--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before we left town, Antonio pulled into…" description: "\"Before we left town, Antonio pulled into a strip mall and went in to get subs and salads, leaving Clay and me half naked and bleeding in the car, and C..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/kelley-armstrong-581_antonio_before-we-left-town-antonio-pulled-into_3222610.jpg" --- # Before we left town, Antonio pulled into a strip mall and… ![“Before we left town, Antonio pulled into a strip mall and went in to get subs and salads, leaving Clay and me half naked and bleeding in the car, and Cain unconscious in the trunk. No wonder I was anxious to get back to Toronto. Spend too much time around these guys and you become a little too…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/kelley-armstrong-581_antonio_before-we-left-town-antonio-pulled-into_3222610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/kelley-armstrong-581_antonio_before-we-left-town-antonio-pulled-into_3222610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/216/kelley-armstrong-581_antonio_before-we-left-town-antonio-pulled-into_3222610.jpg) > “Before we left town, Antonio pulled into a strip mall and went in to get subs and salads, leaving Clay and me half naked and bleeding in the car, and Cain unconscious in the trunk. No wonder I was anxious to get back to Toronto. Spend too much time around these guys and you become a little too nonchalent about blood-soaked clothes and bodies in the trunk” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After a violent incident, the narrator reflects on desensitization to gore and the lingering anxiety of returning home. **In simple terms:** Trauma leads to numbness and lingering fear. Key Takeaway Address trauma, don’t ignore it. Themes trauma desensitization anxiety Mood dark intense Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - post‑traumatic stress - dangerous environments - personal safety Key Concepts psychological impact survival memory Questions to Reflect On - What coping mechanisms help you process violent experiences? - How does returning to normal life feel after trauma? A Different Perspective Ignoring trauma can worsen mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antonio/) [Antonio Pulled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antonio-pulled-6064801/) [Anxious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious/) [Anxious Toronto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxious-toronto-6064799/) [Bleeding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bleeding/) [Blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood/) [Blood Soaked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blood-soaked-2593442/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain/) [Cain Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cain-unconscious-6064802/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clay/) [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guy/) [Half](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half/) [Leaving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaving/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Malls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/malls/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Salad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salad/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Toronto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/toronto/) [Towns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/towns/) [Trunks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trunks/) [Unconscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious/) [Unconscious Trunk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unconscious-trunk-6064800/) [Wonder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonder/) ## Related quotes > [“You take all of our pain, you are the spine. You are the blood soaked rag that holds closed the wounds in our soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cedric-nye/you-take-all-of-our-pain-you-are-the-spine-you-are-the-blood-soaked/) [Cedric Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cedric-nye/) > [“What she didn’t realize was that she was a fucking queen. My blood-soaked queen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/what-she-didn-t-realize-was-that-she-was-a-fucking-queen-my-blood/) [Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/) > [“Blood soaked her clothes and her bare arms, and Celaena wiped it from her face as she stormed down to the chamber where she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/blood-soaked-her-clothes-and-her-bare-arms-and-celaena-wiped-it-from/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“And there above all of these shops hung a blood soaked sign: a red hand, the hand of a child that was neither male…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-limbour/and-there-above-all-of-these-shops-hung-a-blood-soaked-sign-a-red/) [Georges Limbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-limbour/) > [“the room and studied the positions of the inert, twisted, blood-soaked bodies; they had become one with the lush cream-coloured carpet, which resembled a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-carson/the-room-and-studied-the-positions-of-the-inert-twisted-blood-soaked/) [Bill Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-carson/) > [“This is a kiss worthy of a blood-soaked battlefield, a kiss born out of tragedy and misery and death and loss. A kiss that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-lane/this-is-a-kiss-worthy-of-a-blood-soaked-battlefield-a-kiss-born-out/) [Summer Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-lane/) > [The stairs aren't challenging enough anymore?" he asked. Antonio laughed. "Challenge has nothing to do with it, Jer. I'd say it's the big bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/the-stairs-aren-t-challenging-enough-anymore-he-asked-antonio-laughed/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“One, he used to be Pack so he knows how dangerous this kind of killing on our territory is, that we can’tand won’tleave town.