--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I close my eyes. An image…" description: "\"I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van with Julian after our escape from New York City; believing, in that moment, that we had escaped..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/lauren-oliver-109_begin-again_i-close-my-eyes-an-image-flashes-emergin_274919.jpg" --- # I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van… ![“I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van with Julian after our escape from New York City; believing, in that moment, that we had escaped the worst, that life would begin again for us. Instead life has only grown harder.” quote by Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/lauren-oliver-109_begin-again_i-close-my-eyes-an-image-flashes-emergin_274919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/lauren-oliver-109_begin-again_i-close-my-eyes-an-image-flashes-emergin_274919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a7/lauren-oliver-109_begin-again_i-close-my-eyes-an-image-flashes-emergin_274919.jpg) > “I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van with Julian after our escape from New York City; believing, in that moment, that we had escaped the worst, that life would begin again for us. Instead life has only grown harder.” [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## 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 traumatic escape, hope resurfaces but reality proves harsher, showing resilience is ongoing. **In simple terms:** Hope returns after trauma but life stays tough. Key Takeaway Accept hardship and keep moving forward. Themes trauma hope resilience Mood reflective somber Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - recovering from loss - building new life - coping with adversity Key Concepts post‑traumatic growth survival psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain hope when reality feels harsher? - What small steps can rebuild stability? A Different Perspective Hope can be fleeting; external circumstances may overwhelm personal optimism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Begin again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-again/) [Cities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cities/) [Escape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/escape/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york city](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-city/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“Broken hearts, you can run, you can hide and perhaps the earth is big enough to believe you’re safe. So maybe for a moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-drake/broken-hearts-you-can-run-you-can-hide-and-perhaps-the-earth-is-big/) [robert m drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-drake/) > [It's difficult to do a genre film well, and it doesn't matter if you're talking vampire movies or 'Dawn of the Dead' or 'The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/it-s-difficult-to-do-a-genre-film-well-and-it-doesn-t-matter-if-you/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [Its difficult to do a genre film well, and it doesnt matter if youre talking vampire movies or Dawn of the Dead or The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/its-difficult-to-do-a-genre-film-well-and-it-doesnt-matter-if-youre/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) > [...In the summer New York was the only place in which one could escape from New Yorkers...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-wharton/in-the-summer-new-york-was-the-only-place-in-which-one-could-escape/) [Edith Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-wharton/) > [“Think Snake Plissken. You know…Escape From New York? You do this job, and if you don’t fuck it up, we let you live. (Joe)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/think-snake-plissken-you-know-escape-from-new-york-you-do-this-job/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Assault On Precinct 13' was amazing - a big influence. 'Escape From New York' as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-evans/assault-on-precinct-13-was-amazing-a-big-influence-escape-from-new/) [Gareth Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-evans/) > [Living is the purpose of life, And meaning can be found therein. I finds thou. Thou becomes it. And it begins again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/living-is-the-purpose-of-life-and-meaning-can-be-found-therein-i/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-myself-on-my-general-want-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Sometimes we reach a dead end. In that case, start again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felisa-tan/sometimes-we-reach-a-dead-end-in-that-case-start-again/) [Felisa Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felisa-tan/) > [My day's work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/my-day-s-work-will-begin-again-the-next-morning-the-tomb-is-not-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [If once again Germany destabilizes Europe, then Germany will be not be divided again, but wiped off the map. East and West have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/if-once-again-germany-destabilizes-europe-then-germany-will-be-not-be/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [Sometimes I find the best way of getting from one place to another is simply to erase everything and begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/sometimes-i-find-the-best-way-of-getting-from-one-place-to-another-is/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time-i-thought-about-maman-i-felt-as-if/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [The thing about acting is even if you get technically more skilled at what you do, every time you begin a film or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/the-thing-about-acting-is-even-if-you-get-technically-more-skilled-at/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [Begin: To have commenced is half the deed. Half yet remains; Begin again on this and thou wilt finish all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/decimius-magnus-ausonius/begin-to-have-commenced-is-half-the-deed-half-yet-remains-begin-again/) [Decimius Magnus Ausonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decimius-magnus-ausonius/) ## More by Lauren Oliver > [“My aunt Carol hasn’t heard her say a word in the whole six years and three months of Grace’s life—not a single syllable. Carol…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/my-aunt-carol-hasn-t-heard-her-say-a-word-in-the-whole-six-years-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [This is what happens when you try to help people. You get screwed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/this-is-what-happens-when-you-try-to-help-people-you-get-screwed/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [We'll walk together holding hands, and kiss in broad daylight, and love each other as much as we want to, and no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/we-ll-walk-together-holding-hands-and-kiss-in-broad-daylight-and-love/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“At least when I'm sleeping I can dream myself back to Alex, can dream myself into a different