--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don’t know what this thing between us…" description: "\"“I don’t know what this thing between us is,” Murdo said, and he sounded genuinely bewildered. “But I can’t give it up. I can’t give you up.”\" — Joanna..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/joanna-chambers-8593_bewildered_i-don-t-know-what-this-thing-between-us_2837274.jpg" --- # I don’t know what this thing between us is,” Murdo said… ![“I don’t know what this thing between us is,” Murdo said, and he sounded genuinely bewildered. “But I can’t give it up. I can’t give you up.” quote by Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/joanna-chambers-8593_bewildered_i-don-t-know-what-this-thing-between-us_2837274.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/joanna-chambers-8593_bewildered_i-don-t-know-what-this-thing-between-us_2837274.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2da/joanna-chambers-8593_bewildered_i-don-t-know-what-this-thing-between-us_2837274.jpg) > ““I don’t know what this thing between us is,” Murdo said, and he sounded genuinely bewildered. “But I can’t give it up. I can’t give you up.”” [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker is confused about a relationship yet feels an irresistible pull that prevents letting go. **In simple terms:** Confusion and attachment coexist. Key Takeaway Explore feelings before acting. Themes relationships confusion attachment Mood conflicted melancholic Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - breakups - new romances - self‑reflection Key Concepts emotional conflict dependency Questions to Reflect On - What holds you back from leaving? - How to resolve mixed emotions? A Different Perspective Clinging may hinder personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bewildered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewildered/) ## Related quotes > [“I’ve missed kissing you,” Murdo said. “I never thought I’d miss kissing above all other activities.” The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/i-ve-missed-kissing-you-murdo-said-i-never-thought-i-d-miss-kissing/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Tell me,” Murdo said. “Will you come back here with me tonight, David? Will you come to my bed again?” And somehow, despite everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/tell-me-murdo-said-will-you-come-back-here-with-me-tonight-david-will/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“What this have we done?” asked Stanislaw in very bad English, honestly bewildered. “Curfew?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brazytis/what-this-have-we-done-asked-stanislaw-in-very-bad-english-honestly/) [Sarah Brazytis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brazytis/) > [Sometimes tears roll down from our eyes not because we wanted to but because when our words can't explain the pain we feel then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/sometimes-tears-roll-down-from-our-eyes-not-because-we-wanted-to-but/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/why-are-we-reading-if-not-in-hope-that-the-writer-will-magnify-and/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Some people are attracted to sickness, to the kind of madness where sparks fly off the head, to the incoherence of despair, masked by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-davies/some-people-are-attracted-to-sickness-to-the-kind-of-madness-where/) [Luke Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-davies/) > [Guy Savelli's role in the War on Terror began when half-a-dozen strangers, within days of one another, contacted him via e-mail and telephone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/guy-savelli-s-role-in-the-war-on-terror-began-when-half-a-dozen/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenz-hart/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildered-am-i/) [Lorenz Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenz-hart/) > [Thus I began my systematic though half-bewildered tour of Innsmouth's narrow, shadow-blighted ways. Crossing the bridge and turning toward the roar of the lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/thus-i-began-my-systematic-though-half-bewildered-tour-of-innsmouth-s/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [“I didn't particularly feel like explaining myself to eighteen bewildered people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-didn-t-particularly-feel-like-explaining-myself-to-eighteen/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [She was the murderous mother who cut us to the bone but left us alive, left us naked and bewildered as wrinkled newborn babies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/she-was-the-murderous-mother-who-cut-us-to-the-bone-but-left-us-alive/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [I admitted that I did not understand life. What I meant was that I am bewildered by human hearts and motivations, including my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lock/i-admitted-that-i-did-not-understand-life-what-i-meant-was-that-i-am/) [Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lock/) > [I've never been lost, but I've been a mite bewildered for a few days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/i-ve-never-been-lost-but-i-ve-been-a-mite-bewildered-for-a-few-days/) [Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## More by Joanna Chambers > [“Oil. It makes it easier.” Murdo crawled onto the mattress and straddled David’s thighs. His gaze was hot, his faint smile promising. “I’m going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/oil-it-makes-it-easier-murdo-crawled-onto-the-mattress-and-straddled/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Murdo’s scent, earthy and male, was intoxicating. David held his lover open and lapped at the pinched edges of his hole, loosening and stimulating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/murdo-s-scent-earthy-and-male-was-intoxicating-david-held-his-lover/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“There wasn’t a bit of innocence or purity in him. He was sinful and cynical. Unapologetic. He cared nothing for the world. He just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/there-wasn-t-a-bit-of-innocence-or-purity-in-him-he-was-sinful-and/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Murdo twisted, rolling David onto his back and under him, and they wrestled for a minute, muscles straining, bodies pressing and sliding, a brief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/murdo-twisted-rolling-david-onto-his-back-and-under-him-and-they/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“To hell with what I deserve,” Murdo whispered. “All I want is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/to-hell-with-what-i-deserve-murdo-whispered-all-i-want-is-you/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Yes, I hate what I am at times, but at least I accept myself enough to realise that I can’t lie my way through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/yes-i-hate-what-i-am-at-times-but-at-least-i-accept-myself-enough-to/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“David woke to birdsong, the smell of morning chocolate…and an aching arse. Opening”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/david-woke-to-birdsong-the-smell-of-morning-chocolate-and-an-aching/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Who would look at him and guess what he was? A sodomite. Or almost a sodomite. Certainly in thought, if not quite yet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/who-would-look-at-him-and-guess-what-he-was-a-sodomite-or-almost-a/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“The thought of you being dead—I realised I couldn’t bear it. Bad enough not to have you. But for you not to be alive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/the-thought-of-you-being-dead-i-realised-i-couldn-t-bear-it-bad/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Balfour kissed up the line of David’s throat and whispered harshly in his ear, “God, but I want to do everything to you. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/balfour-kissed-up-the-line-of-david-s-throat-and-whispered-harshly-in/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Honestly,” Murdo sighed. “The things I do for love.” The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/honestly-murdo-sighed-the-things-i-do-for-love-the/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“So…will I see you in Edinburgh, then, for the King’s visit?” Murdo paused, mid-step, at that question. He knew what he wanted. He knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/so-will-i-see-you-in-edinburgh-then-for-the-king-s-visit-murdo-paused/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“The knot of ropes that bound Murdo to his father was Gordian in its complexity and subtlety. Tonight, Murdo had swept a sword through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/the-knot-of-ropes-that-bound-murdo-to-his-father-was-gordian-in-its/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“What might’ve happened to Lauriston in two long years? The man could have moved away from Edinburgh altogether. He might have married, or become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/what-might-ve-happened-to-lauriston-in-two-long-years-the-man-could/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) > [“Tell me,” Murdo said. “Will you come back here with me tonight, David? Will you come to my bed again?” And somehow, despite everything,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-chambers/tell-me-murdo-said-will-you-come-back-here-with-me-tonight-david-will/) [Joanna Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) [Explore all 78 Joanna Chambers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-chambers/) ## More Bewildered quotes > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Language gradually varies, and with it fade away the writings of authors who have flourished their allotted time; otherwise, the creative powers of genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/language-gradually-varies-and-with-it-fade-away-the-writings-of/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I've never been lost, but I've been a mite bewildered for a few days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-boone/i-ve-never-been-lost-but-i-ve-been-a-mite-bewildered-for-a-few-days/) [Daniel Boone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-boone/) > [I admitted that I did not understand life. What I meant was that I am bewildered by human hearts and motivations, including my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-lock/i-admitted-that-i-did-not-understand-life-what-i-meant-was-that-i-am/) [Norman Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-lock/) > [She was the murderous mother who cut us to the bone but left us alive, left us naked and bewildered as wrinkled newborn babies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/she-was-the-murderous-mother-who-cut-us-to-the-bone-but-left-us-alive/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [“I didn't particularly feel like explaining myself to eighteen bewildered people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-a-thompson/i-didn-t-particularly-feel-like-explaining-myself-to-eighteen/) [Shannon A. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-a-thompson/) > [Thus I began my systematic though half-bewildered tour of Innsmouth's narrow, shadow-blighted ways. Crossing the bridge and turning toward the roar of the lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft/thus-i-began-my-systematic-though-half-bewildered-tour-of-innsmouth-s/) [H. P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft/) > [Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorenz-hart/bewitched-bothered-and-bewildered-am-i/) [Lorenz Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorenz-hart/) > [Guy Savelli's role in the War on Terror began when half-a-dozen strangers, within days of one another, contacted him via e-mail and telephone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/guy-savelli-s-role-in-the-war-on-terror-began-when-half-a-dozen/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [Some people are attracted to sickness, to the kind of madness where sparks fly off the head, to the incoherence of despair, masked by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-davies/some-people-are-attracted-to-sickness-to-the-kind-of-madness-where/) [Luke Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-davies/) > [Why are we reading if not in hope that the writer will magnify and dramatize our days, will illuminate and inspire us with wisdom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/why-are-we-reading-if-not-in-hope-that-the-writer-will-magnify-and/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [Sometimes tears roll down from our eyes not because we wanted to but because when our words can't explain the pain we feel then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usman-ismaheel/sometimes-tears-roll-down-from-our-eyes-not-because-we-wanted-to-but/) [Usman Ismaheel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usman-ismaheel/) > [“What this have we done?” asked Stanislaw in very bad English, honestly bewildered. “Curfew?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-brazytis/what-this-have-we-done-asked-stanislaw-in-very-bad-english-honestly/) [Sarah Brazytis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-brazytis/) > [I am bewildered at the length to which people will go to portray me so negatively,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-am-bewildered-at-the-length-to-which-people-will-go-to-portray-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [I was sad to leave Europe in 1890, after my student days in Germany... But then, once back in New York, I experienced an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-stieglitz/i-was-sad-to-leave-europe-in-1890-after-my-student-days-in-germany/) [Alfred Stieglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-stieglitz/) [Browse all 141 Bewildered quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bewildered/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I don’t know what this thing between us is,” Murdo said, and he sounded genuinely bewildered. “But I can’t give it up. 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