--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the very last moment, just before its…" description: "\"At the very last moment, just before its lips claimed hers, its grip on her face relaxed slightly and she did the only thing she could think of: She he..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_at-the-very-last-moment-just-before-its_1963598.png" --- # At the very last moment, just before its lips claimed… ![“At the very last moment, just before its lips claimed hers, its grip on her face relaxed slightly and she did the only thing she could think of: She head-butted it. Snapped her head back, then forward again, and bashed it square in the face as hard as she could. So hard, in fact, that it made her…” quote by Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_at-the-very-last-moment-just-before-its_1963598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_at-the-very-last-moment-just-before-its_1963598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c08/karen-marie-moning-189_faces_at-the-very-last-moment-just-before-its_1963598.png) > “At the very last moment, just before its lips claimed hers, its grip on her face relaxed slightly and she did the only thing she could think of: She head-butted it. Snapped her head back, then forward again, and bashed it square in the face as hard as she could. So hard, in fact, that it made her woozy and gave her an instant migraine, making her wonder how Jean-Claude Van Damme always managed to coolly continue fighting after such a stunt. Obviously, movies lied.” [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Desperate action in a crisis can be reckless but shows survival instinct. **In simple terms:** She fights back instinctively. Key Takeaway Act quickly when threatened. Themes survival desperation action heroism Mood tense adrenaline‑filled Type dramatic action‑oriented When to use this quote - dangerous encounters - self‑defense situations - high‑stress moments Key Concepts instinct self‑defense adrenaline Questions to Reflect On - What would you do in a sudden threat? - How can you balance instinct and caution? A Different Perspective Such impulsive moves may cause unintended harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Migraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migraine/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Van damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/van-damme/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“Panting, he looked into a face he couldn't see. "What the fuck is your problem?" "I'm bored." With that, she head-butted him right in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/panting-he-looked-into-a-face-he-couldn-t-see-what-the-fuck-is-your/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [“What are you doing?” “What does it look like? I’m getting down on my knees.” His head butted against her stomach. Her muscles clenched,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alisha-rai/what-are-you-doing-what-does-it-look-like-i-m-getting-down-on-my/) [Alisha Rai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alisha-rai/) > [Don't play hard to get when your face is already hard to want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-play-hard-to-get-when-your-face-is-already-hard-to-want/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Sharp angles make his face hard but that's nothing compared to what his eyes hold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-fleshman/sharp-angles-make-his-face-hard-but-that-s-nothing-compared-to-what/) Stephanie Fleshman > [“Let’s face it. It’s already hard being yourself, so why do we insist on adding pressure trying to please others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daria-white/let-s-face-it-it-s-already-hard-being-yourself-so-why-do-we-insist-on/) [Daria White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daria-white/) > [It's been awhile since I've seen your face, yet I still find it so hard to erase.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-been-awhile-since-i-ve-seen-your-face-yet-i-still-find-it-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Normally I can't watch myself at all, and watching myself makes me cringe, and I cover my face, and it's very hard to watch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-portman/normally-i-can-t-watch-myself-at-all-and-watching-myself-makes-me/) [Natalie Portman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-portman/) > [It's not fun to get punched in the face. It's hard, and there's no glory in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hauser/it-s-not-fun-to-get-punched-in-the-face-it-s-hard-and-there-s-no/) [Thomas Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hauser/) > [To look in the face of hard things and keep moving forward - that's what one has to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/to-look-in-the-face-of-hard-things-and-keep-moving-forward-that-s/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [“Dressed, she’s in front of the mirror. Armed. She puts her face on. In her case, not a matter of cosmetics, but will. How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/dressed-she-s-in-front-of-the-mirror-armed-she-puts-her-face-on-in/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [The Soft Pack's self-titled full-length debut is straighter than black coffee, and twice as bitter: Frontman Matt Lamkin isn't afraid to fly his philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-fantano/the-soft-pack-s-self-titled-full-length-debut-is-straighter-than/) [Anthony Fantano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-fantano/) > [“If you’re fucking with me right now, I swear I’ll punch you in the face so hard it will break the laws of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-guess/if-you-re-fucking-with-me-right-now-i-swear-i-ll-punch-you-in-the/) [Joshua Guess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-guess/) > [“Because the next moment, when I was hauled out from under the bed and up to a pair of so-familiar green eyes, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/because-the-next-moment-when-i-was-hauled-out-from-under-the-bed-and/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“His gaze on me. Face hard. As if he’d seen through every lie. As if he knew of the second tattoo beneath my glove,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/his-gaze-on-me-face-hard-as-if-he-d-seen-through-every-lie-as-if-he/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I enjoyed working with Van Damme. He is very original person and actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrei-arlovski/i-enjoyed-working-with-van-damme-he-is-very-original-person-and-actor/) [Andrei Arlovski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrei-arlovski/) ## More