--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There once was a girl who found herself…" description: "\"There once was a girl who found herself dead. She peered over the ledge of heaven and saw that back on earth her sister missed her too much, was way to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/jandy-nelson-1913_boys_there-once-was-a-girl-who-found-herself_2463884.jpg" --- # There once was a girl who found herself dead. She peered… ![“There once was a girl who found herself dead. She peered over the ledge of heaven and saw that back on earth her sister missed her too much, was way too sad, so she crossed some paths that would not have crossed, took some moments in her hand shook them up and spilled them like dice over the…” quote by Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/jandy-nelson-1913_boys_there-once-was-a-girl-who-found-herself_2463884.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/jandy-nelson-1913_boys_there-once-was-a-girl-who-found-herself_2463884.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/jandy-nelson-1913_boys_there-once-was-a-girl-who-found-herself_2463884.jpg) > “There once was a girl who found herself dead. She peered over the ledge of heaven and saw that back on earth her sister missed her too much, was way too sad, so she crossed some paths that would not have crossed, took some moments in her hand shook them up and spilled them like dice over the living world. It worked. The boy with the guitar collided with her sister. "There you go, Len," she whispered. "The rest is up to you.” [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A girl, grieving her sister, envisions a surreal rescue where a boy with a guitar intervenes, suggesting healing through unexpected connections. **In simple terms:** Grief can be eased by unexpected help and shared creativity. Key Takeaway Seek creative outlets and supportive relationships during loss. Themes grief healing creativity Mood hopeful melancholic Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - bereavement - artistic expression - support groups Key Concepts loss connection surrealism Questions to Reflect On - What creative act could help you process loss? - Who can you lean on for unexpected support? A Different Perspective Healing may not follow linear paths. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Crossed paths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crossed-paths/) [Dice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dice/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [Sister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sister/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Iced tea is too pure and natural a creation not to have been invented as soon as tea, ice, and hot weather crossed paths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-egerton/iced-tea-is-too-pure-and-natural-a-creation-not-to-have-been-invented/) John Egerton > [The funny thing is I have known AJ Lee. She started in New Jersey; I worked in New York. We have crossed paths and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zelina-vega/the-funny-thing-is-i-have-known-aj-lee-she-started-in-new-jersey-i/) [Zelina Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zelina-vega/) > [I've crossed paths with so many different people from all walks of life. Any situation you put me in, I can manage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-fox/i-ve-crossed-paths-with-so-many-different-people-from-all-walks-of/) [Julia Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-fox/) > [As a person i couldnt say, although i am well apuainted with tales of his atrocities. every time brom and i crossed paths with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/as-a-person-i-couldnt-say-although-i-am-well-apuainted-with-tales-of/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [“Each person is just an imprint of the many people who have crossed paths with us over the years, some more than others. 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It had nothing to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-jacks/sometimes-we-crossed-paths-with-beautiful-people-sometimes-we-forgot/) [Milana Jacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-jacks/) > [I have been with some great organizations, crossed paths with special people, and made numerous lasting relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-donovan/i-have-been-with-some-great-organizations-crossed-paths-with-special/) [Anne Donovan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-donovan/) > [Ethics and I had crossed paths recently, and I’m not sure that I fell on the right side of the morality line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-stephens/ethics-and-i-had-crossed-paths-recently-and-i-m-not-sure-that-i-fell/) [S.C. Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-stephens/) > [In a way, I feel that we're always connected, maybe you and me, we've been connected - not only now, but before. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apichatpong-weerasethakul/in-a-way-i-feel-that-we-re-always-connected-maybe-you-and-me-we-ve/) [Apichatpong Weerasethakul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apichatpong-weerasethakul/) ## More by Jandy Nelson > [And then he smiles, and in all the places around the globe where it's night, day breaks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/and-then-he-smiles-and-in-all-the-places-around-the-globe-where-it-s/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Or maybe a person is just made up of a lot of peopleMaybe we’re accumulating these new selves all the time. Hauling them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/or-maybe-a-person-is-just-made-up-of-a-lot-of-peoplemaybe-we-re/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“How can people die when you’re in a fight with them? When you’re smack in the middle of hating them? When absolutely nothing between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/how-can-people-die-when-you-re-in-a-fight-with-them-when-you-re-smack/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I wonder why bereaved people even bother with mourning clothes when the grief itself provides such an unmistakable wardrobe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-wonder-why-bereaved-people-even-bother-with-mourning-clothes-when/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [... if you're someone who knows the worst thing can happen at any time, aren't you also someone who knows the best thing can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/if-you-re-someone-who-knows-the-worst-thing-can-happen-at-any-time/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“I want my sister. I want to hurl a building at God. 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Solo quería que me prestara atención, no que me dejara tirada en…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/una-y-otra-vez-d-a-tras-d-a-me-esforc-por-ser-vista-solo-quer-a-que/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [grief is a house where the chairs have forgotten how to hold us the mirrors how to reflect us the walls how to contain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/grief-is-a-house-where-the-chairs-have-forgotten-how-to-hold-us-the/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“I think if we don't stop kissing, the world is going to explode.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-think-if-we-don-t-stop-kissing-the-world-is-going-to-explode/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [He murmers into my hair, "Forget what I said earlier, let's stick with this, I might not survive anything more." I laugh. Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/he-murmers-into-my-hair-forget-what-i-said-earlier-let-s-stick-with/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“Listen to me. It takes a lot of courage to be true to yourself, true to your heart. You always have been very brave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/listen-to-me-it-takes-a-lot-of-courage-to-be-true-to-yourself-true-to/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [Sometimes you think you know things, know things very deeply, only to realize you don't know a damn thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/sometimes-you-think-you-know-things-know-things-very-deeply-only-to/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I have an impulse to write all over the orange walls- I need an alphabet of endings ripped out of books, of hands pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-have-an-impulse-to-write-all-over-the-orange-walls-i-need-an/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [“I'd been making desicions for days. I picked out the dress Bailey would wear forever- a black slinky one- innapropriate- that she loved. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-d-been-making-desicions-for-days-i-picked-out-the-dress-bailey/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) [Explore all 183 Jandy Nelson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) ## More Boys quotes > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [Lets face it this world is ruled by girls that why we must away pleases our girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/lets-face-it-this-world-is-ruled-by-girls-that-why-we-must-away/) MrAwesome > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [When it comes to bullying small businesses, Donald Trump is the poster boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/when-it-comes-to-bullying-small-businesses-donald-trump-is-the-poster/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [When other boys dreamt of going to the moon or becoming doctors, I wanted to be a designer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-theyskens/when-other-boys-dreamt-of-going-to-the-moon-or-becoming-doctors-i/) [Olivier Theyskens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-theyskens/) > [In the middle of a play, I go crazy and don't realize what I'm doing. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/so-i-was-ugly-i-was-never-fat-really-and-i-never-wore-headgear-or-had/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) [Browse all 7,168 Boys quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There once was a girl who found herself dead. She peered over the ledge of heaven and saw that back on earth her sister missed her too much, was way too sad, so she crossed some paths that would not have crossed, took some moments in her hand shook them up and spilled them like dice over the living world. It worked. 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