--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He was so close it was hard to breathe…" description: "\"“He was so close it was hard to breathe. It was exactly like being next to an oven baking a really spicy apple pie.”\" — Lili St. Crow" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/lili-st-crow-3152_apple-pie_he-was-so-close-it-was-hard-to-breathe-i_2688598.jpg" --- # He was so close it was hard to breathe. It was exactly… ![“He was so close it was hard to breathe. It was exactly like being next to an oven baking a really spicy apple pie.” quote by Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/lili-st-crow-3152_apple-pie_he-was-so-close-it-was-hard-to-breathe-i_2688598.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/lili-st-crow-3152_apple-pie_he-was-so-close-it-was-hard-to-breathe-i_2688598.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de6/lili-st-crow-3152_apple-pie_he-was-so-close-it-was-hard-to-breathe-i_2688598.jpg) > ““He was so close it was hard to breathe. It was exactly like being next to an oven baking a really spicy apple pie.”” [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Intense proximity to something can feel overwhelming, like heat from an oven. **In simple terms:** Close encounters can be suffocating. Key Takeaway Recognize and manage overwhelming situations. Themes intimacy intensity overwhelm Mood intense reflective Type literary emotional When to use this quote - relationships - high‑stress environments - creative writing Key Concepts sensory metaphor emotional pressure Questions to Reflect On - What overwhelms you? - How to channel intense feelings? A Different Perspective Intensity can also inspire growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apple pie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple-pie/) ## Related quotes > [I'm more like an oven than a microwave,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erykah-badu/i-m-more-like-an-oven-than-a-microwave/) [Erykah Badu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erykah-badu/) > [“He smelled like smoke too, and under it was the edge of apple pies-spice and goodness. Jesus. Even after all that he smelled like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/he-smelled-like-smoke-too-and-under-it-was-the-edge-of-apple-pies/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Suddenly finding it hard to breathe. It wasn’t because his grip was too tight, mind you. It was just the sudden proximity. And he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-richards/suddenly-finding-it-hard-to-breathe-it-wasn-t-because-his-grip-was/) [J.M. Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-richards/) > [“You make it so hard to breathe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-make-it-so-hard-to-breathe/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“It’s hard to breathe within the space created by never.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-rigsby/it-s-hard-to-breathe-within-the-space-created-by-never/) [Rick Rigsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-rigsby/) > [“You make it hard for me to breathe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaci-burton/you-make-it-hard-for-me-to-breathe/) [Jaci Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaci-burton/) > [“All I know is, being away from you…makes it hard to breathe. I miss you so much”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-towle/all-i-know-is-being-away-from-you-makes-it-hard-to-breathe-i-miss-you/) [Samantha Towle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-towle/) > [Life can be unforgiving sometimes and might make it hard for you to breathe. But always remember that people who tackle life and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-can-be-unforgiving-sometimes-and-might-make-it-hard-for-you-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I'm not scared because I can't give you my love in return, I'm scared because I love you so much sometimes it's hard to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-e-sivec/i-m-not-scared-because-i-can-t-give-you-my-love-in-return-i-m-scared/) [T.E. Sivec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-e-sivec/) > [I've got a shadow on the lung as a result of being in intensive care, so I find running quite hard. I breathe mainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-piper/i-ve-got-a-shadow-on-the-lung-as-a-result-of-being-in-intensive-care/) [Katie Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-piper/) > [The people you love are like trees; without them its hard to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curly-girl/the-people-you-love-are-like-trees-without-them-its-hard-to-breathe/) Curly Girl > [“It's hard to breathe, and I close my eyes. There's a hard lump of air in my chest, like I've swallowed a raincloud whole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-s-hard-to-breathe-and-i-close-my-eyes-there-s-a-hard-lump-of-air/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I thought that I was over him, done with him. Then there he was, and I found it hard to breathe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-thought-that-i-was-over-him-done-with-him-then-there-he-was-and-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I stare up into the dark with an ache in my chest that makes it hard to breathe. But not hard to think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-condie/i-stare-up-into-the-dark-with-an-ache-in-my-chest-that-makes-it-hard/) [Ally Condie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-condie/) > [Hard to breathe when you're underground. Isn't it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hard-to-breathe-when-you-re-underground-isn-t-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Lili St. Crow > [“A Zombie. Okay. Whew. All right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/a-zombie-okay-whew-all-right/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Whoa. Back up. I smell?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/whoa-back-up-i-smell/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Give her the goddamn Advil, Dibs. Jesus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/give-her-the-goddamn-advil-dibs-jesus/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“He peered down at me. “Jesus Christ. You’re leaking.” If by “leaking” he meant “sobbing like a girl,” I guess so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/he-peered-down-at-me-jesus-christ-you-re-leaking-if-by-leaking-he/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Discipline allows magic. To be a writer is to be the very best of assassins. You do not sit down and write every day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/discipline-allows-magic-to-be-a-writer-is-to-be-the-very-best-of/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Graves is going to shit a brick over this one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/graves-is-going-to-shit-a-brick-over-this-one/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“And