--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me…" description: "\"“Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I was standing on the lawn and I fell. The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/e-lockhart-1636_disappointment_then-he-pulled-out-a-handgun-and-shot-me_2104146.jpg" --- # Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I… ![“Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I was standing on the lawn and I fell. The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of my rib cage and down into a flower bed. Blood gushed rhythmically from my open wound, then from my eyes, my ears, my mouth. It tasted like salt and…” quote by E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/e-lockhart-1636_disappointment_then-he-pulled-out-a-handgun-and-shot-me_2104146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/e-lockhart-1636_disappointment_then-he-pulled-out-a-handgun-and-shot-me_2104146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/844/e-lockhart-1636_disappointment_then-he-pulled-out-a-handgun-and-shot-me_2104146.jpg) > ““Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. I was standing on the lawn and I fell. The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of my rib cage and down into a flower bed. Blood gushed rhythmically from my open wound, then from my eyes, my ears, my mouth. It tasted like salt and failure. The bright red shame of being unloved soaked the grass in front of our house, the bricks of the path, the steps of the porch. My heart spasmed among the peonies like a trout.”” [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A vivid, metaphorical description of trauma and emotional devastation, equating physical injury with deep feelings of shame and unlove. **In simple terms:** Pain and shame are described as a physical wound that spreads outward. Key Takeaway Recognize how emotional pain can feel physically overwhelming. Themes trauma shame vulnerability loss emotion Mood somber introspective poetic Type literary emotional When to use this quote - personal crisis - relationship breakdown - grief processing - healing journey Key Concepts metaphor psychological pain body imagery Questions to Reflect On - How does this metaphor help you understand your own emotional wounds? - What can you do to begin healing after feeling unloved? A Different Perspective The poetic style may obscure practical coping steps for readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Heartbreak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heartbreak/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/) ## Related quotes > [“The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of my rib cage and down into a flower bed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart-3/the-bullet-hole-opened-wide-and-my-heart-rolled-out-of-my-rib-cage/) [e lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart-3/) > [My heart spasmed among the peonies like a trout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/my-heart-spasmed-among-the-peonies-like-a-trout/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [When I woke up in the morning and look in the mirror I realise that one of the reasons I don't own a handgun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/when-i-woke-up-in-the-morning-and-look-in-the-mirror-i-realise-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Like lightning she snatched her axe, and struck him on the neck - deep - once - twice - his life-blood gushed out, staining…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemence-housman/like-lightning-she-snatched-her-axe-and-struck-him-on-the-neck-deep/) [Clemence Housman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemence-housman/) > [“Hold him,” he told Jesper and the Fjerdan. Kaz flicked his coat sleeve, and an oyster shucking knife appeared in his hand. At any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/hold-him-he-told-jesper-and-the-fjerdan-kaz-flicked-his-coat-sleeve/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Each time I saw you, I felt like ... I felt like I knew you a little bit better. I never talked to you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/each-time-i-saw-you-i-felt-like-i-felt-like-i-knew-you-a-little-bit-2/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“Each time I saw you, I felt like . . . I felt like I knew you a little bit better. I never talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/each-time-i-saw-you-i-felt-like-i-felt-like-i-knew-you-a-little-bit/) [J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/) > [“He was floating with his head down, blood streaming from a bullet hole in the back of his neck.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-sue-park/he-was-floating-with-his-head-down-blood-streaming-from-a-bullet-hole/) [Linda Sue Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-sue-park/) > [“Wait,” he said, pulling me to a stop when I tried to march off toward my destiny. “Is there something you want to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaye-wells/wait-he-said-pulling-me-to-a-stop-when-i-tried-to-march-off-toward-my/) [Jaye Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaye-wells/) > [“Talk into here. Talk into my bullet hole. Tell me I'm fine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-johnson/talk-into-here-talk-into-my-bullet-hole-tell-me-i-m-fine/) [Denis Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-johnson/) > [HEY, DID ANYONE SEE MY HAT ? YOU KNOW, THE ONE WITH A BULLET HOLE IN IT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hey-did-anyone-see-my-hat-you-know-the-one-with-a-bullet-hole-in-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Wild West didn't have much in the way of forensics; when you saw the bullet hole you'd say, 'That's prob'ly what kilt 'im.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-vandcast/the-wild-west-didn-t-have-much-in-the-way-of-forensics-when-you-saw/) P.K. Vandcast > [“I looked down at my chest, figuring there had to be a bullet hole. Or an arrow sticking out. Something to explain the pain.