-will-said-you-can/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Reparations,” said Jem very suddenly, setting down the pen he was holding. Will looked at him in puzzlement. “Is this a game? We just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/reparations-said-jem-very-suddenly-setting-down-the-pen-he-was/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Love potions? For Will 'erondale? 'Tain't my way to turn down payment, but any man who looks like you 'as got no need of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/love-potions-for-will-erondale-tain-t-my-way-to-turn-down-payment-but/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Will." Charlotte sighed on seeing him, and shook her head at Tessa and Jem. "I told you the Enclave would be meeting here at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-charlotte-sighed-on-seeing-him-and-shook-her-head-at-tessa-and/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Are you implying that shreds of my reputation remain intact?" Will demanded with mock horror. "Clearly I have been doing something wrong. Or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/are-you-implying-that-shreds-of-my-reputation-remain-intact-will/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [One must always be careful of books,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Will closed his eyes. He could not hear Jem go, not anymore; he did not want to know the moment when he left and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/will-closed-his-eyes-he-could-not-hear-jem-go-not-anymore-he-did-not/) [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/) ## 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 Front door quotes > [Oh to that corkscrew, the useful tool to unlock the treasure of wit, the treasury of laughter, the front door of fellowship, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-guzaldo/oh-to-that-corkscrew-the-useful-tool-to-unlock-the-treasure-of-wit/) [Andrew Guzaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-guzaldo/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Ethan! What on earth are you doing?" "Excuse us,please.It is very warm in here and my wife has begun to feel a little faint."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-martin/ethan-what-on-earth-are-you-doing-excuse-us-please-it-is-very-warm-in/) [Kat Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-martin/) > [“A loud, purposeful knock on the front door froze him in place with his fist over the fabric. “Hey, dude, it’s me. I brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-kincaid/a-loud-purposeful-knock-on-the-front-door-froze-him-in-place-with-his/) [Kimberly Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-kincaid/) > [“The headache from this emotional roller coaster known as Marcus DeLuca seemed to get worse. Seriously, it was so bad I could actually hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-montes/the-headache-from-this-emotional-roller-coaster-known-as-marcus/) [E.L. Montes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-montes/) > [I don't think it's a very Christian thing to come in by the back door rather than the front door,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-don-t-think-it-s-a-very-christian-thing-to-come-in-by-the-back-door/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [“So you’re going to ask Ress and Brullo to just leave a back door open so you can sneak in?” “Don’t be so simpleminded.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/so-you-re-going-to-ask-ress-and-brullo-to-just-leave-a-back-door-open/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“People had always amazed him, he began. But they amazed him more since the sickness. 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He was vaguely aware of stares, and the landlords anxious voice in his ear, but the pain was too great to think through, almost too great to breathe through. The tightness in his chest, the one he had thought of as one end of a cord tying him to Jem, had pulled so taut that it was strangling his heart. He stumbled away from his table, pushing through a knot of customers near the bar, and passed to the front door of the inn. All he could think of was air, getting air into his lungs to breathe. He pushed the doors open and half-tumbled out into the night. For a moment the pain in his chest eased, and he fell back against the wall of the inn. Rain was sheeting down, soaking his hair and clothes. He gasped, his heart stuttering with a misture of terror and desperation. Was this just the distance from Jem affecting him? He had never felt anything like this, even when Jem was at his worst, even when he'd been injured and Will had ached with sympathetic pain. The cord snapped. For a moment everything went white, the courtyard bleeching through as if with acid. Will jackknifed to his knees, vomiting up his supper into the mud. When the spasms had passed , he staggard to his feet and blindly away from the inn, as if trying to outpace his own pain. He fetched up against the wall of the stables, beside the horse trough. He dropped to his knees to plunge his hands into the icy water-and saw his own reflection. There was his face, as white as death, and his shirt, and a spreading stain of red across the front. With wet hands he siezed at his lapels and jerked the shirt open. In the dim light that spilled from the inn, he could see that his parabati rune, just over his heart, was bleeding. His hands were covered in blood, blood mixed with rain, the same ran that was washing the blood away from his chest, showing the rune as it began to fade from black to silver, changing all that had been sense in Will's life into nonsense. Jem was dead.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cassandra Clare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-and-will-jerked-back-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Front door" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-and-will-jerked-back-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/cassandra-clare-9_front-door_it-felt-like-being-shot-with-an-arrow-an_404094.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It felt like being shot with an arrow, and Will jerked back. 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