I knew that tone, the pleading, the fear that was sitting like a spiked ball in his chest. He'd been left behind too,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/and-i-knew-that-tone-the-pleading-the-fear-that-was-sitting-like-a/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“It's easy to get rid of people, Christophe. All you have to do is rely on them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/it-s-easy-to-get-rid-of-people-christophe-all-you-have-to-do-is-rely/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“If wishes were fishes, even beggars would eat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/if-wishes-were-fishes-even-beggars-would-eat/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“People hate it when you call them on jackassery. That's a big fact of human nature: Not a lot of people want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/people-hate-it-when-you-call-them-on-jackassery-that-s-a-big-fact-of/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Okay," I began. "You’re too old for me. You’re scary. It’s creepy that you were so all over my mom and now you’re all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/okay-i-began-you-re-too-old-for-me-you-re-scary-it-s-creepy-that-you/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“The ice," Leon said to thin air over my head, "has now officially broken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/the-ice-leon-said-to-thin-air-over-my-head-has-now-officially-broken/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“It is our honor," Amelia said, and it was the weirdest thing-it sounded like she really meant it. People don't often say exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/it-is-our-honor-amelia-said-and-it-was-the-weirdest-thing-it-sounded/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Why can't I have a normal girlfriend?" he asked the air over his head. "I finally meet someone I like and she turns out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/why-can-t-i-have-a-normal-girlfriend-he-asked-the-air-over-his-head-i/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) > [“Gee, thanks." I couldn't sound more sarcastic, but I was willing to give it a try. My breathing evened out. "What are you here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lili-st-crow/gee-thanks-i-couldn-t-sound-more-sarcastic-but-i-was-willing-to-give/) [Lili St. Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) [Explore all 116 Lili St. Crow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lili-st-crow/) ## More Apple pie quotes > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing. It covers a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/of-emotions-of-love-of-breakup-of-love-and-hate-and-death-and-dying/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) > [“New Rule: Americans must realize what makes NFL football so great: socialism. That's right, the NFL takes money from the rich teams and gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-americans-must-realize-what-makes-nfl-football-so-great/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“In short, when it comes to colonial America, religious persecution—in the sense of persecution both based in religion and aimed at religion—was as American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corvino/in-short-when-it-comes-to-colonial-america-religious-persecution-in/) [John Corvino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corvino/) > [I've read hundreds of cookbooks. Most of those cookbooks don't even tell you how to get a steak ready, how to bake biscuits or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colonel-sanders/i-ve-read-hundreds-of-cookbooks-most-of-those-cookbooks-don-t-even/) [Colonel Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colonel-sanders/) > [“She brushes a lock of hair back from her face and winces when she tugs through a snag. “Oh, my gosh. I must look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-falkner/she-brushes-a-lock-of-hair-back-from-her-face-and-winces-when-she/) [Tammy Falkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-falkner/) > [You'll see a movie about someone you hate or someone you love. Will you see a movie about grandma making apple pies? No, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcafee/you-ll-see-a-movie-about-someone-you-hate-or-someone-you-love-will/) [John McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcafee/) > [I could make apple pie every single day. You need to be super precise in order for it to be perfect. I'm such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-michaels/i-could-make-apple-pie-every-single-day-you-need-to-be-super-precise/) [Julia Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-michaels/) > [The rest of the world loves soccer. Surely we must be missing something. Uh, isn't that what the Russians told us about communism? There's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-weir/the-rest-of-the-world-loves-soccer-surely-we-must-be-missing/) Tom Weir > [The first men who set out for Mars had better make sure they leave everything at home in apple-pie order. They won't get back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wernher-von-braun/the-first-men-who-set-out-for-mars-had-better-make-sure-they-leave/) [Wernher von Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wernher-von-braun/) > [The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie. It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-greatest-enemy-of-hunger-for-god-is-not-poison-but-apple-pie-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Scapegoating is as American as apple pie. And because there's almost always a racial or ethnic dynamic to it in our country, scapegoating is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/scapegoating-is-as-american-as-apple-pie-and-because-there-s-almost/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [“I've never had a better piece o' roast. But it was the apple pie as made the meal. It was flaky and sweet, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-ve-never-had-a-better-piece-o-roast-but-it-was-the-apple-pie-as/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [I try and tell her friends, but they as dumb as her, Burst of a feather, I see it makes it worse, I hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kid-cudi/i-try-and-tell-her-friends-but-they-as-dumb-as-her-burst-of-a-feather/) [Kid Cudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kid-cudi/) > [“I had a dream about you. Flowers were overflowing in the cemetery, so we decided to have a picnic there. You brought apple pie,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-had-a-dream-about-you-flowers-were-overflowing-in-the-cemetery-so/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) [Browse all 178 Apple pie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apple-pie/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He was so close it was hard to breathe. 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