--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he backed away, his pupils were huge…" description: "\"“When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat. \"Belly,\" he said, and his voice was foggy. He did..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png" --- # When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused… ![“When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat. "Belly," he said, and his voice was foggy. He didn't say anything else, just my name. "Do you still--" Care. Think about me. Want me. Roughly, he said, "Yes. Yes, I still." And then we were kissing…” quote by Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png) > ““When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat. "Belly," he said, and his voice was foggy. He didn't say anything else, just my name. "Do you still--" Care. Think about me. Want me. Roughly, he said, "Yes. Yes, I still." And then we were kissing again.”” [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A moment of intimacy reveals vulnerability and desire, showing how connection can persist despite uncertainty. **In simple terms:** Intimacy shows desire despite doubt. Key Takeaway Embrace honest connection. Themes love vulnerability desire Mood intimate tender Type romantic dramatic When to use this quote - romantic relationships - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts communication emotional honesty Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure mutual consent? - What does vulnerability mean in love? A Different Perspective The scene may romanticize unclear consent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Belly Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belly-said-1982788/) [Blinked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blinked/) [Cleared Throat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleared-throat-804357/) [Foggy Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foggy-didn-1982786/) [Gaze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Voice Foggy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice-foggy-1982787/) ## Related quotes > [“The real Dumas was imprisoned by Librans ages ago in an unlaid chicken's egg. I fed the hen to the alligators myself. Slow digestion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-scott-westby/the-real-dumas-was-imprisoned-by-librans-ages-ago-in-an-unlaid/) [Daniel Scott Westby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-scott-westby/) > [“Callahan dried his big meaty hands on his apron and cleared his throat with a sound like a bulldozer in pain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spider-robinson/callahan-dried-his-big-meaty-hands-on-his-apron-and-cleared-his/) [Spider Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spider-robinson/) > [“room. Angus cleared his throat, and Rafe and Kade stared down at their plates, all signs of their previous amusement”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-lael-miller/room-angus-cleared-his-throat-and-rafe-and-kade-stared-down-at-their/) [Linda Lael Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-lael-miller/) > [“Hal...cleared his throat."…Doing the hard stuff's what makes it an adventure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-s-tolan/hal-cleared-his-throat-doing-the-hard-stuff-s-what-makes-it-an/) [Stephanie S. Tolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-s-tolan/) > [“That’s excellent, Sophie.” He cleared his throat and snapped the vibrations off, giving Sophie a couple of seconds to gather herself together as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/that-s-excellent-sophie-he-cleared-his-throat-and-snapped-the/) [Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/) > [I cleared my throat - it isn't frogs you get in your throat; it's memories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-grimes/i-cleared-my-throat-it-isn-t-frogs-you-get-in-your-throat-it-s/) [Martha Grimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-grimes/) > [“I forgive you." I cleared my throat so the whole camp could hear. "Darren, did you hear me? I. Forgive. You.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-e-carter/i-forgive-you-i-cleared-my-throat-so-the-whole-camp-could-hear-darren/) [Rachel E. Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-e-carter/) > [“The gentlemen would like to know if'- he cleared his throat- 'that boom was as bloody brilliant as they thought it was.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/the-gentlemen-would-like-to-know-if-he-cleared-his-throat-that-boom/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [“He cleared his throat. “One good thing about the range, Starling, is there’s no politics out there.” “No?” “You were right to secure that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/he-cleared-his-throat-one-good-thing-about-the-range-starling-is/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“She found the page, cleared her throat and began to read, " 'There was nary a doubt that I had ever seen such big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/she-found-the-page-cleared-her-throat-and-began-to-read-there-was/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Mr. Carter cleared his throat. “Soy sauce.” He deadpanned. “Really, Sera?