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/one-he-used-to-be-pack-so-he-knows-how-dangerous-this-kind-of-killing/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I'm suprised he doesn't send Christmas cards," Antonio said. "I can see them now. Tasteful, embossed veilum cards, the best he can steal. Little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-m-suprised-he-doesn-t-send-christmas-cards-antonio-said-i-can-see/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Antonio- "Just in time, Pete. Five more minutes of reading this and she'd have been in a coma." Peter- "Are we such bad company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/antonio-just-in-time-pete-five-more-minutes-of-reading-this-and-she-d/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Draw, Antonio; draw, Antonio; draw and don’t waste time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/draw-antonio-draw-antonio-draw-and-don-t-waste-time/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [My father is Jaime Rodriguez from San Antonio, Texas, and I've got one whole half of my family that's Mexican through and through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-roday/my-father-is-jaime-rodriguez-from-san-antonio-texas-and-i-ve-got-one/) [James Roday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-roday/) > [Very, very rarely will I leave San Antonio to speak somewhere else. I used to do that, and it just about wore me out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/very-very-rarely-will-i-leave-san-antonio-to-speak-somewhere-else-i/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all the powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolfo-anaya/it-is-because-good-is-always-stronger-than-evil-always-remember-that/) [Rudolfo Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolfo-anaya/) > [Fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez was a major part of my early career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/fashion-illustrator-antonio-lopez-was-a-major-part-of-my-early-career/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) ## More by Kelley Armstrong > [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/) > [“He turned my way, and I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn't notice for a second. Then I realized I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-turned-my-way-and-i-was-so-engrossed-in-my-thoughts-that-i-didn-t/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [when times are tough, the weak bail and the tough get creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-times-are-tough-the-weak-bail-and-the-tough-get-creative/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Nuh-uh. No deals with the devil. I’ve learned my lesson on that one. ~Jaime Vegas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nuh-uh-no-deals-with-the-devil-i-ve-learned-my-lesson-on-that-one/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Another night then,' Mom said. 'Maybe on the weekend we can have a barbecue and invite your sister.' 'Or,' I said turning to Rafe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/another-night-then-mom-said-maybe-on-the-weekend-we-can-have-a/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Believe me, I have better things to do than sabotage your friendships. No one else's world revolves around you, Cassandra." -Paige to Cassandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/believe-me-i-have-better-things-to-do-than-sabotage-your-friendships/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [Reviews are great. I can read negative reviews and say, 'You know that point they made... they were dead on.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/reviews-are-great-i-can-read-negative-reviews-and-say-you-know-that/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When a series is doing well, it's very tempting to keep writing it, even when the creative well is drying up. It's tempting because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-a-series-is-doing-well-it-s-very-tempting-to-keep-writing-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [You bat your baby blues at tall, dark, and gruesome, and next thing you know, he's trailing you like a lost puppy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/you-bat-your-baby-blues-at-tall-dark-and-gruesome-and-next-thing-you/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [With no chance to take off, I had to play my role, searching for the rendezvous spot, which gave me the excuse to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/with-no-chance-to-take-off-i-had-to-play-my-role-searching-for-the/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [When I glanced at the chair, it started to shake. I’d like to think it was scared of me, but I rarely invoked that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/when-i-glanced-at-the-chair-it-started-to-shake-i-d-like-to-think-it/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Nonsense, Chloe. I certainly hope you aren't afraid of cemeteries" "Um, no" Tori said. "It's the bodies buried in them that worry her. Uh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/nonsense-chloe-i-certainly-hope-you-aren-t-afraid-of-cemeteries-um-no/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I was...a journalist...though my typical beat was freelancing articles on Canadian politics, which never included any mention of demonic phenomena, though it might explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-was-a-journalist-though-my-typical-beat-was-freelancing-articles-on/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [I