--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: His first thought as he stared death in…" description: "\"“His first thought as he stared death in the face was that he was never going to meet his daughter. At least not on this side of the Fade. His second a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg" --- # His first thought as he stared death in the face was that… ![“His first thought as he stared death in the face was that he was never going to meet his daughter. At least not on this side of the Fade. His second and final was that he couldn't believe he'd never told Blay he loved him. In all the minutes and hours and nights of his life, in all the words he'd…” quote by J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg) > ““His first thought as he stared death in the face was that he was never going to meet his daughter. At least not on this side of the Fade. His second and final was that he couldn't believe he'd never told Blay he loved him. In all the minutes and hours and nights of his life, in all the words he'd spoken to the male over the years they'd known each other, he'd only ever pushed him away. And now it was too late.”” [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A dying man regrets never expressing love to his son and never meeting his daughter, realizing too late the cost of emotional distance. **In simple terms:** Regret over unspoken love and missed connections. Key Takeaway Speak love before it's too late. Themes regret family mortality Mood sad reflective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - end of life reflections - family reunions - personal apologies Key Concepts emotional distance unspoken feelings Questions to Reflect On - What words would you share with loved ones now? - How can you avoid emotional distance? A Different Perspective Regret cannot undo past silence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Pushed away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pushed-away/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Urban-fantasy-series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urban-fantasy-series/) ## Related quotes > [“The true measure of courage was still waiting for him, however. After way too many years, he’d finally told Blay he was sorry. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/the-true-measure-of-courage-was-still-waiting-for-him-however-after/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“In the context of the English language, there were many more important words than “in.” There were fancy words, historic words, words that meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-the-context-of-the-english-language-there-were-many-more-important/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Shit. With Qhuinn looking at him like that, he couldn’t remember his own name. Blaysox? Blacklock? Blabberfox? Who the fuck knew…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-4/shit-with-qhuinn-looking-at-him-like-that-he-couldn-t-remember-his/) [J R Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-4/) > [Once you've stared death in the face, every day is a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/once-you-ve-stared-death-in-the-face-every-day-is-a-good-day/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [“I once feared death. It is said that death begins with the absence of life. And life begins when death is no longer feared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-kaye-tardif/i-once-feared-death-it-is-said-that-death-begins-with-the-absence-of/) Cheryl Kaye Tardif > [Why would I fear Golovkin when I have stared death in the face?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kell-brook/why-would-i-fear-golovkin-when-i-have-stared-death-in-the-face/) [Kell Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kell-brook/) > [“We'd stared into Death's eyes and Death blinked first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/we-d-stared-into-death-s-eyes-and-death-blinked-first/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“...lovers, even those who are married, always exist autonomously of one another, no matter how close they are or how long they've known each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-pettersson/lovers-even-those-who-are-married-always-exist-autonomously-of-one/) [Vicki Pettersson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-pettersson/) > [“The past had already been dealt with, to one end or another, it was certain, fixed, the horror of it was already over. For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/the-past-had-already-been-dealt-with-to-one-end-or-another-it-was/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [“Walking out into the night with a water fey was all kinds of stupid. Heck, Kelpies eat people. They may not play with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-j-stevens/walking-out-into-the-night-with-a-water-fey-was-all-kinds-of-stupid/) [E.J. Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-j-stevens/) > [“Was James bipolar?” The tears returned, and I watched her battle them. “We don’t use that word in our family.” I stared at her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/was-james-bipolar-the-tears-returned-and-i-watched-her-battle-them-we/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [“Joshua had always been able to get away with things—things for which he should never have been forgiven. He was a lot like James…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/joshua-had-always-been-able-to-get-away-with-things-things-for-which/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [“James had taken his own life, but the need to do so was not something easily explained. He had the life he wanted: money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazel-butler/james-had-taken-his-own-life-but-the-need-to-do-so-was-not-something/) [Hazel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazel-butler/) > [“The ego of a god, the wit of a goldfish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shah-wharton/the-ego-of-a-god-the-wit-of-a-goldfish/) Shah Wharton > [“His eyes went to predatory mode, following my every movement. The gold flecks in his eyes gleamed. I was going to have to burn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenya-wright/his-eyes-went-to-predatory-mode-following-my-every-movement-the-gold/) [Kenya Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenya-wright/) ## More by J.R. Ward > [“If you’ve bullshitted me, angel, I’m going to kill you.” The other male rolled his eyes. “I’m already dead, idiot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/if-you-ve-bullshitted-me-angel-i-m-going-to-kill-you-the-other-male/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [You're getting into some kind of shape, cop." Aw, come on, now." Butch grinned. "Don't let that shower we took go to your head."