world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/at-least-when-i-m-sleeping-i-can-dream-myself-back-to-alex-can-dream/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [People are like ants: Just a few of them give all the orders. And most of them spend their lives getting squashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/people-are-like-ants-just-a-few-of-them-give-all-the-orders-and-most/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Summer explodes into Portland. In early June the heat was there but not the color--the green were still pale and tentative, the morning had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/summer-explodes-into-portland-in-early-june-the-heat-was-there-but/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [Mistake, mistake, mistake. A strange word: stinging, somehow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/mistake-mistake-mistake-a-strange-word-stinging-somehow/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I wonder if it's ever really possible to know the truth about someone else, or if the best we can do is just stumble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-wonder-if-it-s-ever-really-possible-to-know-the-truth-about-someone/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Julian is somewhere among those lights, in that blur of people and buildings. I wonder whether he's scared. I wonder whether he's thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/julian-is-somewhere-among-those-lights-in-that-blur-of-people-and/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [A room full of words that are nearly the truth but not quite, each note fluttering off the steam of its rose like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/a-room-full-of-words-that-are-nearly-the-truth-but-not-quite-each/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“She’s the kind of person who makes you feel drunk just by being around her, like suddenly the world’s edges are dulled and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/she-s-the-kind-of-person-who-makes-you-feel-drunk-just-by-being/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“Stop!” His voice rings out sharply, hard as a slap. He releases me and I stumble backward. “Alex is dead, do you hear me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/stop-his-voice-rings-out-sharply-hard-as-a-slap-he-releases-me-and-i/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [..in that moment i realize how much i love the little everyday routines of my life..the details that are my life's special pattern, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/in-that-moment-i-realize-how-much-i-love-the-little-everyday-routines/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You can't judge a book by its steel-toed combat boots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/you-can-t-judge-a-book-by-its-steel-toed-combat-boots/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) [Explore all 1,181 Lauren Oliver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) ## More Begin again quotes > [Begin: To have commenced is half the deed. Half yet remains; Begin again on this and thou wilt finish all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/decimius-magnus-ausonius/begin-to-have-commenced-is-half-the-deed-half-yet-remains-begin-again/) [Decimius Magnus Ausonius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/decimius-magnus-ausonius/) > [The thing about acting is even if you get technically more skilled at what you do, every time you begin a film or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/the-thing-about-acting-is-even-if-you-get-technically-more-skilled-at/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [For the first time in a long time I thought about Maman. I felt as if I understood why at the end of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/for-the-first-time-in-a-long-time-i-thought-about-maman-i-felt-as-if/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [Sometimes I find the best way of getting from one place to another is simply to erase everything and begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norton-juster/sometimes-i-find-the-best-way-of-getting-from-one-place-to-another-is/) [Norton Juster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norton-juster/) > [If once again Germany destabilizes Europe, then Germany will be not be divided again, but wiped off the map. East and West have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lech-walesa/if-once-again-germany-destabilizes-europe-then-germany-will-be-not-be/) [Lech Walesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lech-walesa/) > [My day's work will begin again the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/my-day-s-work-will-begin-again-the-next-morning-the-tomb-is-not-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [“Sometimes we reach a dead end. In that case, start again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felisa-tan/sometimes-we-reach-a-dead-end-in-that-case-start-again/) [Felisa Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felisa-tan/) > [I am from time to time congratulating myself on my general want of success as a lecturer; apparent want of success, but is it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-from-time-to-time-congratulating-myself-on-my-general-want-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Living is the purpose of life, And meaning can be found therein. I finds thou. Thou becomes it. And it begins again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-kesey/living-is-the-purpose-of-life-and-meaning-can-be-found-therein-i/) [Ken Kesey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-kesey/) > [One of the characteristics of North American culture is that you can always start again. You can always move forward, cross a border of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/one-of-the-characteristics-of-north-american-culture-is-that-you-can/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [Since the 1960s, exile for Haitians is a condition that ends only to begin again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madison-smartt-bell/since-the-1960s-exile-for-haitians-is-a-condition-that-ends-only-to/) [Madison Smartt Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madison-smartt-bell/) > [The hunger and thirst for knowledge, the keen delight in the chase, the good humored willingness to admit that the scent was false, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-william-maitland/the-hunger-and-thirst-for-knowledge-the-keen-delight-in-the-chase-the/) Frederic William Maitland > [Everyone's mind wanders, without doubt, and we always have to start over. 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I wake up every morning rejoicing that I'm still here with an opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/getting-older-is-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me-i-wake-up/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) [Browse all 127 Begin again quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begin-again/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I close my eyes. An image flashes—emerging from the van with Julian after our escape from New York City; believing, in that moment, that we had escaped the worst, that life would begin again for us. 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