--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He then kissed her. It was a very long…" description: "\"He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked up at him, hurt and bewilderment on her face. “Why did you st..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/eva-ibbotson-2965_bewilderment_he-then-kissed-her-it-was-a-very-long-ti_1901355.png" --- # He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let… ![“He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked up at him, hurt and bewilderment on her face. “Why did you stop?” asked Tessa. “I thought you might want to breathe,” said Guy carefully. “Breathe?” said Tessa, shocked. “I don’t need to breathe when I’m with…” quote by Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/eva-ibbotson-2965_bewilderment_he-then-kissed-her-it-was-a-very-long-ti_1901355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/eva-ibbotson-2965_bewilderment_he-then-kissed-her-it-was-a-very-long-ti_1901355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/eva-ibbotson-2965_bewilderment_he-then-kissed-her-it-was-a-very-long-ti_1901355.png) > “He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let her go. When he did, she looked up at him, hurt and bewilderment on her face. “Why did you stop?” asked Tessa. “I thought you might want to breathe,” said Guy carefully. “Breathe?” said Tessa, shocked. “I don’t need to breathe when I’m with you.” [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lover’s intimacy can become a suffocating expectation, causing confusion when it ends. **In simple terms:** Love can feel like a breath, but may also feel stifling. Key Takeaway Recognize when affection becomes controlling. Themes love intimacy boundaries communication Mood conflicted reflective Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - romantic relationship - breakup - conflict resolution Key Concepts codependency emotional dependence expectation Questions to Reflect On - Do you equate love with possession? - How can you maintain self‑care in close relationships? A Different Perspective The quote romanticizes dependency without addressing consent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bewilderment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewilderment/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I'm half italian" "Which half" asked Tessa "From the waist down”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-clare/i-m-half-italian-which-half-asked-tessa-from-the-waist-down/) [Pamela Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-clare/) > [One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/one-must-always-be-careful-of-books-said-tessa-and-what-is-inside/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [You sound as if you don't mind what happens to it," said Tessa. "Won't you miss it here? This place has been your home."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-sound-as-if-you-don-t-mind-what-happens-to-it-said-tessa-won-t/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Sona looked slightly horrified. “Cordelia has a tendency to throw herself into every situation headlong,” she said to Tessa and Will. “I’m sure you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/sona-looked-slightly-horrified-cordelia-has-a-tendency-to-throw/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Perhaps we could say she’s a mad maiden aunt who insists on chaperoning us everywhere.” “My aunt or yours?” Jem inquired. “Yes, she doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/perhaps-we-could-say-she-s-a-mad-maiden-aunt-who-insists-on/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“We were just talking about you," Jessamine said as Tessa found a seat. She pushed a sliver toast rack across the table towards Tessa.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/we-were-just-talking-about-you-jessamine-said-as-tessa-found-a-seat/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“I've never swum naked in the Thames, but I know I wouldn't like it." "But think how entertaining for sightseers," said Tessa, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-ve-never-swum-naked-in-the-thames-but-i-know-i-wouldn-t-like-it-but/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Then I'll come,' said Tessa, 'I've never been on a train.' Will threw up his hands. 'That's it? You're coming because you've never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/then-i-ll-come-said-tessa-i-ve-never-been-on-a-train-will-threw-up/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Do stop flirting with my husband," said Tessa. "I shall not," Magnus declared, "but I will pause briefly so that I may catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/do-stop-flirting-with-my-husband-said-tessa-i-shall-not-magnus/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It was Will who broke the silence. "Very well. You have me alone in the corrider-" "Yes, yes," said Tessa impatiently,"and thousands of women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-will-who-broke-the-silence-very-well-you-have-me-alone-in-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“In that case" Tessa said, feeling hot blood rise to her face,"I think I would prefer it if you called me by my Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/in-that-case-tessa-said-feeling-hot-blood-rise-to-her-face-i-think-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“He looked from Will to Tessa and raised his silvery eyebrows. "A miracle," he said. "You got him to speak." "Just to shout at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-looked-from-will-to-tessa-and-raised-his-silvery-eyebrows-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [Miss Cecily," she gasped, and then her eyes went to Will. She clapped a hand over her mouth, turned, and bolted back into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/miss-cecily-she-gasped-and-then-her-eyes-went-to-will-she-clapped-a/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“Trains are great dirty smokey thungs", said Will. "You won't like it." Tessa was unmoved. "I won't know if I like it until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/trains-are-great-dirty-smokey-thungs-said-will-you-won-t-like-it/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“It was Will who broke the silence. "Very well. You have me alone in the corridor-" "Yes, yes," said Tessa impatiently, "and thousands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/it-was-will-who-broke-the-silence-very-well-you-have-me-alone-in-the-2/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) ## More by Eva Ibbotson > [“They had reached Euston station. Miss Minton waved her umbrella at a porter, and Maia’s trunk and her suitcase were lifted onto a trolley.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/they-had-reached-euston-station-miss-minton-waved-her-umbrella-at-a/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Muriel sprinkled salt over her haddock mousse. ‘It is not easy to be specific, but both morally and hygienically there is . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/muriel-sprinkled-salt-over-her-haddock-mousse-it-is-not-easy-to-be/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“You’re taking this very well, my boy. Very well indeed. You’re taking it like a man. I confess I expected arguments, even tantrums.” “Well,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/you-re-taking-this-very-well-my-boy-very-well-indeed-you-re-taking-it/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [She stood looking carefully at the labeled portraits Ursala had put up: Little Crow, Chief of the Santees, Geronimo, last of the Apaches, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-stood-looking-carefully-at-the-labeled-portraits-ursala-had-put/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“For the first part of the journey Maia kept her eyes on the side of the road. Now that she was really leaving her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/for-the-first-part-of-the-journey-maia-kept-her-eyes-on-the-side-of/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“She realized that adventures, once they were over, were things that had to stay inside one--that no one else could quite understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/she-realized-that-adventures-once-they-were-over-were-things-that-had/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [What are you afraid of then? Not Being able to see, I think not seeing because your obsessed by something that blots out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/what-are-you-afraid-of-then-not-being-able-to-see-i-think-not-seeing/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [The sisters worked from dawn to dusk. One of them was an idiot; she started shaving her legs and marrying tax inspectors, so she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-sisters-worked-from-dawn-to-dusk-one-of-them-was-an-idiot-she/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“When we’re grown up I’ll come back for you, I promise. No one can stop us then.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/when-we-re-grown-up-i-ll-come-back-for-you-i-promise-no-one-can-stop/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“But in the evening, when at last she had a moment alone, she slipped into the library and leaned her head against the mahogany…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-in-the-evening-when-at-last-she-had-a-moment-alone-she-slipped/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [But she had to know words. She had to know everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/but-she-had-to-know-words-she-had-to-know-everything/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/please-god-ruth-would-pray-don-t-let-me-be-competitive-let-me-realize/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“It was the Indian side of Finn that had taken over when he found her in the wood. That managed to carry her to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/it-was-the-indian-side-of-finn-that-had-taken-over-when-he-found-her/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“Then, when he said her name, she opened her eyes. One hand went out to his sleeve. “Can we go now?” she whispered. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/then-when-he-said-her-name-she-opened-her-eyes-one-hand-went-out-to/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) > [“The children turned and saw the spinach-green boat coming toward them. “Oh no! Not the Carters!” said Maia. She looked round desperately for somewhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-ibbotson/the-children-turned-and-saw-the-spinach-green-boat-coming-toward-them/) [Eva Ibbotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) [Explore all 144 Eva Ibbotson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-ibbotson/) ## More Bewilderment quotes > [The emancipated woman has to fight something worse than the crusted prejudices of her uncles; she has to fight the bewilderment in her own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-emancipated-woman-has-to-fight-something-worse-than-the-crusted/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [Both the five-year-olds looked at me with bewilderment and a bit of fearful uncertainty. I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Whoever determines the truth from people alone will remain lost in the plains of bewilderment. Rather, know the truth, and you will know its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-ghazali/whoever-determines-the-truth-from-people-alone-will-remain-lost-in/) [Al-Ghazali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-ghazali/) > [Love is the strange bewilderment that overtakes one person on account of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-thurber/love-is-the-strange-bewilderment-that-overtakes-one-person-on-account/) [James Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-thurber/) > [“The aim of Operation Mindfuck was to lead people into such a heightened state of bewilderment and confusion that their rigid beliefs would shatter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-higgs/the-aim-of-operation-mindfuck-was-to-lead-people-into-such-a/) John Higgs > [“Does that mean", I said in some bewilderment, "that we must eat again of the tree of knowledge in order to return to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-von-kleist/does-that-mean-i-said-in-some-bewilderment-that-we-must-eat-again-of/) [Heinrich von Kleist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-von-kleist/) > [Bewilderment increases in the presence of the mirrors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tarjei-vesaas/bewilderment-increases-in-the-presence-of-the-mirrors/) [Tarjei Vesaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tarjei-vesaas/) > [It seems to me I am trying to tell you a dream--making a vain attempt, because no relation of a dream can convey the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/it-seems-to-me-i-am-trying-to-tell-you-a-dream-making-a-vain-attempt/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Sell your presence and purchase bewilderment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sell-your-presence-and-purchase-bewilderment/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [I was set down from the carrier's cart at the age of three; and there with a sense of bewilderment and terror my life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-lee/i-was-set-down-from-the-carrier-s-cart-at-the-age-of-three-and-there/) [Laurie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-lee/) > [Our ignorance can be divided into problems and mysteries. When we face a problem, we may not know its solution, but we have insight,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/our-ignorance-can-be-divided-into-problems-and-mysteries-when-we-face/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [To the human mind there is something almost illogical in the assertion that God became a man. It is like speaking about a square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-p-martin/to-the-human-mind-there-is-something-almost-illogical-in-the/) Ralph P. Martin > [I don't think all poems need to be written in conversational language - those are often great poems but there should also be poems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthea-harvey/i-don-t-think-all-poems-need-to-be-written-in-conversational-language/) [Matthea Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthea-harvey/) > [People in this world look at things mistakenly, and think that what they do not understand must be the void. This is not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/people-in-this-world-look-at-things-mistakenly-and-think-that-what/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [“When we start raising different inconsistent truths, life may tip into bewilderment and the brain may go haywire. The confrontation between what is, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/when-we-start-raising-different-inconsistent-truths-life-may-tip-into/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) [Browse all 96 Bewilderment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewilderment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He then kissed her. It was a very long time before he let her go. 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