Emptiness Quote by Chris Cleave
““I'm going to write to you about the emptiness that was left when you took my boy away. I'm going to write so you can look into my empty life and see what a human boy really is from the shape of the hole he leaves behind. I want you to feel that hole in your heart and stroke it with your hands and cut your fingers on its sharp edges.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Other Hand (aka “The Sea”) by Chris Cleave, 2008
The speaker describes profound loss, urging the listener to feel the void left by a loved one's death and to confront its painful reality.
In simple terms: Loss creates an empty space that haunts us.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge grief, don’t ignore it.
Themes
grief
loss
empathy
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
emotional
literary
When to use this quote
- funeral
- remembrance
- therapy
- writing about loss
- supporting bereaved
Key Concepts
human connection
absence
pain
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you hold space for another’s sorrow?
- What does “stroke the hole” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
Grief may not be fully expressed through words alone.