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/you-re-getting-into-some-kind-of-shape-cop-aw-come-on-now-butch/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Knock her dead, my man." "Oh no." Xcor shook his head."That shan't be necessary. This one I like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/knock-her-dead-my-man-oh-no-xcor-shook-his-head-that-shan-t-be/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“I’m not strong enough for this,” he whispered in her ear—like he didn’t want anyone to hear that coming out of his mouth. Ever.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/i-m-not-strong-enough-for-this-he-whispered-in-her-ear-like-he-didn-t/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Fucking hell. "Did you guys plan that out?" "Yeah, and if you don't fight us"--Hollywood bit down on his grape Tootsie-Pop--"we'll do it again--only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/fucking-hell-did-you-guys-plan-that-out-yeah-and-if-you-don-t-fight/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Why ever are you here?“ she whispered, putting her hands to his face. “Because I love you.” In so many ways, that explained nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/why-ever-are-you-here-she-whispered-putting-her-hands-to-his-face/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Time to the face the music,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/time-to-the-face-the-music/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“As his ears rang and his heart broke for her, he stayed strong against the gale force she let loose. After all, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/as-his-ears-rang-and-his-heart-broke-for-her-he-stayed-strong-against/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Rehvenge, I’m talking to you more than I speak with my mahmen.” “I thought your mother was dead.” “She is.” “You have a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/rehvenge-i-m-talking-to-you-more-than-i-speak-with-my-mahmen-i/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [In his fantasy, he kissed his best friend again, pulled back, and… “I love you,” he said into the spray of the shower. “I……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-his-fantasy-he-kissed-his-best-friend-again-pulled-back-and-i-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [And love … love was worth dying for. Worth living for, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/and-love-love-was-worth-dying-for-worth-living-for-too/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“He had a weakness, though. All of us do, and those of us who think they do not are not being honest.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/he-had-a-weakness-though-all-of-us-do-and-those-of-us-who-think-they/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Because I was, and I remain, utterly and completely and totally…in love with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/because-i-was-and-i-remain-utterly-and-completely-and-totally-in-love/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) [Explore all 1,120 J.R. Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) ## More Blay-qhuinn quotes > [“In the context of the English language, there were many more important words than “in.” There were fancy words, historic words, words that meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/in-the-context-of-the-english-language-there-were-many-more-important/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“Shit. With Qhuinn looking at him like that, he couldn’t remember his own name. Blaysox? Blacklock? Blabberfox? Who the fuck knew…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward-4/shit-with-qhuinn-looking-at-him-like-that-he-couldn-t-remember-his/) [J R Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward-4/) Browse all 3 Blay-qhuinn quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“His first thought as he stared death in the face was that he was never going to meet his daughter. At least not on this side of the Fade. His second and final was that he couldn't believe he'd never told Blay he loved him. In all the minutes and hours and nights of his life, in all the words he'd spoken to the male over the years they'd known each other, he'd only ever pushed him away. And now it was too late.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.R. Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in-the-face-was-that-he-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blay-qhuinn" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in-the-face-was-that-he-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57a/j-r-ward-148_blay-qhuinn_his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in_3049368.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“His first thought as he stared death in the face was that he was never going to meet his daughter. At least…” — J.R. Ward", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "J.R. Ward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“His first thought as he stared...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in-the-face-was-that-he-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/his-first-thought-as-he-stared-death-in-the-face-was-that-he-was/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```