Gaze Quote by Catherine Anderson
““We walk backward in our footsteps, eh? Maybe you will walk forward a new way when we reach your wooden walls. You could be a little bit happy as my woman, no?” Loretta fixed her eyes on the horizon ahead of them. They were only a day and a half’s ride from her home. A day and a half from real clothes, a chance to wash her hair, to eat her own kind of food. Yes, he had been kind to her. As reluctant as she was to admit it, she’d even come to like him a little. But not enough to belong to him. Never that. “To be happy, I must be at my wooden walls,” she said shakily. “That’s my home and where my people are.” There was only tonight and tomorrow night to get through, and then she’d be home. Suvate. It was almost finished.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Wooden Walls by Catherine Anderson, 2021
A woman seeks comfort in her cultural roots and home, balancing affection for a kind stranger with loyalty to her community.
In simple terms: Home and people define happiness.
Key Takeaway
Find peace in belonging.
Themes
home
identity
belonging
love
choice
Mood
nostalgic
conflicted
Type
literary
reflective
When to use this quote
- returning home
- building relationships
- deciding between comfort and new love
Key Concepts
cultural roots
personal autonomy
migration
emotional conflict
Questions to Reflect On
- What does “wooden walls” symbolize for you?
- How can you honor heritage while embracing change?
A Different Perspective
May idealize home, ignoring personal growth possibilities.