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-roberts/mr-carter-cleared-his-throat-soy-sauce-he-deadpanned-really-sera/) [Flora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-roberts/) > [“He finally cleared his throat. "Well, huh." "Yeah," I said. "What now?" "Well"—he cleared his throat again—"I guess you and I go. I mean,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawthorne/he-finally-cleared-his-throat-well-huh-yeah-i-said-what-now-well-he/) [Rachel Hawthorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawthorne/) > [He cleared his throat and reminded himself that if you pissed Her Holiness off, they'd need barbecue tongs to pick up your steaming pieces.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-cleared-his-throat-and-reminded-himself-that-if-you-pissed-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He cleared his throat. “You noticed.” “And guys just don’t seem to notice me at all!” “Forgive me for not being too broken up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maisey-yates/he-cleared-his-throat-you-noticed-and-guys-just-don-t-seem-to-notice/) [Maisey Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maisey-yates/) > [“Reid cleared his throat. “Um, I wouldn’t challenge her on this. She once shot Johnny in the ass with buckshot when his mom ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-langlais/reid-cleared-his-throat-um-i-wouldn-t-challenge-her-on-this-she-once/) [Eve Langlais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-langlais/) ## More by Jenny Han > [“Nothing good happens after two a.m. Unless you happen to be a fan of watching people play flip cup for hours on end. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/nothing-good-happens-after-two-a-m-unless-you-happen-to-be-a-fan-of/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“He kissed like he was drowning and I was air. It was passionate, and desperate, and like nothing I had ever experienced before. This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-kissed-like-he-was-drowning-and-i-was-air-it-was-passionate-and/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“But I didn’t regret it. I never regretted it, not for one second. How do you regret one of the best nights of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/but-i-didn-t-regret-it-i-never-regretted-it-not-for-one-second-how-do/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [When you write something by hand, there's a sort of intimacy that is just intrinsic to that act. You don't get to delete something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-you-write-something-by-hand-there-s-a-sort-of-intimacy-that-is/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Lara: Because sometimes you just feel sad and you can't explain it. Kitty: PMS? Lara: No.It's not PMS. Just because a girl is sad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/lara-because-sometimes-you-just-feel-sad-and-you-can-t-explain-it/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“I don’t know if i’ll ever get you out of my system, not completely. I have… this feeling. That you’ll always be there. Here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-get-you-out-of-my-system-not-completely-i/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“He took a step closer. "I don't know if I'll ever get you out of my system, not completely. I have this... feeling. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/he-took-a-step-closer-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-ever-get-you-out-of-my/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Peter will love Lara Jean with all his heart, always”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/peter-will-love-lara-jean-with-all-his-heart-always/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“It still feels weird to spend money on Christmas trees. Back when Mom was alive, we’d go out “tree hunting.” That’s what she called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/it-still-feels-weird-to-spend-money-on-christmas-trees-back-when-mom/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [When I get an email from someone who says, 'Your book was the first book I ever read,' or, 'Your book is what made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-i-get-an-email-from-someone-who-says-your-book-was-the-first/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“I stared at him. Did he really say that? Did he remember? The way he looked back at me, one eyebrow raised, I knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-stared-at-him-did-he-really-say-that-did-he-remember-the-way-he/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“Some girls are pretty and they were born for it but no matter what always be yourself because people might see the wrong side…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/some-girls-are-pretty-and-they-were-born-for-it-but-no-matter-what/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [I like to read non-fiction on my e-reader, but as for fiction, I usually like to have a copy to keep at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/i-like-to-read-non-fiction-on-my-e-reader-but-as-for-fiction-i/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [“There’s an air of things closing down. Teachers wear shorts and T-shirts to class. They show movies while they clean out their desks. Nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/there-s-an-air-of-things-closing-down-teachers-wear-shorts-and-t/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) > [There's something so delicious about holding onto a secret; it's something just for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/there-s-something-so-delicious-about-holding-onto-a-secret-it-s/) [Jenny Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) [Explore all 509 Jenny Han quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/) ## More Gaze quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [“Taylor said a prayer for the man, and apologized out loud. Knowing there was nothing left to do, she turned to leave. As she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-said-a-prayer-for-the-man-and-apologized-out-loud-knowing/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“If it makes you feel any better, he’s been all sad doll lately too.” “What are you talking about, Chels?” Chelsea stopped walking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-derting/if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-he-s-been-all-sad-doll-lately-too/) [Kimberly Derting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-derting/) > [“Rodrigo tried to draw a deep breath, but his chest was too filled with anguish, rage and guilt. He kissed his ash-coated fingers. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-valdez/rodrigo-tried-to-draw-a-deep-breath-but-his-chest-was-too-filled-with/) [Lisa Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-valdez/) > [“still feel the same way? Could he have changed this much on the inside too? Struggling for the right words, I opened my mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/still-feel-the-same-way-could-he-have-changed-this-much-on-the-inside/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Being held by him, kissed and mastered, taken under and swept away, enthralled her in a way she—an independent woman if nothing else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-sumner/being-held-by-him-kissed-and-mastered-taken-under-and-swept-away/) [Tracy Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-sumner/) > [“Don’t you remember how hot we were together, Lane? God.” He takes a quick breath through clenched teeth and runs his hand down my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-a-valentine/don-t-you-remember-how-hot-we-were-together-lane-god-he-takes-a-quick/) [Michelle A. Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-a-valentine/) > [“She knew how to play him so very well. He slipped his hand around hers. "Friends," he repeated roughly. Her smile was bright enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-smith/she-knew-how-to-play-him-so-very-well-he-slipped-his-hand-around-hers/) [Kathryn Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-smith/) > [“Damn.” Phineas turned the Big Boy off, then noticed he’d left the box on the bed. Damn, had Zoltan seen it? He stuffed the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerrelyn-sparks/damn-phineas-turned-the-big-boy-off-then-noticed-he-d-left-the-box-on/) [Kerrelyn Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerrelyn-sparks/) > [“Now you," Grandma barks at him. "Yes, you, the invisible truck driver," she added, giving me a wicked grin. "Go stand next to Rose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/now-you-grandma-barks-at-him-yes-you-the-invisible-truck-driver-she/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [His fingertips slid down from my face, lightly stroking the line of my neck, down toward my shoulder. Everywhere he touched, a trail of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/his-fingertips-slid-down-from-my-face-lightly-stroking-the-line-of-my/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) > [“You know when I said I didn't need you?" I asked. He lifted one brow. "I was so wrong.I can't find words to express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/you-know-when-i-said-i-didn-t-need-you-i-asked-he-lifted-one-brow-i/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [“I didn’t say it just to get you to jump. I’m in love with you, Zane,” he admitted in a calm, clear voice. “I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-urban/i-didn-t-say-it-just-to-get-you-to-jump-i-m-in-love-with-you-zane-he/) [Madeleine Urban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-urban/) > [“This explains so much," she said, clucking her tongue in mother-hen fashion. "You're compensating for this withered appendage." Withered appendage? What the devil was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/this-explains-so-much-she-said-clucking-her-tongue-in-mother-hen/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) [Browse all 15,087 Gaze quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gaze/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat. \"Belly,\" he said, and his voice was foggy. He didn't say anything else, just my name. \"Do you still--\" Care. Think about me. Want me. Roughly, he said, \"Yes. Yes, I still.\" And then we were kissing again.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jenny Han" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge-and-unfocused-he-blinked-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gaze" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge-and-unfocused-he-blinked-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40b/jenny-han-483_gaze_when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge_985387.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he backed away, his pupils were huge and unfocused. He blinked, and then he cleared his throat…” — Jenny Han", "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": "Jenny Han", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-han/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When he backed away, his pupils...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge-and-unfocused-he-blinked-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-han/when-he-backed-away-his-pupils-were-huge-and-unfocused-he-blinked-and/#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 } } ] } ```