found something" Simon said as he walked in. He whipped out an old-fashioned key from his pocket and grinned at me. "It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/i-found-something-simon-said-as-he-walked-in-he-whipped-out-an-old/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“He laughed and tugged me down in a kiss. Then, lips still close enough to feel them tickle mine, he said, "You know this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/he-laughed-and-tugged-me-down-in-a-kiss-then-lips-still-close-enough/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) [Explore all 458 Kelley Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## More Antonio quotes > [Fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez was a major part of my early career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-leon-talley/fashion-illustrator-antonio-lopez-was-a-major-part-of-my-early-career/) [Andre Leon Talley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-leon-talley/) > [Draw, Antonio; draw, Antonio; draw and don’t waste time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/draw-antonio-draw-antonio-draw-and-don-t-waste-time/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [My father is Jaime Rodriguez from San Antonio, Texas, and I've got one whole half of my family that's Mexican through and through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-roday/my-father-is-jaime-rodriguez-from-san-antonio-texas-and-i-ve-got-one/) [James Roday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-roday/) > [It is because good is always stronger than evil. Always remember that, Antonio. The smallest bit of good can stand against all the powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolfo-anaya/it-is-because-good-is-always-stronger-than-evil-always-remember-that/) [Rudolfo Anaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolfo-anaya/) > [Very, very rarely will I leave San Antonio to speak somewhere else. I used to do that, and it just about wore me out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/very-very-rarely-will-i-leave-san-antonio-to-speak-somewhere-else-i/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [Antonio: Will you stay no longer? nor will you not that I go with you? Sebastian: By your patience, no. My stars shine darkly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/antonio-will-you-stay-no-longer-nor-will-you-not-that-i-go-with-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [ I don't understand "The Little World of the Past" \[a reference to the title of the book by Antonio Fogazzaro\] that is destined to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franca-sozzani/i-don-t-understand-the-little-world-of-the-past-a-reference-to-the/) [Franca Sozzani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franca-sozzani/) > [ The meeting \[in San Antonio of the National Women's Political Caucus\] featured a cattle show at which a herd of Democratic candidates- Glenn, Cranston,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-seligman/the-meeting-in-san-antonio-of-the-national-women-s-political-caucus/) [Daniel Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-seligman/) > [I hate to be like everyone else, but I'm rooting for San Antonio because I like teams that were built the old-fashioned way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-hate-to-be-like-everyone-else-but-i-m-rooting-for-san-antonio/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I have been working. I've been blessed to have shared a movie in the north of Chile called 'The 33,' with Gabriel Byrne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cote-de-pablo/i-have-been-working-i-ve-been-blessed-to-have-shared-a-movie-in-the/) [Cote de Pablo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cote-de-pablo/) > [Working for incredible talents like Balenciaga and Antonio Castillo, I learned about the immense skill and creativity involved in couture work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-renta/working-for-incredible-talents-like-balenciaga-and-antonio-castillo-i/) [Oscar de la Renta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-renta/) > [you can not fully read a book without being alone. But through this very solitude you become intimately involved with people whom you might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-funke/you-can-not-fully-read-a-book-without-being-alone-but-through-this/) [Cornelia Funke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-funke/) > [My grandmother didn't live to see us begin our lives in public service. But she probably would have thought it extraordinary that just two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-castro/my-grandmother-didn-t-live-to-see-us-begin-our-lives-in-public/) [Julian Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-castro/) > [This is the United spirit: you can play everywhere. If you want to win, you have to accept it. You can see Antonio Valencia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrice-evra/this-is-the-united-spirit-you-can-play-everywhere-if-you-want-to-win/) [Patrice Evra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrice-evra/) > [ In the case of \[Antonio\] Gramsci, the Fascist government agreed that he was a "model intellectual" in \[Edward\] Said's sense, and for that reason… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/in-the-case-of-antonio-gramsci-the-fascist-government-agreed-that-he/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) [Browse all 71 Antonio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antonio/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before we left town, Antonio pulled into a strip mall and went in to get subs and salads, leaving Clay and me half naked and bleeding in the car, and Cain unconscious in the trunk. No wonder I was anxious to get back to Toronto. 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