by Karen Marie Moning > [“I can either be a victim—or a winner. Fuck victimhood. I don’t wear it well; it clashes with my wardrobe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-can-either-be-a-victim-or-a-winner-fuck-victimhood-i-don-t-wear-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Ancient eyes had stared at me, filled with ancient grief. And something more. Something so alien and unexpected that I'd almost burst into tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/ancient-eyes-had-stared-at-me-filled-with-ancient-grief-and-something/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Some things are sacred. Until you act like they're not. Then you lose them](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/some-things-are-sacred-until-you-act-like-they-re-not-then-you-lose/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Who would ever understand me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/who-would-ever-understand-me/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“I think I’m under control, that I’ve stripped away all weaknesses. That committing to my mission has made me impervious. I’m wrong. The thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/i-think-i-m-under-control-that-i-ve-stripped-away-all-weaknesses-that/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Desire makes life happen. Makes it matter. Makes everything worth it. Desire is life. Hunger to see the next sunrise or sunset, to touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/desire-makes-life-happen-makes-it-matter-makes-everything-worth-it/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Finally, someone had seen him. And what had he done? Let her get away. Undermined by his disgusting human anatomy. It had just been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/finally-someone-had-seen-him-and-what-had-he-done-let-her-get-away/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Our sex is fierce. We will both be bruised. "I want it to always be like this," I tell him. "Try holding onto that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/our-sex-is-fierce-we-will-both-be-bruised-i-want-it-to-always-be-like/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Keep hoping to see the light in her eyes. Even knowing it'll mean she's saying good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/keep-hoping-to-see-the-light-in-her-eyes-even-knowing-it-ll-mean-she/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Strength wasn‘t about being able to do everything alone. Strength was knowing when to ask for help and not being too proud to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/strength-wasn-t-about-being-able-to-do-everything-alone-strength-was/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“He swapped the fistful of my shirt for one in my hair, and ground his mouth against mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-swapped-the-fistful-of-my-shirt-for-one-in-my-hair-and-ground-his/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [He’s so beautiful,” she said wistfully. “He’s like an angel.” “Yep,” I agreed flatly. “The one that fell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/he-s-so-beautiful-she-said-wistfully-he-s-like-an-angel-yep-i-agreed/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [And when he did that, my hands curled into fists because I thought about touching his face like maybe I could catch joy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/and-when-he-did-that-my-hands-curled-into-fists-because-i-thought/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [“Flattered as I am that you count me among the beautiful people, Barrons, allow me to point out that I’m still alive. I encountered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/flattered-as-i-am-that-you-count-me-among-the-beautiful-people/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) [Explore all 940 Karen Marie Moning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) ## More Faces quotes > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [Because the truth is that gossip is as good as gospel in this town. You can save face but you won't ever save your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-oberst/because-the-truth-is-that-gossip-is-as-good-as-gospel-in-this-town/) [Conor Oberst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-oberst/) > [My friends, this body - perhaps more than any other gathering in human history - now faces that difficult task.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/my-friends-this-body-perhaps-more-than-any-other-gathering-in-human/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [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/) > [I've seen every one, from Motley Crue to John Denver, with tears running down my face. I had no idea everyone had such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-ve-seen-every-one-from-motley-crue-to-john-denver-with-tears/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [We have a fear of facing ourselves. That is the obstacle. Experiencing the innermost core of our existence is very embarrassing to a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-have-a-fear-of-facing-ourselves-that-is-the-obstacle-experiencing/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [If enough money is involved and enough people believe that two plus two equals five the media will report the story with a straight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/if-enough-money-is-involved-and-enough-people-believe-that-two-plus/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [Here comes old Rosie she's looking mighty fine, here comes hot Nancy she's steppin' right on time. There go the street lights bringing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-seger/here-comes-old-rosie-she-s-looking-mighty-fine-here-comes-hot-nancy/) [Bob Seger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-seger/) > [A face is too slight a foundation for happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/a-face-is-too-slight-a-foundation-for-happiness/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/) [Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) [Browse all 13,128 Faces quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At the very last moment, just before its lips claimed hers, its grip on her face relaxed slightly and she did the only thing she could think of: She head-butted it. Snapped her head back, then forward again, and bashed it square in the face as hard as she could. So hard, in fact, that it made her woozy and gave her an instant migraine, making her wonder how Jean-Claude Van Damme always managed to coolly continue fighting after such a stunt. 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