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-e-kirk/i-looked-down-at-my-chest-figuring-there-had-to-be-a-bullet-hole-or/) A&E Kirk > [“Perhaps when the next Great War comes we may see that sight unprecedented in all history, a jingo with a bullet-hole in him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/perhaps-when-the-next-great-war-comes-we-may-see-that-sight/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“The report was so loud Nicholas thought the guard had fired into his head. He staggered as the man’s grip fell away, his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-wells/the-report-was-so-loud-nicholas-thought-the-guard-had-fired-into-his/) [Martha Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-wells/) ## More by E. Lockhart > [“She makes the world seem shiny and sunlit. -Noel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-makes-the-world-seem-shiny-and-sunlit-noel/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And then he's grabbing my hand, and pulling me into a storage room they use for art supplies. And he puts his finger to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-then-he-s-grabbing-my-hand-and-pulling-me-into-a-storage-room/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Noel shook his head. "You think better of this scene than I do, Ruby. Don't you see how fake those girls are? Let it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/noel-shook-his-head-you-think-better-of-this-scene-than-i-do-ruby-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“the best way to avoid having your heart broken was to pretend you don’t have one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-best-way-to-avoid-having-your-heart-broken-was-to-pretend-you-don/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [Secrets are more powerful when people know you've got them," said Mr. Sutton. "You show them the tiniest edge of your secret, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/secrets-are-more-powerful-when-people-know-you-ve-got-them-said-mr/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Also, I was living in the middle of my parents' marriage. No one ever says this about families, and maybe people who aren't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/also-i-was-living-in-the-middle-of-my-parents-marriage-no-one-ever/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“At least, these guys were looking. And seeing something. A milkshake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/at-least-these-guys-were-looking-and-seeing-something-a-milkshake/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [...Mr. Wodehouse is a prose stylist of such startling talent that Frankie nearly skipped around with glee when she first read some of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/mr-wodehouse-is-a-prose-stylist-of-such-startling-talent-that-frankie/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Why is it a good idea for you and not a good idea for me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/why-is-it-a-good-idea-for-you-and-not-a-good-idea-for-me/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Now, he was free to go forth and make a name for himself in the wide, wide world. And maybe, just maybe, he'd come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/now-he-was-free-to-go-forth-and-make-a-name-for-himself-in-the-wide/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“It doesn't matter if one of us is desperately, desperately in love. So much in love, that equally desperate measures must be taken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/it-doesn-t-matter-if-one-of-us-is-desperately-desperately-in-love-so/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“The presentation of self in everyday life. This guy Goffman had the idea that in different situations, you perform yourself differently. Your character isn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/the-presentation-of-self-in-everyday-life-this-guy-goffman-had-the/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“She made me act normal. Because I was. Because I could. She told me to breathe and sit up. And”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/she-made-me-act-normal-because-i-was-because-i-could-she-told-me-to/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“And now, she was walking down the hall with her books clutched to her chest, looking down at the floor while guys called, "Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/and-now-she-was-walking-down-the-hall-with-her-books-clutched-to-her/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) > [“Please, that is so antiquated. The institutions of male supremacy only have real power over you if you buy into that notion. Go found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-lockhart/please-that-is-so-antiquated-the-institutions-of-male-supremacy-only/) [E. Lockhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) [Explore all 218 E. Lockhart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-lockhart/) ## More Disappointment quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [“My earthly body has been a terrible disappointment to me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-chopin/my-earthly-body-has-been-a-terrible-disappointment-to-me/) [Frédéric Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-chopin/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The fear of not being good enough, the fear of disappointing other people and the fear of failure can really hurt one's personality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/the-fear-of-not-being-good-enough-the-fear-of-disappointing-other/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [In trying not to disappoint others; we disappoint ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geraldine-vermaak/in-trying-not-to-disappoint-others-we-disappoint-ourselves/) [Geraldine Vermaak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geraldine-vermaak/) > [Though there may be people in your life that support you and encourage you we have to realize that people are only human, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/though-there-may-be-people-in-your-life-that-support-you-and/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [There are still many more days of failure ahead, whole seasons of failure, things will go terribly wrong, you will have huge disappointments ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/there-are-still-many-more-days-of-failure-ahead-whole-seasons-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [In all disappointments sympathy is a great balm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gaskell/in-all-disappointments-sympathy-is-a-great-balm/) [Elizabeth Gaskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gaskell/) > [It is sometimes said that because of our past we, as a people, expect too much and set our sights too high. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/it-is-sometimes-said-that-because-of-our-past-we-as-a-people-expect/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) > [I'm talking to anyone who has been dumped - have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/i-m-talking-to-anyone-who-has-been-dumped-have-not-gotten-the-job-you/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Stop blaming others, whatever happens to you is nobody's fault if you get hurt because of disappointment is not the end of your life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/stop-blaming-others-whatever-happens-to-you-is-nobody-s-fault-if-you/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [When disappointments knock you down, get back up and go again because out of our greatest rejection comes our greatest direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-disappointments-knock-you-down-get-back-up-and-go-again-because/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,467 Disappointment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest. 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