Best friend Quote by Laurie Halse Anderson
““I am Outcast." "The kids behind me laugh so loud I know they’re laughing about me. I can’t help myself. I turn around. It’s Rachel, surrounded by a bunch of kids wearing clothes that most definitely did not come from the EastSide Mall. Rachel Bruin, my ex-best friend. She stares at something above my left ear. Words climb up my throat. This was the girl who suffered through Brownies with me, who taught me how to swim, who understood about my parents, who didn’t make fun of my bedroom. If there is anyone in the entire galaxy I am dying to tell what really happened, it’s Rachel. My throat burns." "Her eyes meet mine for a second. “I hate you,” she mouths silently.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Speak, 1999
A student feels alienated and judged, yearning to be heard by a specific friend amidst bullying.
In simple terms: She feels unheard and wants a friend to understand her pain.
Key Takeaway
Seek authentic connection and express feelings.
Themes
bullying
loneliness
friendship
identity
Mood
sad
reflective
Type
narrative
emotional
When to use this quote
- school hallway
- friendship conflict
- personal confession
Key Concepts
Social exclusion
emotional pain
Questions to Reflect On
- Who can you trust to listen?
- How does silence affect healing?
A Different Perspective
Friend may not share perspective; fear of rejection.
![“[...] Mom’s not keeping me out because it’s a dead friend, she’s keeping me out because it’s a dead sixteen-year-old girl with no clothes on’ ‘And that’s officially the creepiest thing you’ve ever said,’ said Lauren. She stopped typing, and then grimaced and shivered, like she’d just eaten…” quote by Dan Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e08/dan-wells-2142_dead-body_mom-s-not-keeping-me-out-because-it-s-a_2443174.jpg)
